Who we are

Name: Dann Gooding (@DannGooding)
University: London South Bank University
Year: Newly Qualified Nurse 
Branch: Children and Young People
Dream job: Hmmm, Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioner in Accident and Emergency then possibly moving up to Nurse Consultant… The sky is the limit!
Inspiration to be a nurse: Whilst on my practice expedition for my Duke of Edinburgh award, one of my friends fell, hit her head, knocking herself unconscious and causing her head to bleed. In that moment I didn’t know what to do, and so I decided I didn’t want to have that feeling again.
Favourite quote: “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it”

Name: Lucy Mason (@MissLucyMay)
University: University of Birmingham
Year: Newly Qualified Nurse
Branch: Children and Young People
Dream job: Neonatal intensive care nurse – which is where I am working! 

Inspiration to be a nurse: I wanted a job that would make a difference to other people and but also something that would challenge me. Children fill my heart with so much love and joy, caring for some them often doesn’t even feel like work.
Favourite quote: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” —Steve Jobs

Name: Ewout van Sabben (@Ewout1985)
University: University of West London
Year: 3
Branch: Paediatrics
Dream job: Paediatric Disability Nursing Consultant
Inspiration to be a nurse: Caring for people is something I’ve always wanted to do. Having worked in healthcare for over 13 years I felt like I wanted to do more, learn more, and here I am doing just that!
Favourite quote: ’A journey taken is a journey learnt. A journey not taken is a journey lost.’

Name: Andrew Haydon (@malestudntnurse)
University: University of West London
Year: 3
Branch: Adult
Dream job: Nurse Consultant/Chief Nurse
Inspiration to be a nurse: My wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 27, while we lost her mother at the same time to lung cancer. The care of the NHS and the nurses at my local trust was superb and whilst in A&E one night I decided I wanted to train to be a nurse.
Favourite quote: “I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. He taught me that if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be.”― Roald Dahl

Name: Claire Carmichael (@C_Carmichael83)
University: Birmingham City University
Year: 2
Branch: Adult
Dream job: General practice nurse / sexual health nurse / community nurse
Inspiration to be a nurse: There’s a 101 reasons I wanted to become a nurse. Starting from having terminally ill grandparents and not being able to do anything about it, so wanting the knowledge behind me to make a difference to someone else’s life in the future. To seeing the amount of bad press about our NHS and nurses and I want to make a change! A positive change to create a better future for our nurses.
Favourite quote: ‘Be someone’s rainbow in their cloud’ (Maya Angelou)

Name: Debs Cooper (@debscooper131)
University: Alumni of Birmingham City University
Year: 1 year qualified now!
Branch: Adult nursing – working in oncology and haematology
Dream job: Specialist or research nurse in onc/haem where I can use my previous degree in genetics as well as my nursing
Inspiration to be a nurse: I’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, I had a place at med school but just missed out and did genetics instead. Post graduation I worked as a community carer and then as an outpatient HCA to get some work experience and to sharpen my focus. The nurses I met were inspiring in the smallest but most important of ways.
Favourite quotes: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think” – A.A Milne

Name: Lily Parham (my full name is Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Lily… except for a few patients who prefer calling me the same name as the Queen! True story). (@lily_parham)
University: King’s College London (Graduated 2018) 
Year: NQN in haematology/oncology at King’s College Hospital
Branch: Adult 
Dream Job: Either a critical care outreach nurse, as part of the iMobile team at KCH… or a Haematology ANP.

I achieved one of my dreams this year by becoming a Treat Me Well champion for Mencap. This role includes advocating for patients with learning disabilities and educating my colleagues. 
Inspiration to be a nurse: My sister, who has Down’s Syndrome and has received amazing care throughout her life from a variety of nursing teams.
Favourite quote: “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” (Edith Cavell, WW1 nurse.)

During my degree I was awarded the Cavell Student Leadership award, and subsequently raised money for the Cavell Nurses’ Trust – a fantastic charity which supports nursing and healthcare assistants going through financial and personal hardship. 

Name: Jessica Sainsbury (@JessLSainsbury)
University: University of Southampton
Year: 2 
Branch: Adult & Mental Health
Dream job: Secretary of State for Health 😉
Inspiration to be a nurse: Seeing my grandmother receive fantastic care at the end of her life made me decide to pack in my HR career, and retrain as a Nurse. Best. Decision. Ever!
Favourite quote: “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and a source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Name: Clare Manley (@MannersofMarple)
University: Sheffield Hallam University
Year: 2 (March Intake)
Branch: Mental Health Nurse
Dream job: Working as a specialist Mental Health Health Visitor with groups of women who traditionally struggle to access services
Inspiration to be a nurse: I went to train as a nurse 20 years ago and had to leave due to health reasons and it’s an itch that I’ve always had to scratch.
Favourite quote: I love a good quote so this is tough but probably – “What if I fall? Oh, but darling, what if you fly?” – Erin Hanson

Name: Rosie Schofield (@SchofieldRosie) 
University: University of Southampton 
Year: Final year (PGDip) 
Branch: Adult 
Dream Job: ANP or Director of Nursing 
Inspiration to be a Nurse: When I was 14, I spent two weeks work experience in a day care centre for adults with profound learning disabilities. There I discovered the nursing profession and my love of the role. 
Favourite Quote: “After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box” – Italian proverb

Name: Rachael Palmer (@PUNCrachpalmer) 
University: University of Plymouth
Year: Now ‘officially’ a second year!
Branch: Adult 
Dream Job: Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Haematology/Oncology
Inspiration to be a Nurse: People! I’ve always known I’d work with people in healthcare and nurses inspired me because of the relationships and trust they build with their patients, their knowledge and kindness. I wanted to be the person that makes a difference in someone’s journey. 
Favourite Quote: “Don’t be afraid to sit in the front row of your life.”

Name: Beth Chapman (@Beth_StMidwife) 
University: University of West London
Year: First Year 
Branch: Midwifery
Dream Job: Learning Disability Specialist Midwife
Inspiration to be a Nurse: Many women in my family had difficulty conceiving and throughout their pregnancies, and seeing the difference that a midwife could make to a woman and her family’s experience really inspired me.
Favourite Quote: “Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing is going to get better. Its not.” Dr Seuss

Name: Craig Davidson (@CraigDavidson85)
University: Glasgow Caledonian University
Year: Third Year
Dream Job: Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Oncology
Inspiration to be a Nurse: My mum is a nurse, so, nursing has always been a big part of my life. I used to love going to the hospital with her when I was younger to visit the patients and their families. At that time, I wanted to study medicine and did my high school work experience shadowing the medical team and picked my subjects accordingly. However, I ended up moving to London. When I returned home aged 30, I began volunteering as a nursing assistant at a local charity and researched the role of the nurse. The roles of the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Advanced Nurse Practitioner really peaked my interest. I am inspired to be a nurse because I believe nurses can make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families. To nurse is a privilege, and I feel as though I have found my calling.
Fun Fact: I was a professional actor for 12 years, having studies a previous BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre. My first job was in We Will Rock You in London’s West End.
Favourite Quote: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” ProfessorDumbledore, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

 

Name: Benn Garner (@Benng90)

University: University of West London
Year: 3
Branch: Learning Disability
Dream Job: Learning Disability Liaison Nurse
Inspiration to be a Nurse: when I started working in learning disability services, I developed a huge passion for enhancing quality of life, advocating and supporting people with learning disabilities. I always wanted to be able to do more, and studying nursing in this field is teaching me how I can do this!
Fun Fact: I sleep with six pillows? (I’m the most boring person ever!)
Favourite Quote: “Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else” Judy Garland.