Labour of love for health specialist
Posted on 14 July 2015
Thankfully both the birth of her daughter Scarlett and her studies went extremely well.
Scarlett was induced at 33 weeks and is now an energetic 17 month old. Following the birth, her mother opted to take a year out from her part-time course but went on to secure a First in Health and Social Care.
“I was put back a full year” she said. “At first I panicked that I wouldn’t get my dissertation done once I restarted, but I did.
“My tutor was amazing, from me ringing her when it actually happened in hospital and all throughout the time my dissertation was on hold. She was always contacting me.”
She said the University was “brilliant” as she juggled motherhood, finishing her dissertation and continuing to work as a nurse in a hospice.
"I couldn’t fault them. The support was there. There was no pushing me, it was always ‘when you are ready come back'.
"The student experience was a bit different for me. I was a mum, I was working and because I wasn’t local to York I drove from Scarborough. I did the whole ‘student thing’ when I was doing my diploma. My priorities changed.”
Tina, 40, is a clinical nurse specialist, providing education and support for care home residents at the end of life.
“I’m very busy. I work 30 hours a week, four days a week and obviously I’m a mum seven days a week. I’m really busy but loving it and knowing that I have got my degree will help me progress. It will mean that I can go for sister’s posts.“
Tina’s graduates with a BSc (First Class Honours) in Health and Social Care Practice on 15 July.