CASE STUDY: Susan Ginn

When we spoke to Susan she was working as a Cardiology nurse at Hammersmith Hospital, while working for her BSc in Nursing.

 

Susan made the traditional journey into and through higher education. After taking her GCSEs she went to Amersham & Wycombe College and achieved Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A-level. Not knowing what she wanted to do as a career she went to university to study Biology as this was her strongest subject. Susan graduated from the University of Sussex with a BSc in Biology but still not knowing what she really wanted to do. Although she loved Biology she knew didn't want to work in a laboratory. She considered herself a people person and working in a laboratory wouldn't offer her much interaction with the public or allow her to show her caring side.

After graduating, Susan took a job with Costa Coffee where she enjoyed the busy environment and meeting a variety of customers. She was promoted to Assistant Manager but when offered promotion to Manager, she realised that she didn't want this as her career. Susan took time out to consider her options and decided to begin nursing training as this combined applying her science knowledge with working with people.

Susan found the training tough to begin with particularly when on placement. She found it challenging to translate her academic knowledge into practice but her fellow students were supportive and she worked hard. In her second year she was placed on a Cardiology ward which she thoroughly enjoyed and decided that she would want to specialise in this area.

Susan is now qualified and working at Hammersmith Hospital on the Cardiology ward. She is really enjoying her new career and working towards the BSc in Nursing. There were occasional frustrations during the course but with a supportive and understanding family to back her up, Susan says it has been all worthwhile.

Her advice to the potential students going into university is to think long and hard before deciding on which course to study. It is hard to know what you want to do as a career when you are 18 so if necessary take the time out to make the right decision for you.

We spoke to Susan in February 2009