A University of Chichester nursing student who took five years to complete a three-year degree – pausing her studies twice to have her two children – says the university’s support was key to helping her reach graduation.
Lucy Copeland, 25, started her BSc in Nursing in 2021. But with two children and a house move along the way, it hasn’t been smooth sailing – and it meant she ended up moving through three different cohorts before finishing this year.
“It’s been a very manic five years,” she said. “The university were really good, really supportive.”
Before nursing, Lucy worked as a baker and in sales, but says she always knew she wanted a career helping people. She completed an access course before starting her degree.
“I always wanted to help people… I knew I wanted to go into healthcare, so I did an access course and went into nursing from there,” she said.
Chichester was one of four universities that offered Lucy a place. She chose it partly for its proximity to home, and partly for its smaller cohort size.
“It is a smaller cohort, so you get a bit more time with tutors, and you have more time to speak up in class,” she said.
But her time at university hasn’t been without challenge. Balancing coursework with parenting meant working through the night once her children were asleep.
“Staying up until 4am doing dissertations – you have to do it when the kids are asleep – and still having to work weekends while trying to find childcare,” she said.
But the hard work has paid off, and Lucy has secured a role with St Mary’s Portsmouth’s urgent community response team. She starts two weeks after she finishes her degree. The service works to keep patients out of hospital and treat them at home, operating a two-hour response time in partnership with the ambulance service.
“We’re trying to keep them out of hospital and keep them at home… catheters, urgent bloods, treating them at home through virtual ward,” she said.
Reflecting on the road to graduation, Lucy’s message to others considering a similar path is to take it steadily.
“It is really hard but just keep going, just keep sticking at it,” she said. “If you keep working towards it and keep turning up and you’re present and you get things done, take it one day at a time, it will happen. It is determination to do it ”