Kennedy’s Story

Kennedy Bowman

Nursing Associate and Team Leader/Supervisor apprenticeships

Childhood inspiration to award winner

Kennedy’s passion for healthcare began in childhood, when she was inspired by the kindness and compassion of a community nurse who would visit her father at home.

“I just used to sit with her all the time, and she just made it really welcoming," she said. "It kind of stopped being sad and made it a nicer memory. From then, I've always wanted to do some sort of nursing or healthcare."

She embarked on a nursing associate apprenticeship course before completing a degree top-up, and now works as a senior mental health nurse. She said: "The degree really helped my report writing, but it also improved my skills in working with patients.”

Her current apprenticeship has allowed her to build the managerial elements of the the job. “Having that kind of all-round view of how everything works together just makes everything so much more helpful, when you know exactly how you are helping the patients,” she said.

Kennedy received a Learner of the Year award from her employer Cygnet, alongside another apprentice training with University College Birmingham, David Sanchez Heredia.

Ultimately, for her, the most important aspect is helping patients.

“When I see patients come in who are unwell, but then get to the point of being better, and leaving us in a much better place, that's just amazing to see," she said. 

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