After being made redundant three times, once on Christmas Eve, former City & Guilds qualified printer, David Easton, was forced to rethink his career plans.
A decade on, he has got a significant amount of hospital experience under his belt and has successfully completed a Bachelor of Nursing (Adult) degree at what is now Edinburgh Napier University.
And as he celebrated with classmates after last Thursday’s graduation ceremony at the Usher Hall, he was looking forward to his first role as a staff nurse in a hospital endoscopy unit.
Father-of-two David, from Lasswade, said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge. I had always thought nursing would be an enjoyable career because of the way you are helping people caught up in what can be distressing situations.
“Male nursing was not a popular choice of career when I first left school, although I was always involved with first aid in my role as a printer when there were workplace accidents.
“However, I am proud of the way I fitted in on wards and progressed through to university, which was on a different scale compared to my Napier College days, even though I was miles out of my comfort zone among students half my age.”
David, who will be 50 later this month, said: “My last days in the industry were spent in a variety of large and small companies that were struggling to keep their heads above water and it was evident that the strain was affecting people, both physically and mentally.”
David had been hugely impressed by the healthcare staff who guided his partner through a difficult second pregnancy and a separate serious illness, started at Liberton Hospital, completed an HNC and progressed to a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Edinburgh Napier.
He said: “University has taught me the fundamental qualities you need to care for people. The facilities at Edinburgh Napier’s Sighthill campus were first class, and the lecturers sometimes amazed me with their knowledge.
“The process has prepared me for working in many different hospital environments and with many different types of character.
“Hopefully, I now have a career which will see me through to retirement and allow me to provide for my family’s future.”
Ailsa Sharp, the university’s Programme Leader for Pre-Registration Nursing, said: “David’s success highlights the potential in nursing for developing your career in a variety of roles.
“Having mature students on the programme, sharing life experience, knowledge and skills with other students, enhances the student experience and helps develop compassionate, caring professionals.”
