From pandemic to profession: Cornwall’s first locally trained Mental Health Nurses are set to graduate
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From beginning their training at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to becoming the heart of Cornwall’s NHS workforce, the first-ever group of Mental Health Nurses from the University Centre Truro & Penwith celebrated completing their four-year journey on International Nurses Day.
Back in 2020, at a time when the country was facing an unprecedented public health crisis, a new local pathway into nursing was launched with a bold vision: to allow aspiring nurses to train in Cornwall for the first time, helping to grow and retain talent in the county. Four years on, that vision has become reality as these students prepare to step into vital roles across Cornwall’s healthcare settings.
This year’s graduating cohort includes a mix of Bsc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing and Adult Nursing students who have completed a four-year Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, as well as those who have progressed from the Nursing Associate FdSc.
As they completed their final taught day on International Nurses Day, students were joined by members of the Practice Education Teams from Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) for a celebration at the University Centre Truro & Penwith to mark the occasion and reflect on their time studying during a challenging but rewarding period for healthcare.
Jake Drage, who has now completed his BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing top-up, shared:
“The lecturers here were amazing during my Nursing Associate course – especially through Covid. It was a really difficult time for everybody in education and work and our lecturers were wicked. I don’t think anybody could have predicted a challenge like that. They really supported us on a personal level and made such a difficult time feel manageable.”
Jake is now preparing to return to Phoenix Ward at Royal Cornwall Hospital, where he completed his placement, to begin work as a Registered Nurse, with ambitions to specialise in stroke care.
The University Centre will also see another cohort of Nursing Associates and it’s second group of registered Operating Department Practitioners graduate this summer, adding further strength to Cornwall’s healthcare workforce.
Graduation for all nursing students will take place at Truro Cathedral on Saturday 18th October 2025, where they will be joined by their families, friends, and educators to celebrate their achievement.
Tamzin Irvin, Programme Lead for Nursing and Allied Health, said:
“It is an absolute honour and privilege to celebrate this remarkable milestone in the lives of our extraordinary nursing students. They should take pride in what they have achieved and what they have become. They are stepping into a profession that is respected, trusted, and essential – and will be joining the ranks of those who run toward crisis, not away from it. We are so proud to be a part of their journey and to help enhance our local NHS workforce with these amazing nurses.”
Tamzin added: “Our local provision means that these opportunities are open to so many more people who otherwise would have had to leave the county to train – and perhaps never return. We’re proud to be keeping talent in Cornwall and supporting the NHS in our communities.”
For more information on starting your own journey into nursing or healthcare, visit www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/uni to learn more about how you can train in Cornwall and become part of the next generation of healthcare professionals.
