Peter Abbs-Fortnum

Peter Abbs-Fortnum opted to complete his nursing training through the Nursing Associate (NMC 2018) Apprenticeship, valuing the financial stability it offered him while studying. He’s now a Registered Nursing Associate employed by Southampton Primary Care Ltd (SPCL). He shares what it was like to complete his studies through an apprenticeship.

"I opted to complete my nursing training through the apprenticeship programme at Solent because I was able to get paid to work and study at the same time. As a homeowner with a mortgage, the apprenticeship offered me financial stability and security which I could not guarantee going through the traditional three-year nursing degree option - a choice I would not hesitate to make again.

"I was incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to complete my studies through Solent. Despite commencing the apprenticeship in March 2021 (during the coronavirus pandemic), the team at Solent were amazing at delivering a comprehensive and engaging course – adapting the course quickly to facilitate a hybrid model of learning at home and on site. The team were exceptionally friendly and supportive, drawing upon a wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as extending our learning with the addition of guest lecturers.

"Over the two-year course, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to undertake four eight-week placements. Our first was impacted by Covid and had to be undertaken within our own workplace but I still gained extensive experience and knowledge. I was also given the opportunity to have a placement at St Catherine’s View Dementia Care Home and two placements at University Hospital Chichester. I could not have asked for better placements!"

The course has massively developed my knowledge, skills, and experience – my favourite modules included Anatomy and Physiology, and Recognising and Escalating a Deteriorating Patient, as it was incredibly relevant to my current role and an area I have always found interesting. Completing the apprenticeship has given me a greater understanding of why we do something and has also given me a lot of confidence to be able to better educate others.

My current role involves delivering enhanced health care in care homes, as well as clinical shifts within a GP surgery setting; the scope of my work extends from administrative duties to clinical skills such as phlebotomy, vaccinations, and long-term condition management.

My ambition now is to complete the top-up course with the aim to becoming a fully-qualified registered nurse within the next couple of years. The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship has been a massively beneficial stepping stone in my healthcare career; I am ever so grateful to the nursing team at Solent and look forward to being able to complete my top-up course in the near future!