Millie, from Taunton, is in her second year studying the Nursing Associate Foundation Degree as part of an apprenticeship. She was selected as an Editor for the Nursing Times in December and has had her first article published.
In the article she talks about how choosing to do an apprenticeship was one of the easiest decisions she had ever made.
Millie studied T Level Nursing at Bridgwater & Taunton College, before applying for both the Trainee Nursing Associate apprenticeship and the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) degree. After being accepted onto both, Millie decided to pursue the route of the Nursing Associate apprenticeship.
In her article Millie says that both apprenticeships and degrees are equally valuable routes into a healthcare career. Millie explained one of the reasons for choosing the apprenticeship route;
“Due to having a base employment area and being counted in the staffing levels in an apprenticeship, you are paid a wage. In addition to this, there are no university fees associated with studying the course, so the course is provided to you, as the student, free of charge.
She concluded that;
“The content taught on apprenticeships is usually similar if not identical to the content taught on a degree programme. So, the assumption that apprenticeships are for those that are not as strong academically is a myth. It purely depends on the opportunities that you have available to you, your style of learning and what you would like to gain from the experience as a whole.”
Read Millie’s full article here: https://www.nursingtimes.net/students/when-i-chose-to-do-an-apprenticeship-it-was-one-of-the-easiest-decisions-i-had-ever-made-30-01-2025/
Find out about studying for a Nursing Associate Apprenticeship here: https://www.somerset.ac.uk/courses/nursing-associate-foundation-degree/