On their way! First graduates cut it as nurse associates in Kent and Medway

Dream comes true for Folashade Yusuf’ Adewuyi Photo: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

The first ever cohort of in-house trained nurse associates have graduated from a new clinical academy at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT).

Sixteen people marked their graduation as part of a trust-wide staff celebration day, with eight of them coming along in person to receive their certificates and enjoy a buffet lunch on Friday, 23 October at Kent Event Centre in Detling.

This is the first cohort of graduates from KCHFT’s new academy, which was set up to enhance the Kent and Medway NHS workforce through in-house training, accredited by the Open University. The graduates have completed two years of study alongside their employment to become registered nurse associates; the next step to becoming a registered nurse. The academy also has apprentices training to be registered nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Graduate Folashade Yusuf-Adewuye, watched proudly by husband Ade, took to the stage to deliver a heartfelt speech about her own journey to become a nurse associate.

Dream comes true

Folashade said: “I don’t recognise the person I was at the start of the course compared to myself now. I am much more confident and so proud to be part of this trust. I have been supported by the academy team, my family and my colleagues every step of the way. It was always my dream to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a nurse. Now my dream has come true.”

KCHFT Chief Nurse Dr Mercia Spare said: “Two years ago we recognised we needed to offer an alternative to people who wanted to train in healthcare but couldn’t afford to take time out to go to university. This is a new model of training but like all good ideas it’s based on a successful model from the past, which is learning on the job.

“Our new nurse associates have worked so hard to receive their new qualification and we are really proud of what they have achieved. This is just the beginning of their nursing journey and we can’t wait to see how they will progress.”

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