Higher National study makes progression a reality for Care students

Seventeen Borders College students have credited their Higher National study for their successful progression to further study and employment in the care sector.

The Care and Administrative Practice group, who have spent the past academic year working towards gaining their Higher National Certificates, are all looking forward to moving on and taking the next steps into their future careers.

An impressive 17 students are preparing to graduate with an HNC from Borders College in September (the equivalent to the first year of Adult Nursing academic study) before joining degree programmes, for both 1st and 2nd year entry, at Edinburgh Napier, Abertay, Glasgow Caledonian, Stirling and Queen Margaret Universities.

The HNC programme offers candidates wide and varied opportunities for learning – every student is required to complete a work placement, and the group also benefits from guest speakers throughout the course duration, which this year included Health Visitors, Palliative Care and Infection Control Nurses, a Dementia Care specialist and Specialist Medicine Prescribing Nurse.

Chloe Richardson (who has a deferred place on level 2 Adult Nursing at Edinburgh Napier University for September 2019) commented that the HNC course helped build her confidence in nursing, whilst Olivia Brophy (set to begin studying Midwifery at Edinburgh Napier this September) benefitted from 3 separate placement opportunities with Peebles District Nurses as well as at Haylodge Hospital in Peebles, and Ward 6 at the Borders General Hospital.

Although many of the group enrolled onto the HNC following completion of other courses at the College (such as Melissa Mullin who came to College straight from school and worked her way up to HNC level over 3 consecutive years) others, including Emma Park and Mariette Warnock, were already registered Nurse Bank staff for NHS Borders. Emma and Mariette both have University places waiting for them following the summer – Emma has conditional offers for Adult Nursing at both Edinburgh Napier and Glasgow Caledonian Universities, while Mariette will begin Midwifery at Edinburgh Napier with the long-term goal of becoming a Health Visitor once she has built up experience as a Midwife.

Evelyn Chelley, Link Lecturer for the programme, said:

“I’m impressed and proud of what this class have achieved.

“We are also grateful to the guest speakers for their valuable contributions in sharing their expertise within their respective fields.”

Evelyn has kept in touch with students from previous years, one of whom completed their HNC at the College in 2016 and is now reaching the end of their 3rd year of a degree at Queen Margaret University, with another now in the Royal Navy and training to become a Medic.

The opportunities available to students upon completion of the programme are rich and varied – not only have eleven of the students been able to join both the NHS and Nursing Home bank staff as Nursing Care Assistants as a result of studying the HNC programme, another student is about to head off to Canada for the summer to a Diabetic Summer Camp for kids as a Camp Counsellor.

This year’s group are a shining example of how hard work and motivation can take them where they hoped to be, and set them on track for their chosen careers.

If you are considering a career in care, find out more about related courses at Borders College.