26-year-old Mia Curley recently graduated from her student nurse associate apprenticeship and shares her journey into palliative care nursing.
“After working at a care home, I joined Hospiscare as a health care assistant and worked on the ward for about a year. I successfully applied for the student nurse associate apprenticeship and began the two-year training programme in 2023.
“The training felt like a lot at times, but I wouldn’t change anything. I worked full time on the ward, doing 14-hour shifts, and spent one day at university working on assignments and preparing for my exams. I was also able to undertake placements at the hospital, for example working on the paediatric and orthopaedic wards, so that I got a broad and varied understanding of nursing.
“I really enjoyed the practical approach, spending most of my time on placements as it felt so important to be face-to-face with patients and their families. The practice educators at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust helped me with the challenges of the training, for example maintaining a work-life balance and my mentors at Hospiscare, Chev and Jess, would frequently check if there were any particular placements or experiences that I wanted as part of my training. I was able to see an orthopaedic surgery and request placements that I felt would be useful for a career in palliative nursing.
“It was really important to me to work in palliative care; it was something I enjoyed when working in the care home and I had personal experience of the hospice as my grandad died on the ward. The care he received was amazing and it influenced my decision on the type of nursing I wanted to pursue.
“There were so many highlights to my training, the main one being the group that I trained with. We all became so close during our training and have been able to support each other through newly qualifying. I’m so fortunate that the person I sat next to on my first day of university is now one of my best friends. I’m also so grateful to be part of the incredible team on the ward here at Hospiscare. We each bring our own unique skillset, and I know there’s always someone I can talk to and get advice from because we all have such different backgrounds and training.
“I also really want to thank Carolyn and Petra from the In-Patient Unit (IPU) who were my practice assessors during my training.
“It’s an absolute privilege to work at Hospiscare. We look after people at such a vulnerable time in their lives and we can make a difference to what they’re going through, whether that’s symptom control or helping them achieve their final wishes, like anniversary meals or spending time in the garden or even weddings! We can make the last part of their life as good as we can, and I am proud to be a part of that.”
Mia Curley at her graduation
Chervonne Chamberlain, Clinical Practice Facilitator said:
“I first met Mia when she joined the Inpatient Unit as a Health Care Assistant.
“She very quickly became one of the team and demonstrates a passion for Palliative Care and was keen to develop further, becoming only the second person to undertake her Nurse Associate training through Hospiscare.
“The training takes place over a period of two years and is intense. As well as working full-time Mia spent one day a week with the University and has worked in various placements with ongoing assignments/exams to complete.
“It has been a pleasure to have been part of the team supporting Mia through her training.
“She has gained valuable knowledge and skills and is now transitioning into her new role as Nurse Associate which will allow her to take full responsibility for the patients she cares for on the Inpatient Unit.”
