Mental Health Nurse Apprentice Review

by NHS

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

7.1/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

I work as a healthcare support worker, training to be a mental health nurse, but my day to day duties are personal care, emotional support, maintaining ward cleanliness, supporting patients to go on leave etc

5/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Yes, I was new to healthcare when I started so I have learnt a lot, and the ward I work on has given me a wealth of experience in different psychiatric illnesses, and placement has developed my nursing skills

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I love the uni work and learning new skills, and I've loved all my placements, but I'm not really enjoying my home ward

8/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

The learning content is well structured I follow the same programme as the UCAS students, with work on top. There are some things I'd change about course content but it is currently out for revalidation, so this should happen

7/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

I've been lucky in that my employer is understanding about the amount of study I have to do and I've been given time to do this, and she's also supported me to do as much extra training as I can, my manager has been brilliant

9/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

Some of the university staff are more helpful than others.

7/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

I'm learning about mental health nursing at University so I guess I'm learning what I need, and this year is focussing on leadership and management and delivering effective care, so it's helpful, however I don't think we learn enough about general mental health conditions

8/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

No extra curricular activities at work, we have a christmas doonce a year which isn't well attended. There are professional networking events but I've found them myself

5/10

9a. Would you recommend NHS to a friend?

9b. Why?

The NHS is on its knees and everyone is stressed and burnt out, and we get very little recognition for the work we put in

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NHS?

Be prepared to get very little recognition for the work you do, and for everyone to moan about you