“I didn’t get the grades initially and I definitely agree that if you have an idea of where you want to be and what you want to do, I would say just keep going and you will get there eventually.” This is the encouraging message from Ulster Hospital’s Macmillan Cancer Unit Nurse Savanna Connell as thousands of students across Northern Ireland receive their A’Level and AS results.
Pupils and their families will receive their results and make crucial decisions about their educational future. For those pupils who may not receive the results they had hoped for or needed, Savanna explained how her path to Nursing was, initially, not a straight forward one.
“I moved to Northern Ireland from England when I was 18 and settled in Killyleagh. I didn’t go straight to College and I got a job in a Care Home at that time. From there I got a job with the South Eastern Trust as an Auxiliary Nurse and it was when I was in post that the team offered me a chance to do an Open University course to Nursing.”
Savanna described how she received, “so much support from her colleagues.”
“The course was over four years and when you weren’t on placement you continued to work on your base ward. I had study time and once I qualified I was given the choice of where I wanted to go and where I wanted to be based and I automatically picked the Macmillan Unit. I’ve been here a year now and I absolutely love it,” said Savanna.
As well as the academic qualifications needed for a career in Nursing, Savanna stressed that the role needs certain qualities, “That simply cannot be taught”. I have always believed that to be a Nurse you need compassion, kindness and patience. As Nurses we do this role because we really care about people and we love our job.”
Savanna continued: “The support around a career in Nursing is fantastic and your mentors will support and guide you on your journey. If you don’t get the grades that you are expecting or want, there is always another choice, another option. Don’t give up on your dream.”
While Savanna’s path to her career Nursing wasn’t always easy, the 29-year-old added that, “It has made me the Nurse I am today.”
“I think that everything that has happened to me was the way it was meant to be. I didn’t go to University straight out of school. I did start from the bottom and work my way up and it was hard. Looking back, I am so glad I opted for the Open University course. At the time four years seemed like such a long time, but the time passed quickly and I qualified, I got the job that I wanted.”