First deaf student to complete Adult Nursing degree graduates

Nat has used her voice to raise awareness of Deaf culture and the additional needs of deafened patients. She has worked with academic staff to integrate this into student nurse education and has delivered this teaching herself. She is now in talks with the University’s simulation team to incorporate training into clinical skills sessions within the nursing programme. She now works as a Staff Nurse at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Nat said, “1 in 5 people now are living with hearing loss where hearing aids are recommended, and in our aging population, that’s only set to rise. Within the Deaf community, I just wanted them to have the same access to health services and education as everyone else.”

Nat first began actively advocating for patients with hearing loss during her Year 1 placement, taking opportunities to educate other student nurses as issues arose. Incidents where hearing aid battery loss led to restrictions in patients’ understanding and communication were overcome by Nat’s intervention. She ensured that hearing aid batteries were available in her placement areas and educated others on how to change them. Soon, not only students but also registered nurses were benefiting from this education.

“It started with just talking to fellow students about how to take out, clean and replace hearing aids and quickly escalated as staff realised there was a profound gap in their knowledge.

“The pathways for nurses of all disciplines came early 2025 after a tutor reached out to my personal tutor for advice in how to support their students. We quickly realised that there was value in expanding the project for Deaf nurses within Mental Health to Adult and Children & Young People’s branches too - both for our students, but also for our NHS and being 'future ready'.” 

After already establishing a career as a healthcare assistant in the community and on a forensic psychiatric ward, Nat felt that moving onto an Adult Nursing course was a natural progression.  

“What attracted me to the field was that every day is different and I could make that day just the tiniest bit better for another person. I chose Salford because they had equipment and opportunities I wouldn't have elsewhere, like international placement - I went to Finland!”

Throughout her studies Nat felt that one of the key issues she came across was people having incorrect preconceptions when it came to her abilities. She took it upon herself to show people the ways in which Deaf, deaf and hard-of-hearing people can offer greater skills, for example in when it comes to visual acuity, reading body language and tactile skills.

“I'm a bit... different. I don't fit the expectation of deaf. I'm late-deafened, an excellent lip reader and I was a musician and singer before, so I have good voice. I'm fluent in English. I had access to education without language delays like many Deaf do.

“There was an expectation that I wouldn’t be able to communicate, that I wouldn’t be aware of my surroundings and that I would be able to do less. As it was, I very quickly proved I’m just fine with tweaks and actually there is a place for deaf nurses in acute general settings as we have a different skill set to bring.”

When asked if she had any words for herself looking back to the first day of her course, Nat said, “Run? No, not really! I would remind myself that it's ok to say no to things once in a while. That's definitely a skill I've learned over the last three years! Opportunities are amazing and exciting, but taking on too much will burn you out.

“I'm more comfortable in my skin now. I know exactly what I'm good at and where I need to improve a bit.

“I've found my place and my people in the world.”