Amanda (back row, third from left) alongside other Access to HE Health students at the 30-year celebration.
Amanda Swift was a hairdresser and decided she wanted a career change. She came to an Open Day thinking of a career in health but waited a year before starting.
Today, 12 years after completing her Access to Higher Education (HE) course in Nursing and Social Care (now known as Access to HE in Health and Social Care Professions), Amanda is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Respiratory Support in Adult Social Care at Exemplar Health Care.
After finishing her course, Amanda went on to study Nursing at Sheffield Hallam University, where she completed placements at Barnsley Hospital and Sheffield Hospital as an Adult Nurse.
Her career began in theatre recovery at Barnsley Hospital, followed by roles in intensive care and respiratory high dependency, where she developed an interest in pain management. This passion led her to become a Chronic Pain Nurse at Sheffield Hospital. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Amanda was on the frontline in a COVID ward’s intensive care unit.
Later, she joined Exemplar Health, a company operating 53 care homes nationwide for adults with complex needs. Amanda worked with individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and muscular dystrophy before joining the quality team, where she currently helps train staff and conducts bi-monthly audits to ensure top-quality care.
She is part of the team that received the prestigious Chief Nursing Award for outstanding contributions to nursing from Professor Deborah Sturdy CBE FRCN, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care.
Amanda spoke highly of the course earlier this year at the 30 Years of Access to HE in Health Professions celebration event.
Reflecting on her journey, Amanda said: “The course was intense but incredibly helpful – it set me up for studying Nursing at Sheffield Hallam University and prepared me for managing workloads, time management, and referencing. It also formed lifelong friendships.
“The course allowed me to change careers and find a job I am passionate about – something I never imagined doing. My journey even led me to acquire skills like acupuncture, which I discovered during my role in pain management.”
If Amanda’s story inspires you, and you want to return to education to start a career change in Health, visit our Health department page for more information on the Access to HE in Health and Social Care Professions course.
Last updated: 19th September 2024
Originally posted on: 17th September 2024