Name: Izzie
Hometown: Falmouth
Course: FdSc Nursing Associate Apprenticeship
Next Steps: BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing top-up
My Story
Izzie’s journey into nursing began right here at Truro & Penwith College, where she was part of the first-ever T-Level Health cohort.
“It was weird being the first ones to do the course, but it was good. I did really enjoy it,” Izzie said.
Izzie progressed from her T-Level straight onto the FdSc Nursing Associate degree at the University Centre Truro and Penwith. Instead of moving away for university, Izzie chose to stay local, saving on accommodation costs and staying close to her family: “I live with my mum at home and siblings, and I just wanted to be closer to them. I didn’t want loads of debt either, so staying here made sense. I only had to pay for tuition, not for a maintenance loan.”
After her first year, she successfully applied for a competitive apprenticeship post in the Critical Care Unit at Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske, where she now works while completing her studies.
Izzie said: “Getting the apprenticeship was a massive highlight. It’s competitive but being able to learn and earn at the same time gave me a whole new view of nursing.”
“You learn so much up on Critical Care. It’s a really good placement, and it’s amazing to be able to get paid doing it as well.”
She found the small class sizes and supportive tutors instrumental in her success: “We became like one big family. And the tutors are amazing – both Becky in the first year and Zoe in the second.”
During her time on placement, Izzie was recognised by a member of the public for her outstanding commitment to caring for their dad in the ICU. They then fed back their praise to the University Centre team:
“One of the nurses we met when visiting was a girl called Izzie who is on a degree apprenticeship at Truro & Penwith College. I just wanted to let you know firstly how impressive she was – fantastic people skills, and such enthusiasm for her job.
Secondly, she is an amazing advert for any student considering doing your Nursing degree Apprenticeship programme. She was gaining such good experience in her work there, and I would never have realised that she wasn’t a fully qualified nurse if I hadn’t started talking to her! And this was in ICU which carries massive responsibility.”
On the feedback she received, Izzie said: “It definitely was a highlight [of my course]. I didn’t really expect it at all, to be honest.”
With her graduation just around the corner, Izzie already has a job lined up in the Critical Care Unit at Treliske full time once she completes her degree.
And she’s not stopping there – she’s planning to top-up to a full BSc in Adult Nursing.
Her advice for anyone thinking of following the same path is: “I think when we first started, everyone in my cohort was very stressed about the work-life balance and falling behind. But I tried going for a different approach in the sense of ‘don’t worry too much’ because your tutors are so great. And if you are falling a little bit behind, they’ll talk to you and they’ll help you through it. So don’t worry about the work-life balance at all, really. It all works out.”
