Nursing Associates Graduate at Grand Ceremony on Friday, 8th November

Twenty thrilled Bournemouth and Poole College students received their honours at the Nursing Associates graduation in the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on Friday, 8^th November. 

Donning their gowns and their blue stripes, they joined hundreds of other students from the Faculty of Healthcare and Social Sciences, with Masters of Science in Advanced Clinical Practice, Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Care, and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice, among others. 

The Nursing Associate programme is now in its fifth year of operation, having launched in 2020. across Bournemouth and Poole College. The programme is affiliated with Bournemouth University for the overall award. As such, the students graduating on Friday were the first to pass the portal into Nursing Associate graduate status. 

The ceremony opened with Professor Sara White as MC, and Professor Anand Pandyam giving a speech about the newly-attributed graduates of the Health Faculty and their futures, and finally Pro-Chancellor Dr Ann Abraham presenting an Honorary Doctorate in Science to Dr Michael Dooley, an expert in Gynaecology, who runs the Poundbury Clinic for fertility, who advised students to “do things with people, not for them”, as he congratulated the new graduates. 

Angelique Atack, Health & Functional Skills Delivery Manager for the Healthcare Faculty, organising the graduation from Bournemouth and Poole College side said: “Our thanks go to both the BIC and Bournemouth University for putting on such an excellent show for our Nursing Associate graduates. The students had a great time and they went out with a true bang! – all the best to them in their new careers and we hope that they will continue to shine the light for the service that they are joining. They’ve done the college proud.”

Nursing Associates hold a pivotal role within the wider health and care team, giving key support in a number of areas. They support the career progression of healthcare support workers, enable nurses to focus on more complex clinical responsibilities and help grow the nursing workforce by providing a pathway to becoming a qualified nurse. Nursing Associates study six platforms of seven, which make up the whole Nursing qualification. 

Angelique, Nursing Associate lecturer, was on the platform this year for the recognition of her contribution to the Nursing Associate programme and proudly watched each student take their place on the stage. Also in attendance was lecturer, Sam Pallister (who helped as an usher), who supported the group throughout the programme. It was also a proud moment for both Directors in Health and Apprenticeships Louise Garner and Higher Education, Antony Carr.