May 2024
David’s Story
By David Sanchez Heredia
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David Sanchez Heredia
Mental Health Nursing BSc (Hons) (apprenticeship)
Nursing Associate FdSc (apprenticeship)
Passion for community care
David worked as a land surveyor in Spain before making the move to the UK eleven years ago. He and his wife, a social worker, are both passionate about community care.
It was this that led him to work in various patient-centred roles over a number of years, before choosing to enrol on the Nursing Associate degree apprenticeship top-up course offered at University College Birmingham, then topping up in Mental Health Nursing.
For David, the ability to earn while learning was essential: “I couldn’t afford to not work with my daughter being young still, so I’m thankful for the opportunity of an apprenticeship,” he said.
He believes that the mixture of practical and academic work involved in the apprenticeship add significantly to the learning experience, with placements and campus facilities helping to give a real sense of the job.
“On placement I worked on learning disability wards, attended surgeries, and worked with children, and at university, the lab is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. There’s a simulated ward with manikins that speak – I really enjoyed my lab days!”
“My work fulfils me every day, I really love it. I’m working, studying and I’m helping people. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”