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I have worked in the NHS for 12 years—as a healthcare assistant on a surgical ward, as a maternity support worker in a maternity unit, as a breast-feeding support worker in the health visiting service and as a healthy-child assistant. I am now training as a nursing associate.

I have always wanted to work in nursing and considered applying to university at the age of 18, but decided against it. Then came the responsibility of a mortgage and a child, so I continued in my support worker roles to ensure I was still working within care and that I could provide for my family.

I first heard about the nursing associate role 3 years ago when it was a pilot scheme launched by Health Education England in response to the Francis report (2013) and the disparities identified between registered and unregistered staff. The Trust that I work for had applied to be a pilot site and were keen to allow their staff to develop their existing skills.