I am due to graduate with a first in BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) and qualify as an RMN in September 2019. Both in clinical practice and in academic contexts, colleagues from nursing and medicine have encouraged me to apply for graduate medicine. Working closely with medics - especially in liaison psychiatry, community mental health and a research internship at the local medical school - has lead me to believe that my skills are better suited to a career in medicine. I aspire to deepen my understanding of physiology and pathology, diagnostics and pharmacodynamics, and autonomous clinical practice. This would allow me to work with people to improve their physical and mental health to a greater degree than I've found in nursing. 

 

In preparation for a medical career, I entered the College of Medicine's Michael Pittilo Essay Award 2018 and placed third (winning £100). I have completed my Good Research Practice certificate with the Medical Research Council. I have also been attending events run by the University of Plymouth School of Medicine, including MegaTeach sessions (part of MegaReach), an enhanced undergraduate post-mortem, and the Peninsula Emergency Medicine and Trauma Conference. It is through these activities, aimed at medical students, that I have discovered an inspiration for medicine. 

 

My achievements in nursing also make me a strong candidate for graduate medicine. I was one of six nursing students in England selected to attend the European Network of Nursing in Higher Education Intensive Programme (ENNE IP 2018) in Finland, working with nursing students from 14 other European countries on problem-based learning scenarios. I have been elected student representative for the School of Nursing and Midwifery, appointed mental health student editor of the Nursing Times, and spoken at the Council of Deans of Health Full Council on preregistration student involvement in research. Research is a particular passion of mine, and this year I had my first article published in an academic journal (Journal of Research in Nursing), and won £300 funding to present at the RCN International Nursing Research Conference at the University of Birmingham Medical School. I also have two co-authored articles pending publication, one on e-health in mental health and the other on a new suicide intervention model. 

 

As I have lived experience of mental health issues, I am currently contracted to the Care Quality Commission as an expert by experience, and my research with CQC contributed to 'Are we listening? Review of children and young people's mental health services' (March 2018). I am also contracted to the Royal College of Psychiatrists as part of their 'Effective, Safe, Compassionate and Sustainable Staffing' (ESCASS) Guide. Plus, I am a research and policy advisor for Beat, and am contributing to their campaign to encourage more junior doctors to specialise in eating disorders psychiatry. 

 

These achievements demonstrate that I have the necessary skills to excel in medicine, including perseverance, integrity and leadership. I want to engage in evidence-based practice and contribute to the evidence base. I want to improve people's health, individually, nationally, and globally. I achieved an 80% average in the first and second years of my BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) and was in the top 1% of UKCAT entrants. 

 

My ambition is to study one of the most highly regarded medical degrees in the UK. I would be very grateful to demonstrate my capability further as part of an interview process. Thank you for considering my application.

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Offer: Newcastle

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