Catherine Forbes Urquhart - BSc in Adult Nursing

Catherine Forbes Urquhart, from Lumphanan, had to overcome some of the most challenging and unprecedented circumstances to achieve her degree. As she takes the stage to celebrate her successes, the resilient graduate says she hopes she's made her mum proud.

“I lost my mum suddenly a month before starting university. It was hard to start the course, but I chose not to defer because she was one of my biggest supporters, and I knew she would have wanted me to continue as planned.

“Throughout these last three years, there have been countless difficult moments where I would have loved to talk to her, but I believe that she is with me in spirit. She was special, and I believe I am a good nurse because I take after her big heart and work ethic.”

The journey towards accomplishing her degree had already not been easy for the 23-year-old. After suffering from poor mental health at school, she first decided to go into care after being inspired by the district nursing team, who cared for her grandmother, who was receiving palliative care.

“I am particularly proud of my achievements and time at the university because of the challenges I experienced to get there. I left secondary school with very few qualifications due to extremely poor mental health. I only had the minimum of Nat 5 English and self-taught Nat 5 Maths. 

“I started my career in healthcare when Aberdeenshire Council accepted me as a modern apprentice. I fell in love with the job, and after completing my SVQ in health and social care, I decided I wanted to progress even further and go to university to study nursing. As I did not have the necessary entry requirements, I continued working as a home carer and self-funded access to the nursing course.”

Throughout the height of the 1st wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Catherine showed great dedication and resilience working frontline at a care home badly hit by the outbreak. The unwavering graduate, who worked overtime to support the understaffed sector, received the Keith Blackburn Award (BMI Albyn) for Clinical Excellence in Adult Nursing for her continued dedication to the profession.

“I feel immensely proud of my work during the global pandemic. It was my second placement, and I would work long shifts because there was not enough staff to care for the residents, many of who were in end-of-life care. 

“I remember feeling that I just went home to shower and sleep, but most of the staff were in poor health and isolated due to the virus. I also caught the virus but returned to work straight after isolation because I knew where I needed to be. 

“Returning to work was surreal because even though I was a student, trained nurses from staff agencies that came to provide support turned to me as they didn't have experience in care homes, and I knew the running and the residents well.

“Even though my University tutors supported me and said I didn't have to continue my placement in that situation, I felt it was my duty to stay. I think the residents appreciated having a familiar face during a terrifying time. Coming out the other side and looking back, I wouldn't have done anything differently.”

Following Graduation, Catherine, who also had a successful placement at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary during her third year, will return to the acute stroke unit to work as an NHS Grampian Nurse. Looking forward, she shares: “The time I spent on placement at the emergency unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was one of the highlights of my course. It was my final placement as a student, and I felt it consolidated everything I had learned over my training.

“Although it is a naturally challenging environment, I benefited from its fast-paced dynamics and appreciated the team efforts, so I am thrilled to be joining full-time. 

“RGU has prepared me for the next step in my career by facilitating all my knowledge up till this point. Having trained at RGU and NHS Grampian and staying for post at the same unit where I had the placement makes for a smooth transition from student to staff nurse.”

To future graduates, her advice is simple: “No matter what life throws at you, if you stick in and give it your all you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”