Laura Mackenzie-Raymond from Inverness shares her experience of training as a nurse and discusses some of the personal challenges she’s faced along the way.
At the age of 31, I decided to apply for nursing without any healthcare experience. I have always been passionate about making a positive difference but didn’t have the confidence to make the leap previously. With help from UHI, I knew that I had to complete the access to nursing college course initially as I had been out of education for a while.
My working background is mainly administration support and I had been working part-time since the birth of my daughter. In 2015, I was diagnosed with postnatal depression and anxiety, which fluctuated over the following years. I made UHI staff aware of this during the application stage and they were extremely supportive.
For me, the course has had a significant positive impact on my life. I had been working in an office-based role for many years and always felt I could be giving more. Highly ambitious, I’ve always been eager to learn new skills and I crave variety in my day.
Despite my mental health illness, studying a full-time degree has changed my life. I thrive when I am learning new skills and information, and the placements are an incredible insight into life as a qualified nurse. I find it so rewarding making a difference to someone’s day and it is a privilege to work with patients in all settings.
I enjoyed it so much so that I applied for a role as a bank health care assistant with NHS Highland in 2021. I also find this is ideal for family and studying life, as the flexibility of the contract allows you to work where and when you can.
In 2022, three months into my second year of nursing, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. I was near the end of a seven-week placement and my world came to an abrupt halt. UHI were fantastic in supporting me through this uncertain time, they guided me through the process of suspension of studies and I returned to second year in September this year. I spent nine months recovering and counting down the days until I could get back to UHI!
On my return, I was anxious that I had lost my skills to study, but it all came flooding back and I was soon back into a routine of lecture timetables and ‘to do’ lists like I’d never been away. Treatment has left me with some challenges like pain and fatigue, but it doesn’t stop me pursuing my dream career and I am determined more than ever – it’s just about finding the right balance.
I have made some wonderful friends along the way and we keep each other going knowing that we are all on this journey together. It may take me longer than some, but when I complete my degree, I know I will feel a great sense of achievement and possibly cry at graduation (as long as I don’t trip over!) 😊
To find out more about studying nursing at UHI, visit www.uhi.ac.uk/nursing
To access student support, visit www.uhi.ac.uk/support
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