30 at 30: Celebrating Nursing at Nottingham

This year we celebrate 30 years of nurse training at University of Nottingham, although I have been working at NUH since before then.  I started as a Staff Nurse in 1989 and have seen quite a few changes.  My education as a student nurse began in 1984 through the apprenticeship-style scheme.  We worked as auxiliary nurses and learnt ‘on the job’; I remember wearing hats, belts, buckles, and hospital badges.  Thankfully, the hats …

30 at 30: The career of Anna Kent

Working within international humanitarian medical aid became a life goal of mine as I grew up. As many of us are, I was appalled to learn of the social and health inequalities across the world and wanted to make a positive difference. In 1999, aged 18, I was privileged to join one of the first …

30 at 30: Thoughts on Nursing at Nottingham from Dame Elizabeth Fradd DBE DL 

I am delighted to write this short piece as part of the 30-year Celebration of Nursing at Nottingham University.  It has been a privilege to observe, and at times participate in, the development of Nursing Education which has blossomed since its move from the Hospital–based School of Nursing to the University.  I am sure the success of the established Department of Nursing Studies already in the University, headed up by Jane Robertson, acted as a sound …

30 at 30: Nursing in Nottingham – my journey from the 1980s to 2021

I came to Nottingham in 1985 to commence my nurse training at the Queen’s Medical Centre. I lived in Harvey Court nurses’ residence at the back of the hospital – now the staff car park! When I started, my training nurses were employed by the NHS and I was a student in the Nottingham School of Nursing. We were all very were excited to …

30 at 30: Keeping it in the Family: A 60-year legacy and counting

It all started with my mother, Joan.   Joan grew up the 1940s and 50s and always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Her greatest challenge to managing her dream was not realising any educational qualifications but that she would be tall enough. Joan was always petite and needed to be taller than the entry …

30 at 30: Mental Health Nursing: Past, present and future

The last thirty years has been an interesting time for mental health nursing. After decades of neglect, in the 1990s the UK Government recognised that the burden of disease and the disabling nature of mental distress were on a par with Coronary Heart Disease, cancer and stroke, the major cause of deaths at the time. Finally, providing safe, sound and supportive mental health services was a national health priority. Mental health nurses, the majority …

30 at 30: Vicky Bailey

This week, we hear from alumna, Vicky Bailey, who graduated from the University of Nottingham with an MSc in Health Care Policy and Organisation in 1994. Vicky is a non-executive director at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, with previous executive leadership roles in Nottingham, including Accountable Officer for both NHS Nottingham West and Rushcliffe …

30 at 30: Dean’s Blog

We’ve launched our 30 years of nursing celebrations! Our first blog post from Professor Joanne Lymn (Dean and Head of the School of Health Sciences). 2020 is a really important year for nursing. For the School of Health Sciences we are celebrating 30 years of nursing at Nottingham. Globally however 2020 was designated the international …

COVID-19 Diaries: staying connected

Sophie is one of our first-year student nurses and is sharing her experience of what it’s like to be a University of Nottingham student during these challenging times. Read her second instalment about how she’s keeping in touch with her friends and the student community during this time. If you’d have told me this time …

COVID-19 Diaries: adjusting to studying at home

Sophie is one of our first-year student nurses and is sharing her experience of what it’s like to be a University of Nottingham student during these challenging times. Read her first instalment about how she’s adapting to student life in isolation. The transition in to the first year of university is hard; believe me, I’ve …