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First cohort of Nottingham Trent University Mansfield Hub student nurses graduate

The first cohort of nursing students from Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Mansfield Hub have graduated this week in a ceremony taking place at University Hall on the City Campus.

    Katie Kerry, Sarah Mayfield and NTU Nursing graduates

    The 76 students who have been studying various different nursing courses began their studies in either 2020 and 2021 and will be the first to become fully fledged nurses as students of the Mansfield Hub. The courses were set up in response to demand from local employers, helping to ensure fully trained nurses for local hospitals, and improving job prospects for residents in the local area. The majority of students training at NTU’s Mansfield Hub are from the Mansfield and Ashfield areas.

    From Registered Nurse and Nursing Associate degree apprenticeships to BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing, all students graduating are now Registered Nurses. Some students joined NTU on the Foundation Degree programme, before progressing onto a degree programme, giving a variety of options for people with both traditional and non-traditional backgrounds to become a Nurse.

    All students benefitted from state-of-the-art facilities at the Teaching and Learning Centre at the Hub. Mock wards provide hospital beds with realistic mannequins that students learn how to perform day-to-day care on, a clinical prep room and an area to practice social work skills in domestic settings. A digital virtual reality wall provides an immersive learning environment, creating realistic situations such as a motorway crash scene to gain as close to real-life experience as possible.

    The students also benefited from the high-quality teaching team who are all also qualified nurses.

    Upon graduation, the students will now be embarking on their chosen career paths or undertaking further study, with all of those looking to work having gained employment already, many in local hospitals, including Sherwood Forest Hospitals.

    Yvonne Simpson, Associate Corporate Director of Nursing at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Sherwood Forest Hospitals has worked with Nottingham Trent University in support of providing nurse education and BSc Nursing in our local community.  We have provided apprenticeship opportunities in association with Nottingham Trent University, in order to support our long term workforce plans, these have included the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship and Student Nursing Associate programmes.

    “We are keen to continue to promote the relationship with Nottingham Trent University, as we want to ensure that our local community and our future workforce have the opportunity to study, in a location close to their homes.”

    NTU Mansfield Nursing graduates

    Tiffany Mayfield, who studied a BSc in Nursing (Mental Health) said: “I first looked at going into nursing in 2016 however being a single mum with three children, the closest universities running a nursing degree were too far away for me to be able to get to. So when I found out NTU Mansfield was starting a nursing course it became something I could realistically do. 

    “I went to West Notts College to do my access to nursing which took me a year. I left school at 16 with only my GCSEs so I needed this to get into Uni. 

    “I am now a community psychiatric nurse for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS working in the Mansfield Local Mental Health Team. It's somewhere I went on placement in my third year and I just knew it was where I wanted to be. I decided to email the team leader and clinical lead to say how much I wanted to work there and if they would consider me for a band 5 to 6 development role. Luckily for me they agreed to see me for interview and here I am. Absolutely loving it!” 

    Amy Stevens, who studied a BSc in Nursing (Adult) said: “The opportunity I took with applying to NTU gave me invaluable experience in personal growth, intellectual development and meaningful, supportive friendships. NTU provided an academically relevant and challenging course and realistic practical learning in a safe environment. It gave me a sense of direction through the inspiration of tutors and the experience has enabled me to accomplish something I never thought possible.

    “I am currently working locally as a registered nurse in a rapid response community team and looking to further my professional development and venture into the ACP world in the future.”

    Milly Rawley, who studied a BSc Registered Nurse Level 6 Degree Apprenticeshipsaid: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at NTU and am confident I couldn’t have chosen a better institution to prepare me with the skills needed for a successful career as a Registered Nurse.

    “Being part of the first cohort of student nurses at Mansfield was an incredibly rewarding experience. I valued the opportunity to help shape and enhance the course structure for future students, whilst also enjoying university life and the adventures it brought.

    “The unwavering commitment from staff to provide an outstanding education in a wholly supportive environment, ensured the successful navigation of such an intensive programme. My NTU experience made it possible for me to secure my first qualified role at a trauma centre, within the Acute Admissions Unit.

    “I’m excited to see where my career will take me, and hope to explore the teaching path one day - sharing my passion with the next generation of nurses.” 

    David Foreman, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the Mansfield Hub said: “I started my own NTU journey only a fortnight before this cohort started. From day one we worked together to ensure that there were good quality, competent, compassionate and caring nurses going out into our local workforce. This cohort of nurses helped to shape the way that future nursing students study at NTU. All of our nursing graduates are in employment already, and I wish them all the success in the future.”

    Anyone who might be interested in studying nursing at NTU’s Mansfield Hub can choose from:

    • BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult)
    • BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)
    • Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship
    • Level 5 Nursing Associate Foundation Degree Apprenticeship

    All courses are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

    More information on these and other courses can be found here.

    • Notes for editors

      Press enquiries please contact Sarah McLeod, Corporate Communications Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8735, or via email.

      About Nottingham Trent University

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK. It is the 3rd best modern university in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023).

      NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of almost 8,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.

      NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The second was awarded for research on the safety and security of global citizens.

      The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.

      NTU is rated 5/5 stars overall and for Teaching, Employability, Internationalisation, Research and Facilities (QS Stars 2022).

      NTU is a top five university for widening participation with 25% of NTU students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds (HESA 2021-22). It was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge in 2018 and was named ‘University of the Year’ at the UK Social Mobility Awards in 2019,

      NTU is the most sustainable university in the UK and 2nd in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2023).

    Published on 12 December 2024
    • Category: Mansfield; Press office