You will never regret becoming a nurse

Why did you want to work in healthcare, and was there a reason you decided to train as a nurse at Sheffield specifically?

“I've always known from secondary school that I wanted to work within the public sector but I was initially torn between nursing or policing.

“However, as I got older and unfortunately experienced loved ones receiving treatment from various healthcare professionals, I knew I wanted to make a difference. A particular experience with a close relative made me decide on becoming a nurse; watching the impact that they had on us all as a family, I was in awe of nurses and had so much respect for them. It was then that I wanted to be that said nurse to hopefully impact a person and their family in the way that I had experienced.”

Tell us more about your positive experiences at the University of Sheffield.

“This is the second time that I have studied with the University of Sheffield and I think that alone is a reflection on how amazing it is as a university and why I chose to study here again for the second time. Not only does the University of Sheffield have an impeccable reputation but my first degree was an apprenticeship and if it wasn't for the opportunities Sheffield has to offer, I wouldn't have been able to return to university the second time to complete my nursing degree.

“Throughout both of my degrees, I have felt supported and really valued as a student instead of feeling like a number on a course that is more focused on recruiting students than actually creating positive student experiences.

“The course content is a perfect balance between theory and practical and because the cohorts are small, the staff are extremely approachable, supportive and genuinely care! They are more than willing to accept feedback and at the end of each unit would allow honest feedback from us students to adapt the programme to create a better work life balance as well as make changes to the course content to make it more relevant and beneficial moving forward for ourselves and future students.  

“When the course was coming to an end, I was honoured to have the opportunity to stay involved as part of the alumni and attend the university as a guest speaker to share my experiences and knowledge with current nursing students.”

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in nursing?

“My advice for someone considering a career in nursing is to seek opportunities to gain experiences in healthcare - visit your local hospital, volunteer and really get a feel for it before you apply because it isn't for everyone.

“Nursing isn’t a glamorous profession, it is physically and mentally exhausting but it is such a rewarding career. 

It is impossible to express the satisfaction you get from knowing you've given your all and you are the reason that the outcome of patient care was positive.

Becky Sciascia

BMedSci Nursing (Adult)

"Being able to see someone improve, regain independence, or feel comforted during their most vulnerable moments is so purposeful. You will never regret becoming a nurse!”