Hannah Stubberfield

What were you doing before you decided to apply for a postgraduate course?

I studied an undergraduate degree in Film and Television Studies. I was a 2020 graduate, and the film industry was closed due to the pandemic. I got a job in healthcare during that time and fell in love, I haven’t looked back since!

What motivated you to pursue postgraduate study?

I wanted to further my career in healthcare by becoming a nurse. I discovered that you could do a Nursing pre-registration master’s if you already had an undergraduate degree and healthcare experience, both of which I had. For me it seemed like the logical next step in my career to gain a postgraduate degree rather than another bachelor’s qualification.

Why did you choose City St George's?

I chose City St George's as it offered the combined Adult and Mental Health Nursing MSc programme. The programme was three years which to me seemed a more realistic timeframe to complete the course compared to the shorter timeframes offered at other institutions. I also loved the idea of studying in London and being exposed to a wider patient population and being able to see how different conditions manifest on various skin tones.

Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study a postgraduate degree? If so, how did you overcome them?

It was a big decision for me to go back to university, especially considering the costs. When I found out I could fund the course with the Government’s loan and apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund, it eased my worries a bit.

I was also nervous about taking exams. My previous degree did not require exams so by the time I applied to City St George's I hadn’t taken any exams since 2017. This was daunting, but I knew through my life experience it would be something I could handle.

How are you funding your studies?

I’m funding my course like an undergraduate degree, with a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan from Student Finance England. I also get the NHS Learning Support Fund which really helps my personal finances.

What does a typical week at university look like for you?

A typical week can look different depending on if I’m at university or on placement. If I’m at university, I am often on campus 3/4 days a week, with a mixture of half days and full days. I have a mixture of lectures, seminars, and simulated practice in our clinical skills suites. I also often spend a day or afternoon in the library completing pre-work for my lectures or working on assignments.

If I am on placements this can change. If I am on a community placement, I am often doing 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. If I am on an inpatient placement, I am often doing a long day (12-hour shift) three or four times a week.

I also spend time volunteering for Girlguiding during term time, I have a part-time job working as a student ambassador at City St George's and get to pick my hours around my own schedule and commitments. On evenings and weekends, I often go out exploring the city and meeting up with friends and family.

What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?

I love how knowledgeable the lectures are and how skilled they are in their fields. With many of them conducting their own research. I have really enjoyed my time in the Clinical Skills Suites practicing skills in a safe environment before implementing them on real people in placement. I have really enjoyed using the patient simulation suites to learn more about what it is like to live life with a particular condition.

What knowledge and skills have your course helped you develop?

I have really developed my understanding of healthcare in general, the way the system works, knowledge of other roles within healthcare and care throughout the life cycle. I have really developed my understanding of anatomy and physiology as well as pathophysiology and understanding what makes people ill and well again.

I feel like studying the combined programme has really helped me to develop as a healthcare professional, as I now understand both physical and mental health, and how they interact with each other and how interconnected they are. As you cannot have mental health without physical health and vice versa, understanding both will make me a more well-rounded practitioner.

What opportunities and experiences have City St George's offered you so far?

I have had many opportunities offered to me at City St George's. Through my placements, I have been able to gain experience in a range of settings that I would not have been able to otherwise. I recently completed a placement in Nursing Research and was able to witness research being implemented in ICU, cardiac as well as Cancer Research, including some ground-breaking cancer treatments.

City St George's has also given me the opportunity to work with the Students’ Union by being a Student Representative for my course, helping to guide and change the way the course is structured and run. I have also been involved with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in structuring their new Code for Student Nurses.

Outside of my course, City St George's has been very supportive of me in receiving a diagnosis of ADHD. The Student Health and Wellbeing team have been very supportive implementing a support programme that has helped me excel in my studies. They have helped me a lot on my academic journey, signposting me to different organisations as well as supporting my mental health through their free counselling service.

What are your career plans and how has City St George's prepared you for them?

My plan when I qualify is to become a Staff Nurse working in CAMHS inpatient services. City St George's has helped me prepare for this by giving me the opportunity to explore lots of different healthcare settings so I could figure out where I would like my career to go. I would also love to get involved with Nursing Research later in my career. Something that was inspired by both my placement in Nursing Research as well as through research-based modules on the course.

What advice would you give to someone considering a postgraduate degree?

I would say to people to consider the financial and time constraints of completing a postgraduate degree. Some courses are longer than others (such as mine being three years) and some courses are funded whereas others aren’t. You will need to figure out if it’s something you can afford to do and something you have the time to do.

Doing a postgraduate degree is hard work so you need to make sure you have the time to put in your best effort. I would also say that education can't be taken away from you once you’ve got it. Having a postgraduate degree will only further improve your career and your life!