Nursing: it’s never too late, you’re never too old, you can make a difference

Hi, I'm Georgia. This is me in a nutshell. I spent years of to-ing and fro-ing, and questioning whether I was ‘too old’ to change careers and go back to being a student. But I finally bit the bullet and started at the University of Bradford in 2019 to study Nursing (Mental Health). One of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

I am now two years post-qualification and have just started in my second (very exciting) post of helping set up a new service in Bradford for people who have co-occurring mental health and substance use needs.

My career in mental health nursing

I’m part of a small trauma-informed service that has just been commissioned to develop pathways in Bradford and bridge the gaps for people who have an unmet need in co-occurring mental health and substance use.

Day-to-day, this involves a lot of networking and presence within all the Bradford services: support, advice, and signposting. I carry out mental health assessments, formulations, and brief interventions and provide support with accessing treatment and appointments in more creative ways where engagement is difficult. I'm also involved in scoping out and addressing needs for staff training.

I have enjoyed so many things since qualifying. Putting my learning into practice. Getting to know service users and spending time supporting them and their families in their recovery (however that may look for them). Advocating for better outcomes. Being part of a fabulous team. Learning who I am as a nurse. And actually having students myself!

But it dawned on me recently that there is a stark difference to many other professions: the amount of options I now have, all the different roles that are emerging, the different training and progression opportunities that are available. There really are so many choices that allow for you to be creative as whatever kind of practitioner you want to be.

I would be lying if I said there hadn’t been more blood, more sweat and more tears since qualifying. But going back to university and ‘starting over’ in my 30s really has allowed me to get a job that I love in a profession that I’m proud to be a part of… Even on my bad days.

Future plans and ambitions

I have only been qualified for two years and have recently started in a new role, so I don’t want to jump the gun too much — I am still very much enjoying learning and developing my skills. But I do often think about the future and what I want it to look like.

As my interests lie in co-occurring mental health and substance use, I would like to do some further study in this area. I'd be interested to study abroad to learn from countries that have progressed ahead of us on this issue. I have a couple of friends / colleagues that have progressed in this area of practice, and I would love to follow in their footsteps one day — reforming policies, challenging stigmas, and maybe even some guest lecturing one day — who knows?

My University of Bradford experience

The cohort had such a good mix of ages, backgrounds, life experiences and ambitions. Not to mention experienced mentors, lecturers, and peers to learn from.

I made the most of the immersive, hands-on learning offered to me. I heard some very profound stories from guest speakers with lived experience of services — these stories still stick with me today! I can’t think of many other professions where you can get this kind of insight.

Bradford was full of opportunity. I experienced a variety of roles and working environments during placements. I even got the chance to complete an overseas placements which involved being a student medic at a musical festival.

Even with the literal blood, sweat, and tears that come with being a student nurse, it was still a memorable and rewarding experience. Essays aside, I’d love to do it all again!

What I would tell my younger self

Here's some advice that I'd give to my younger self, or someone looking to start out in nursing:

• Choose something you love, something that you are passionate about
• Take advantage of every learning opportunity, even when it’s scary
• Ask, ask, ask — chances are, other people are thinking the same and it’s not a stupid question
• Don’t give in when it gets hard, or when you make a mistake — just try again; we are only human
• You will age three years whether you do the degree or not, so you may as well just do it and enjoy it
• Come out of your comfort zone and be open to new experiences, people and ways of thinking

There are bound to be bad days in any line of work, no matter what path you choose to follow. But I think they’re much easier to handle when you believe in the work you are doing.

Keen to follow in Georgia's footsteps? Check out Nursing (Mental Health) to see where it could take you.