Rob
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)
Rob, from Halifax, graduated from the Mental Health Nursing degree in 2014 and now works as a Community Health Nurse at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.
"Bradford is a diverse, friendly university"
"I chose Bradford because of its diversity, as I wanted to learn about different cultures and meet people from different backgrounds.
"It also ranked highly as a university for nursing, and I had friends who’d studied there and recommended it."
"Nursing is in my blood"
"I decided to do my course as I’d worked in support for years but got fed up with referral work and decided I wanted to do the actual nursing, focusing on mental health.
"Nursing is also in my blood. My Dad was a mental health nurse in the ’60s and my Grandma was awarded an MBE for her work in nursing."
"Everyone is one big team at Bradford"
"I loved the way that the lecturers interacted with us. There wasn’t an us and them mentality, we were like one big team and there was a warmth and closeness that was really conducive to learning.
"I went on to do a PhD at Bradford after my degree, and was diagnosed with high functioning autism just after I’d started, and the support I received from staff at Bradford was amazing.
"You feel like part of something really special at Bradford, as it’s such an engaging and friendly place, where people with an interest in learning come together and encourage each other to do great things."
"I grew as a person at Bradford"
"Throughout my time at Bradford, I grew and developed, not only professionally, but also as a person. My perceptions and outlook completely changed, and I developed in ways I didn’t think I would.
"I left university a much better person than when I’d started. It’s a very inspiring place, and everyone is given the tools and support they need to grow and develop into the best version of themselves."
“The course is brilliantly structured”
"I learnt how to be a fantastic mental health nurse at Bradford. The course is really well structured, and you spend half your time learning in the classroom and the other half on placement.
"In your first year, you study alongside students from other nursing fields, learning about foundational nursing skills, such as ethics and basic physiology. In the second and third years, you branch off into your chosen field and specialise more, so I learnt about things like therapeutic processes and the different approaches to therapy.
"This is all combined with regular placements, and you have mentors to guide you through the whole process. The opportunity to learn and practice on the job lets you hone your skills and by your third year, you begin working on small caseloads, so when you graduate, you feel ready to enter the industry confidently."
“The placements are invaluable”
"My course was instrumental in me getting my first job after university, and the placements you do throughout provide excellent networking opportunities. You can get to know people working in the industry and make yourself stand out to them. I kept in touch with a lot of people I worked with on my placements and built up a professional network that had been invaluable.
"The placements also let you explore different specialisms, so you can decide which areas interest you and go onto pursue a career in a field that’s right for you when you graduate.”
“As a mature student, I was always made to feel welcome”
"I didn’t start university until I was 39, and as a family man with kids, I didn’t get heavily involved in student life. However, it’s such an inclusive university and I was always made to feel welcome. I got on with everyone I studied with and made some great connections, who I’m still in touch with now. I also regularly still meet up with one of my lecturers for coffee, and it’s great to catch up."
“Mental health nursing opens up so many opportunities”
"Working in mental health nursing is interesting and rewarding, as you get to work really closely with patients who expose their innermost thoughts and fears to you.
"It’s also a field with lots of different specialisms, so there’s a lot of opportunity to move around, develop new skills and determine exactly what area you want to specialise in. You’re actively encouraged to move around departments to explore these different areas, as it can take a few years to decide your chosen specialism.
"Being a mental health nurse is a career in which you’ll never get bored, and there are also lots of opportunities to progress up the banding system. Working in mental health nursing is a real privilege to work in mental health."
“Over the past couple of years, I’ve definitely noticed an increase in the number of males entering the industry, which is fantastic. I think people often stereotype nursing as a female career, but that’s just not the case. It’s great to see a more diverse range of people coming into mental health nursing.”
Rob
“My top tips for other students hoping to follow in my footsteps”
"Make the most of being a student and don’t doubt yourself. You’re at university to learn and no one expects you to know everything when you start. My top tip is to enjoy the learning experience and don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as it’s a safe time to make them and learn from them.
"I’d also recommend using work placements as an opportunity to build your professional network and get yourself known – it’s invaluable when it comes to getting a job after graduation.
"Finally, it’s good to remember that graduating with a degree is not necessarily the end of the academic road, as opportunities to further your career through postgraduate studies are always available."