“Nursing Chose Me” - Sir David Behan and Professor Soraya Dhillon Visit Croydon University Centre

Last week HEE’s Chair, Sir David Behan, and one of HEE’s Non-Executive Directors, Professor Soraya Dhillon visited the Croydon University Centre (CUC) to learn more about the new adult nursing degree on offer.  

The adult nursing degree at the CUC was set up in partnership with the University of Roehampton as part of their mission to widen participation, particularly for the local community. The Centre welcomed its first cohort of nursing students at the beginning of this academic year. 

There are 46 students in the first cohort of the adult nursing degree, with an incredible 49% from Croydon. Previously, local students had to leave the borough to study nursing and needed to consider extra costs like travelling. Now, with the ability to access the degree within Croydon, more prospective students from the local community have the opportunity to study nursing.  

Sir David Behan and Professor Soraya Dhillon had the chance to view the student nurses in action in the state-of-the-art clinical simulation centre. Using manikins (a model of the human body used in medical training), the student nurses demonstrated the care they would provide in real-life scenarios.  

The students gain experience using a combination of the clinical simulation centre and placements in NHS Trusts. The simulation centre allows students to practice a number of clinical scenarios including taking a patient’s blood pressure, practicing drawing blood, and much more. 

Speaking with some of the student representatives, Sir David and Professor Soraya learnt about their journeys into nursing and their experiences of the course so far.  

Many of the students were juggling home lives alongside their studies and coursework. Some had completed previous degrees, whilst others had worked in caring roles before choosing nursing. But all had found their way into a nursing degree due to their passion for helping others. As one student put it, “I didn’t choose nursing, nursing chose me.” 

They spoke with enthusiasm about their degree, and in particular the feeling of community they felt with the other students on the course. 

In partnership with the University of Roehampton, the Croydon University Centre plans to introduce further degree courses in the next academic year. These will include degrees in child nursing and associate nursing.