Hager Addai Akwan

I decided to study at the University of Northampton because I’d heard very good things about it, especially regarding nursing, which is what I wanted to study. I also chose it because of its excellent academic reputation and the beautiful campus – I was mesmerised by how beautiful and modern it is. The wide range of courses and opportunities at the University was also one of the reasons why I thought it would be a great place to go.

My career goal is to become a mental health nurse. This is so that I can provide patients with compassionate care, promote mental health awareness, and support individuals with mental health issues on their journey to recovery.

My degree in Mental Health Nursing will greatly benefit my career because it will allow me to gain knowledge in psychology, psychiatric nursing, and therapeutic interventions, so I’ll be prepared with all the skills I need to provide my future patients with effective care.

The skills I’ve gained during my studies that will be most useful to my career are active listening, which will help me understand and empathise with my patients’ experiences; effective communication skills, so I can establish trust and build therapeutic relationships, and problem-solving skills, which will allow me to think of solutions quickly when I’m in a complex situation.

I’m currently undertaking a placement as part of my course, where I encourage students to take care of their mental wellbeing and make sure they’re aware of how important mental health is. We also create wellbeing activities so that they have chance to take care of their mental health and teach them how to overcome stress. This experience has benefited me by allowing me to approach people correctly. My listening skills have significantly improved, including how to help people manage their wellbeing and stress levels, and my communication skills have also improved, which will be helpful in my career and will allow me to connect with people.

My placement will help me guarantee my opportunity of getting employment after graduating. It provides me with real-world experience and allows me to apply the knowledge and skills I’ve learned in practical settings, so I’ll be ready to use these skills when I graduate.

My tips on getting the most benefit from a placement is to reflect and learn from all the knowledge you gain so that you can identify areas where your skills need to improve, to embrace challenges, step out of your comfort zone, and engage in all tasks. Be prepared and ready to always learn so you can absorb all the knowledge you will gain.

My advice to undergraduates interested in this career path would be don’t underestimate yourself, always believe in yourself. My UON experience has enlightened me, and I learn something new every day.