A mum and daughter duo have shined a light on nursing associates and the role they play in the health sector to help celebrate International Nurses Day.
Jayne and Jodie Goodall from Ipswich are both studying the FdA Health and Wellbeing (nursing associate) degree apprenticeship at the University of Suffolk.
Jayne, 49, is in her second year while Jodie, 20, is in her first year.
Following International Nurses Day on Sunday, May 12, the pair have spoken of their differing experiences which led them to the apprenticeship, as well as celebrating nursing.
Jayne said: "When Covid hit, I just ended up disliking my job so I changed path.
"I got a job with the local district nursing team and worked my way up from there. My manager asked if I would like to do this course and I went for it."
Both are on placement with their employers three days a week, with Jayne at the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust and Nuffield Health for Jodie.
Jayne continued: "It's been a long time since I have been to school and returning to learning can be daunting, so without Jodie, I wouldn't have got this far."
Jodie added: "When I was in college, I struggled so I really think that confidence has improved since I started this apprenticeship."
The Nursing Associate role was launched by the Government in 2017 to bridge the gap between registered nurses and healthcare assistants.
Jodie said: "It’s a newer role so quite a lot of patients ask us about what it is, so it’s nice to educate people too."
Jayne continued: "People at the moment don’t know what this role is so we are always telling people where this leads and why it is important – it’s a real hands-on, patient-facing role."
Jayne says she would like to stay as a Nursing Associate when she completes her studies and support Jodie into going on to become a registered nurse whenever she feels ready to do so.
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