Emma Holey

Why Teesside?

It offered a district nursing course with the timeframe and structure that I was looking for and I’d heard positive things – particularly how supportive the module leaders were. Many of my colleagues studied here, and the district nurses that I work with all completed their district nursing qualification here.

How did uni help prepare you for your career?

Teesside helped me transition from band 5 to band 6, providing the skills I needed to step into a management role and approach the service with a fresh perspective. The leadership modules improved my confidence in managing staff and my placement team was extremely supportive in developing my skills, confidence and knowledge within my role.

One of my proudest achievements during my studies was being awarded the Philip Goodeve-Docker award from the Queen’s Nursing Institute – something I did not expect as I’d never previously thought of myself as particularly academic. It’s given me a lot of confidence for future academic work.

The support from the module leaders was amazing – I really couldn’t fault it. No matter the question, they were always available to help. Even when I was panicking over my dissertation, they reassured me straight away.

Tell us about your current role

I am a district nurse for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT), where I completed my training. I manage a small team of band 5 and band 3 nurses overseeing a caseload of patients. I work alongside GP surgeries and wider members of the multidisciplinary team to achieve the best care for patients, ensuring their treatment plans are appropriate and suited to them.

Our team also supports housebound patients who cannot visit their GP for treatment, identifying issues and helping them with social challenges and nursing care. Many patients have complex conditions, so it’s our job to ensure they are safe and their needs are met.

Tell us about your career since graduating

I qualified as a nurse in 2016 and worked in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust on the plastic surgery ward, where I learned excellent skills in acute wound management. After four years, I transferred to STSFT and joined the community as a band 5 nurse. I worked as a community staff nurse for four years, before applying for my district nursing qualification. I then moved to South Tyneside to complete my training. Once qualified, I chose to stay as a district nurse in the team where I did my training.

Ambitions for the future?

I am currently happy within my role and excited to see how the service will change, as nursing is constantly evolving. In the future, I plan to complete my non-medical prescribing qualification to better support my patients and the staff on the team.

Best part about studying at Teesside?

I really enjoyed meeting other students – we all became really good friends. It was interesting to see how other trusts worked and share our experiences.

Would you recommend Teesside and your course?

Definitely! I have recommended it to my colleagues, and one of them is currently studying there doing the same course I did.

* Course now known as PgDip Specialist Practice in District Nursing