Starting over: how redundancy led me to a nursing career in the NHS

Finding my new career

I left school at 16 with very few qualifications, and I never thought I’d get the chance to go to university. When I was made redundant during my maternity leave, I decided to complete a fast-track HNC in Care and Administrative Practice to help me start over. This led to a job as a vaccinator before I started a degree in children's nursing at Glasgow Caledonian University in the autumn of 2022.

Choosing to do an undergraduate nursing degree while looking after my 2-year-old daughter was frightening, but I’ve never looked back. I graduated with a distinction in 2025 and joined a Community Children’s Nursing Service just one month later. My mum is a community nurse for adults, and she knew I’d love community nursing. Her advice and support helped me decide it was the right career choice.

Caring for children at home

As a community children’s nurse, I have a caseload of my own patients. I build strong relationships with their families to make sure their clinical needs are met. I visit children at home for wound care, injections, and blood sampling so they don't have to stay in hospital. I also deliver feeding training at nurseries and schools. This is to help every child feel supported and safe while they’re learning with their friends.

Treating patients in a comfortable environment makes a huge difference to their daily lives. My favourite visits are the ones where I can help a family with a feeding tube because they’re always so grateful to avoid a trip to accident and emergency. Building trust with families over months or even years is a huge privilege. I feel proud to make a difference in their lives every day.

How community nursing builds your skills

Some people think you might become deskilled working in the community. However, the reality is that I’ve become more skilled in clinical decision-making than I ever expected. 

In a hospital, there’s always a medical team nearby, but in the community, you’re the one with the clinical knowledge and skills. You have to resolve or escalate a situation on your own, but it really helps you build your confidence and resilience.

Depending on what my patients require, I need to be flexible, especially when an urgent call comes in unexpectedly. I work closely with assistant practitioners who help our service by managing supplies and visiting their own patients. My team leader and the other community nurses help with decision-making. Their support means I don’t feel overwhelmed while I’m managing my caseload.

My top 3 tips for returning to education as an adult learner

1. You don’t need to have perfect grades from school to start over. Doing a fast-track HNC or access course at college can help you get the qualifications you need for university.
2. Don't let the fear of caring responsibilities stop you from studying. Although it can be a big challenge, you’ll find that you’re capable of achieving your goals.
3. Believe that you can do anything you set your mind to, even if you’ve been out of education for a while.

Graduating with distinction from university and securing my first role as a nurse has been a rewarding full-circle moment for me. Starting my NHS career as a healthcare support worker gave me valuable experience and the confidence I needed to push myself further.

If you’re a natural problem-solver who enjoys meeting new people and can adapt when things don't go as expected, then nursing could be the ideal career for you.