Olivia Handley
Olivia speaks about achieving First Class Honours in her university degree alongside nursing people during the pandemic.
Olivia Handley was among those to have completed their degree at the University of Worcester, achieving First Class Honours in her Adult Nursing studies.
She told of what it was like to be called up to work. “This was daunting and I was scared, but with the support of my peers and regular teams meetings with lecturers I felt I could do it,” said the former Hereford Sixth Form pupil, who chose Worcester for its tight knot community feel and passionate lecturers.
Although she had been meant to take part in a study abroad programme in her final year, she worked on the frontline in the UK instead. She added: “Starting out your nursing career during a global pandemic was never planned, but I feel I am a better nurse for it and my confidence has grown.”
She is now a practicing nurse at Hereford hospital. “I absolutely love it,” she said. “I hope to go on to specialise in Dementia care, an aspect of nursing I’m extremely passionate about. Becoming a nurse has always been my dream, so to achieve a first class degree makes me feel enormously proud. It makes all the hard work over the three years worth it.”
Olivia had researched top nursing universities and visited them all but it was Worcester that really stood out to her. “It had a smaller, tight knit community feel to it and all the lecturers were so passionate about nursing and had reams of experience. It was a no brainer,” she said.
Find out more about studying at Worcester