Chester student nurse uses her voice to empower fellow learners

Helping people is the reason that University of Chester student Katherine Scanlan decided to go into nursing.

But it’s not just patients the 22-year has learned to support while studying for her degree in Mental Health Nursing.

The life-long Chester resident has discovered her strength in being a voice for her fellow students and has advocated for her peers during the coronavirus pandemic, all while working 30 hours a week on hospital wards, managing academic demands and balancing home life.

During her third year, Katherine became one of two student representatives for her cohort and had been actively involved as a spokesperson for her student group since year one.

“I feel like I’ve grown up a lot throughout this degree and learned a lot, not just about nursing,” said Katherine.

“My favourite thing has been to experience opportunities to care for people in numerous different services and areas. The people I’ve met and worked with have shaped me into a completely different person with a different outlook on life.

“I’ve been a sounding board, a ‘tough-question asker’, and I’ve been there to just offer support a shoulder to cry on.

“When someone has been unhappy or uncertain, I’ve asked the right questions and found the answers. I’ve arranged and attended important meetings to discuss academic issues, and I’ve also helped my friends find the support they’ve needed.”

Katherine has a staff nurse position waiting for her when she qualifies in January 2021 and hopes to use the additional skills she has gained as a student representative to help patients and professionals.

She said: “I want to be part of service improvement projects to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help people get better and live their lives as normally as possible.

“The University of Chester has helped me to grow into a strong and confident young woman with lots of ambition to have a long career in nursing.”

Rebecca Hall, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Chester, said: “Katherine has been a pleasure to teach and an exceptional student from the outset. She has negotiated the demands of the BN Mental Health programme with a level of maturity that far exceeds her 22 years and has been a source of support for her peers. This has been particularly evident during the pandemic. Katherine will make an outstanding mental health nurse and will be an asset to the profession.”

Pictured - Katherine Scanlan