Carlie Andrews

What are your top 3 favourite things about Swansea (the city/area)?

The beaches, beautiful places to go for walks and the history

Why did you choose to study your degree at Swansea?

I am local to Swansea and didn’t want to leave the city. I felt I had my friends, and family near and I felt happy in the city, so I didn’t feel the need to move away to study. I had previously studied at Swansea University for my BA in History and MA in Modern History, so I felt happy and comfortable to come back to study at Swansea University for my BSc in Adult Nursing. I chose nursing at Swansea University because it had high university course ratings and ranks within the UK ranks. As a Welsh student, I was able to access the NHS Wales bursary to study nursing which helped me to finance my nursing education.

What is your favourite thing about your course?

• I was able to learn and develop my social skills which I find difficult due to my neurodiversity. I feel I have developed and matured into a better person since studying BSc Adult Nursing at Swansea University. 
• The friendliness of the lecturers and their skills in their nursing fields.
• The encouragement of the university to ensure student nurses are involved in extracurricular activities such as the Royal College of Nursing and other amazing roles to help students not only develop their social skills but also their career and networking skills.
• The amazing clinical placements the university allows students to complete and enhances their clinical knowledge and skills before qualifying as nurses.

What are you planning to do after you graduate / what are you doing following graduation?

Before completing my course, I applied for a job as a registered nurse through NHS Wales streamlining in a dialysis unit I regularly worked on as an NHS Healthcare Support Worker during my studies. I was offered the job and I am now developing my skills and knowledge in a specialist area of Haemodialysis. I love my job and enjoy interacting with the patients and my work colleagues. After a few years of working as a band 5 nurse, I would like to return to Swansea University to study for a Masters in the nursing field to develop my clinical skills, and academic knowledge and help patients within the Swansea area. My dream is to one day undertake a PhD in nursing, but that is a few years away.

Would you recommend Swansea University to other students? Why?

Absolutely! I enjoyed studying at Swansea University and felt I was well supported by my lecturers, the library (shout out the Centre of Academic Success), and non-academic areas such as the wellbeing team.

Are you/have you been part of a society?

I didn’t have time to be part of a society at Swansea University during my nursing training but was part of the Royal College of Nursing as a Student Ambassador. During my other degrees, I was part of the History Society for 4 years which I loved. 

Have you undertaken a work placement as part of your course (Year in Industry)?

Clinical placement as part of the nursing course.

Have you worked part-time during your degree?

Yes, I worked as a bank NHS Health Care Support Worker during my training.

Have you accessed student support at Swansea University?

Yes, I accessed the Centre of Academic Success, The Library (specifically the College of Human and Health Sciences Department) and the Wellbeing Services