Jennifer Savage - Championing Lifelong Learning with Nurse Degree Apprenticeships

As from today I'm a newly qualified nurse in partnership with BCU and Swift which is Warrick Hospital. My background experience is predominantly a lot of years spent in nursing homes ranging from specialists people with MS, motor neurons, and then dementia homes, challenging behavior and mainly I fitted that in around family life.

My partner worked away a lot so I was responsible for caring for our daughter. She left school, went on to do her own thing so I thought I'm going to try the hospital experience now. So started off at Warick Hospital as a HCA on an acute medical ward and I was just grabbed by it and then I was approached to do the student nurse associate role, qualified as an RNA in 2021, I think it was and then decided to do the top-up to band five nurse.

The RNDA in partnership with BCU and it's been incredible, the opportunity to to do the topup course to band five is a privilege I never dreamt I would get this opportunity coming from a family of seven from a coal mining. My dad was a coal miner it just it's it's surreal, it really is. Back in the day when I left school only the posh kids went to university. I'd say to anybody who gets the opportunity to take this this course this route into nursing grab it!

Soon to be 60, Jennifer Savage is proudly marking a personal and professional milestone: qualifying as a registered nurse through the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) route with 探花直播 (BCU), in partnership with South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). Her journey into nursing has been far from conventional, but her story is one of determination, humility, and a deep commitment to care.

Jennifer began her healthcare journey working in nursing homes, supporting people with complex conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, and dementia. She juggled her shifts around raising her daughter, while her partner worked away. 鈥淚 fitted that in around family life,鈥� she explains. 鈥淢y partner worked away a lot, so I was responsible for caring for our daughter.鈥� As her daughter grew up and became more independent, Jennifer decided it was time to explore hospital-based care. She joined Warwick Hospital as a healthcare assistant on an acute medical ward鈥攁nd something clicked. 鈥淚 was just grabbed by it,鈥� she says, recalling how the fast-paced environment reignited her passion for hands-on care.

Soon after, Jennifer was encouraged to apply for the Nursing Associate programme and qualified in 2021. With growing confidence, she made the decision to continue her development and 鈥榯op up鈥� to become a Registered Nurse through the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) route. 鈥淭he opportunity to do the top-up course to Band 5 is a privilege,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been incredible.鈥�

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Her achievement is made even more powerful by the fact that she never imagined this path would be open to her. Growing up in a coal-mining family as one of seven children, university felt out of reach. 鈥淏ack in the day when I left school, only the posh kids went to university,鈥� she reflects. There were moments when self-doubt weighed heavily on Jennifer, impacting her confidence and making her question whether she truly belonged in academic spaces.

But Jennifer persisted. She approached each stage of her training with commitment a desire to be the best carer she could be. 鈥淚 never dreamt I would get this opportunity鈥� It鈥檚 surreal, it really is,鈥� she says.

Now, as she approaches her 60th birthday and celebrates becoming a registered nurse, Jennifer has this message for others who may be unsure whether they鈥檙e capable of making such a leap: 鈥淚鈥檇 say to anybody who gets the opportunity to take this course, this route into nursing鈥攇rab it.鈥�

Jennifer鈥檚 journey shows that it's never too late to learn, grow, and achieve your goals. Her story is a reminder that great nurses aren鈥檛 defined by age or background鈥攖hey鈥檙e defined by heart, resilience, and courage.