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Event provided a platform for nursing students to explore career pathways and hear from accomplished leaders in the profession

By Mr George Wigmore (Senior Communications Officer), Published

The School of Health & Psychological Sciences at City St George’s, University of London hosted the Stage 3 Nursing Careers Day in January 2025, and it offered an inspiring platform for nursing students to explore career pathways and hear from accomplished leaders in the profession. The event included keynote talks, workshops, and career resources to empower the next generation of nurses.

Diverse career journeys in nursing leadership

Following an introduction by Esther Readshaw and Dr Louise Philips from City St George’s, the day began with an alumni panel and a keynote from Rebecca Lingard, Borough Lead Nurse for City & Hackney at the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT). Rebecca shared her career journey, highlighting roles ranging from dementia unit nursing to leadership positions such as matron, board manager, and associate director.

Through her extensive experience, Rebecca emphasised the importance of clinical expertise and leadership, recounting her work in mental health nursing within police custody suites and her research on human rights in healthcare. She also spoke about teaching de-escalation techniques and restrictive practices in West Bengal. Rebecca encouraged students to seize opportunities, maintain patient focus, and overcome imposter syndrome, reminding them that “nursing is a team game”.

Leadership and diversity in the NHS

Vinice Thomas, Director of Nursing for Professional and System Leadership at NHS England, then spoke about leadership. During her early career, Vinice shared how challenging placements and a move to intensive care shaped her resilience and ambition.

Among her achievements, Vinice created an evacuation video for ICU patients in collaboration with the fire brigade and contributed to infection prevention and control guidelines. Currently, she leads the commissioning of specialised services, including the ACT NOW crisis response initiative for sickle cell patients. Vinice urged aspiring nurses to embrace their values, turn challenges into opportunities, and actively contribute to building a more inclusive profession.

Students speak to staff from local NHS trusts

Empowering the next generation of nurses

Nichole McIntosh, Regional Head of Nursing and Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurse at NHS England, then delivered a heartfelt talk about her nursing journey. Drawing on her experiences and the support of mentors, Nichole highlighted the importance of authenticity, emotional intelligence, and kindness in nursing leadership.

Quoting Nelson Mandela, she encouraged attendees to “let your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears” and shared her pearls of wisdom: be self-aware, have an enquiring mind, be passionate, enjoy your work, be your authentic self, and “earn your wings and fly”.

Workshops and career opportunities

The event also included practical workshops and career resources. Break and lunchtime sessions enabled students to browse the career stalls from local NHS trusts, while workshops offered field-specific insights for adult nursing, mental health nursing, and cross-field specialisms, such as child and community nursing. Sessions on job searching and applications provided students with the tools to navigate the next steps in their careers.

As Rebecca Lingard aptly put it, “Nursing is a team game”, and the event demonstrated the collective traits and passion that define the profession.

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