Michelle practices personal achievement

Specialist nurse Michelle Wild jumped at the opportunity to work towards a degree while doing the job she loves.

Michelle, 41, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, completed a BSc (Hons) Promoting Practice Effectiveness on the nurse practitioner route at Teesside University.

She is a specialist nurse working with patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton. Her role involves seeing patients before and after surgery and at home and also running nurse-led clinics.

The mum-of-two said: 'I’ve been nursing for 23 years, since I was 18 and I’ve been in this role for the past six years.

'I did the degree for my own personal achievement. A lot of nurses are coming through with qualifications and I wanted to keep myself updated and better myself in my role.

'The degree course included practical modules such as clinical skills, which was hands-on and a lot of academic work, with lectures and deadlines. It was quite challenging combining work and study and it required me to be quite disciplined. There was a lot of support and feedback from the academic tutors.

'Returning to education was a little daunting as I hadn’t studied since my nursing studies in 1988, but there were a lot of mature students on my pathway and a lot of them in similar roles to my in the NHS, so we had a lot of support among ourselves.'

Michelle, who completed the degree part-time, said: 'I was working full time and attended the University one day each week to attend lectures, use the library facilities and meet with lecturers. The support I had from the hospital, my colleagues and the University helped me to combine work and study really well.

'Doing this course helped me greatly, as the skills I now have meant I could enhance my role. We no longer require the involvement of a doctor to see patients prior to surgery, which does help as it means the patient sees only one person along their journey, making it more streamlined.

'I’m much more confident in my role and it’s given me lots of practical skills which I can incorporate into my role, so the whole department benefits. It’s also a great stepping stone to other roles and progressing in the NHS.

'I’m really looking forward graduation. It is an opportunity to celebrate my journey and with my family, who gave me so much support. It will lovely to see the other students from the course too.

'Completing the degree was a great personal achievement and makes me feel very proud. I’d like to look at doing a master’s in the future, although for the moment, I’m enjoying the break from studying.'

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