A mum-of-four is proof that age is no barrier when it comes to achieving her lifelong dream of training to become a nurse.
Linsey Gawtry is no stranger to caring for people as she has spent the last 22 years working in her hometown of Goole as a healthcare assistant at the hospital’s outpatient department.
However, she has always had a burning desire to become a nurse. Linsey said: “Before working at the hospital I worked in a care home, so I have always looked after people one way or another. Being a nurse is something I have always wanted to do but I didn’t think I could fit it around my children, or that I could afford to leave my job and pay my university course fees as it would have been a struggle.
“I also never thought I would be clever enough to go to university. Now I know if you work hard enough you can do it.
“I am going to be 50 this year, but now I see age is also no barrier, it just means I will be a mature student. In fact, with age comes experience, and I have a lot of that, which I am sure will help me. I have also had the support of my family and colleagues to go for it.”
Linsey is now signed up to do a two-year top up degree at Hull University starting this week which will see her qualify as a nurse.
While studying, she will continue to do her role as a senior healthcare assistant one day a week, and then she will complete blocks of weeks either at university or on hospital placement. She said: “I cannot wait, especially as I will have the best of both worlds, training and still being able to do my job.”
Her current role sees her helping to set up the outpatient clinics, assisting the doctors, carrying out basic observations such as taking blood pressure readings, field vision eye tests, doing bladder scans, and helping with procedures such as hysteroscopies and colposcopies.
Linsey added: “I always try and go the extra mile for my patients. It is scary for people when they come in, whether for an appointment or as an inpatient. It is all about making sure their experience with us is as comfortable as possible. It is often the little things you can do which people remember.
“I am really looking forward to this next chapter of my career. I am proof that age is no barrier, and if you work hard, believe in yourself, you can realise your dreams.”