More than 1,700 students will walk the Dome stage to collect awards during the University of Brighton's Winter Graduation ceremonies on Thursday and Friday this week.
They include students who have already made a significant impact on the world outside the university such as Jayne Parker (Nursing) and Sam McCreesh (Paramedic Practice).
Nursing student Jayne Parker is one of only 22 health professionals who made up the Prime Minister's Nursing and Care Quality Forum which met at 10 Downing Street and included former Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley. The forum aims to help all those involved in providing nursing and care in all care settings. Throughout her studies at the university, Jayne has also been the South East representative for students at the Royal College of Nursing.
Jayne said: "I feel extremely privileged and excited to be involved in the forum, but also a little daunted by the scale of the task involved. I hope the work undertaken by the forum can have a real effect on the care given every day to patients."
Prior to starting her course Jayne worked as a software engineer but decided to change careers in 2009. She said: "My nursing course has been extremely challenging and rewarding and I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from excellent lecturers and nursing colleagues. I am looking forward to qualifying and using the knowledge gained throughout the last three years."
Sam McCreesh was one of the first cohort of students from the Paramedic Practice BSc(Hons) course. In his third year, Sam had an article on reducing the risk of post-partum haemorrhage accepted by the Journal of Paramedic Practice – the UK's definitive periodical for paramedics. All nine graduates of the course have secured employment with their Ambulance Trust of choice – all within the NHS – and the course is now the most oversubscribed.
Sam said: "I really enjoyed the course at Brighton and although it was challenging at times I feel it has prepared me well for my career. I now work as a paramedic for South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and I am consolidating my learning during my first year as a newly registered healthcare professional. After that, I hope to complete the mentorship course and perhaps study a specialist paramedic qualification in the future."
Course leader, Kevin Barrett, said: "The success of the course here is due largely to the very structure of the programme. Constant exposure to clinical practice coupled with the ways that the continuity of student support – in both the practice settings and on campus - is maximised, help to encourage the development of confident and competent paramedics. We have certainly seen that in the 2009 cohort."
