Finding the science in the spark of a second career
Kayleigh Knight found her true calling through a chance conversation. Armed with a previous degree in psychology and plenty of experience working with children, Kayleigh was looking for a new challenge but hadn't quite settled into a definitive career. When a friend suggested nursing, everything changed.
The appeal lay in the perfect mix: a role that was deeply people-focused and caring, but also rooted in science and constantly evolving. Starting the course proved to be an instant lightbulb moment.
"Having worked various different jobs and never particularly settling, it was clear from the off that nursing was perfect for me," Kayleigh recalls. "I started with a vague idea that whatever career path I chose, it would always be centred around achieving great outcomes for children. Keeping an open mind enabled me to find my strengths."
From the lecture hall to the front line
Studying at the Stafford campus, Kayleigh plunged into varied placements that spanned the full spectrum of care, from community settings to acute wards. While she knew she might eventually venture into health promotion, she recognised a vital need to cut her teeth in a fast-paced environment first.
"I was aware of my need to gain clinical experience in a more acute area of nursing, which led me towards the neonatal intensive care setting," she explains.
Those placements provided a secure foundation, exposing Kayleigh to the intense highs and lows of the profession. Drawing on those real-world challenges during her interviews, she smoothly transitioned into the workforce, securing a role as a Neonatal Staff Nurse at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM).
Graduating in 2025, Kayleigh hit the ground running. Based in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and special care environments, her role focuses on the care of vulnerable babies delivered from just 22 weeks' gestation.
"The typical nursing day can vary wildly," Kayleigh says. "It involves everything from feeding support and basic care to giving medications, taking blood samples, and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. A massive aspect of the role is also supporting the parents - empowering them, providing reassurance during an incredibly difficult time, and, of course, offering the occasional cuddle to an upset baby!"
Overcoming the hurdles
Though Kayleigh has already completed a foundation course in intensive care through her workplace, her achievements extend far beyond her clinical skills. During her time at university, she was named a finalist for the prestigious Student Nursing Times Award for Student Children’s Nurse of the Year - a milestone that felt deeply personal.
"As someone who has always suffered with anxiety and panic disorder, this felt like such a huge achievement," Kayleigh shares. "When I started my degree, I struggled to even put my uniform on without having a panic attack. But with the continual support from my tutors, I was able to work through my challenges and having them nominate me for an award felt so special."
Balancing her early career with raising her own children, Kayleigh views her time at Staffs as the essential platform that made it all possible.
Proud to be Staffordshire
For Kayleigh, the biggest key to her success was the unparalleled pastoral care she received.
"The support from staff and tutors was second to none, and as someone who always struggles with self-confidence, this was honestly the key to my success on the course," she says. "The staff were always just a call away, always ready with an encouraging word. I never would have made it without that."
Now thriving in her dream role, Kayleigh’s advice to the next generation of healthcare professionals is to treat the journey as a marathon, not a sprint.
"No one expects you to know everything. Learning is a continuum that extends far beyond the end of a nursing degree. Pace yourself, be interested, and lean on the university to support your development. Not every day is fun, and not every placement will be the one for you, but nursing opportunities are vast. Out there, something will be the perfect fit."
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