Elaine makes the switch from Dental Nursing to General Nursing

Elaine Hornibrook made the switch from dental nursing to general nursing, and hasn’t looked back. For Elaine will graduate today from the University of Teesside with an Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Adult) and receive the award of best overall student on the course.

Elaine, 27, from Stockton, is now working as a Staff Nurse at the University Hospital of North Tees. When she left the Dene School in Thornaby Elaine worked as a Dental Nurse for seven years.

Elaine said: “After school I didn’t consider general nursing. By working as a dental nurse I liked meeting different patients and this spurred me on, I wanted to do a lot more.”

After completing a part-time Access to Nursing Course, Elaine enrolled on the Advanced Diploma. Elaine said: “I really enjoyed the course, particularly the placements where I worked in a variety of environments. These included Middlesbrough General’s Neurosurgery Department, where I worked with a lot of young people with brain tumours, and Accident & Emergency at North Tees, which was hectic but really enjoyable.”

In November 2000 Elaine met the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn, when he officially opened the University’s £8m School of Health & Social Care building. Elaine added: “The new building was a big improvement for nurse training. You get more of an insight into a hospital environment, it was a lot more realistic. The lecturers were very good and always willing to help, particularly my academic tutor Chris Wilkinson.”

Elaine completed a management placement at North Tees earlier this year, and this led to her new post on Ward 27. She said: “The course has enabled me to feel ready to be a Staff Nurse, it gave me a lot of confidence and knowledge of relevant areas, such as diabetes and respiratory problems. I really like my work, getting to know the patients well and seeing them go home after making improvements.

“I was very pleased to win the best overall student, I thought ‘wow, I didn’t know they had such an award.’ My parents Patricia and David think it’s wonderful, they’ve always encouraged me to be a Nurse.”

Elaine is the first in her family to graduate from University, and aims to top-up her Diploma to a degree. Her sister Jane Middleton is also a Staff Nurse, and will graduate from the University next year.

---