Holly-Marie Nicholson has worked for The Wilson Practice for a number of years and has recently completed her Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, achieving a first class honours degree.
I met up with Holly to talk about her journey, the challenges she faced and what has driven her to this amazing success.
What lead you to starting your Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA)?
“I have been working at The Wilson practice for 10 years, I started as a receptionist and then had the opportunity to train in Phlebotomy. This sparked my interest in Health Care and so I moved into a Healthcare Support Worker role. During this role I attended a Healthcare Support Worker conference which was where I met representatives from Solent University sharing their information about the RNDA. Inspired, I returned to my practice and asked whether I could be considered for this apprenticeship. The practice were fully supportive and so I started my degree in September 2020.”
What were the challenges faced during your apprenticeship journey?
“The hardest part was feeling like there wasn’t enough of me to go around. I have two young children and so juggling work, study and home life was often tricky. Mum guilt was definitely a factor! I have a supportive family network which definitely helped me through it, especially when on placements doing shift work.”
How does it feel to be working at The Wilson Practice as a nurse now?
“It’s amazing, getting my official Nursing and Midwifery Council registration was worth the wait. Patients have followed my journey over the past three years and have all congratulated me on my achievements. Seeing the recognition from patients, as well as my colleagues has made it all worthwhile.”
What advice would you give others considering training to become a nurse?
“Believe in yourself as it is so easy to convince yourself you can’t do it. Be open to learning new things and trust the process! It can feel very overwhelming at times but there is support available, just ask.”
Feedback from Holly’s supervisor
“Holly has grown so much in confidence and skill over these 3 years. She doubted her a ability at the onset but has sailed through the course, working hard and getting good grades. Holly was a joy to supervise and managed her own time and learning very well. I know Holly will grow in confidence and ability and will be an asset to her profession and her patients.”