Having worked in a range of jobs, including the police and pubs, a career in nursing wasn’t something Anna Kruczek had considered.
Then she joined ESNEFT as a health care assistant (HCA) in 2013 and her eyes were opened about a role she knew she’d love.
So she grasped the on-the-job learning opportunity of an apprenticeship to become a nursing associate and is now on her way to becoming a registered nurse.
Anna, 42, said: “It’s never too late! I am so happy doing this job – I absolutely love it and feel a genuine sense of excitement about what my day will bring being a nursing associate.”
When Anna joined ESNEFT she worked as a HCA for a year, then a discharge coordinator. She said being part of a team and seeing how to care for patients and helping them made her realise nursing was where she wanted to be.
She added: “I loved listening to patients, helping to care for them, and seeing what was needed to make sure they were ready to leave hospital safely so we were ready to care for the next patient who needed us.”
Anna with her colleague Reshmi Abraham
Anna is now based in Kesgrave Ward at Ipswich Hospital, which is a neurological and diabetes ward.
She said: “Neurological patients can be very unwell following surgery and need rehab and help relearning basic tasks. I find it incredibly rewarding seeing patients walk out of hospital again having gone through so much.
“I feel it’s really important to look after every patient as if they were my own family member. You can’t choose who looks after you and everyone has such a different background, but we have to treat everyone with the same professionalism.”
Anna said the two-year nursing associate apprenticeship meant spending time on placements across the hospital, as well as time studying at university.
“I learnt a lot from everybody. I felt the whole team across the hospital was happy to share their experiences to help me.
“I just love my job so much, I really do. I don’t wake up feeling like work is a punishment – I feel excited and am buzzing for my day.
“Working in nursing is busy but I feel like I’ve accomplished something by making a difference to patients.”
Anna is now completing a two-year apprenticeship nursing degree to become a registered nurse.
There are a variety of career development opportunities available at ESNEFT:
- You can find out more about apprenticeship opportunities on the ESNEFT website.
- Short-term work experience placements are available. Email workexperience@esneft.nhs.uk
- You can email our Talent For Care team talentforcare@esneft.nhs.ukto find out more about the opportunities at ESNEFT or to ask any questions about NHS careers.
- Job opportunities at ESNEFT are listed on the NHS job page.