Susan Gayle Celera

Why I chose Surrey

As a Surgical Nurse Practitioner, you always think about where your career can take you, who you’ll care for and what impact you can make. After completing continuing professional development (CPD) modules in mentorship and recovery, I decided to enhance my skills further to become a dynamic and competent advanced nurse practitioner. This led me to the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice course at Surrey.

Coming from a BAME background and having completed my initial nurse training in the Philippines, it was important that my chosen university was inclusive, safe and welcoming to students from different cultural and academic backgrounds. Surrey was the perfect choice for me and I’ve felt nothing but welcome since the first time I stepped on to campus.

My course

One of the best things about my course is the flexibility it gives me. I can work full-time while studying. It offers me the perfect work-life balance and I can spread my studies across five years.

My lecturers are very helpful, friendly and accommodating. They’re easily contactable by email and they respond to my queries almost immediately. They also offer tutorials and one-to-one sessions if you’re struggling with a subject.

There are great facilities available to use, including the Clinical Simulation Centre, where I practise my skills before my physical assessments, and the modern lecture rooms, equipped with everything you need.

I absolutely love the Library! There are areas for quiet study and rooms you can book for groups, which are perfect for brainstorming. I’m taking advantage of the study support on offer, learning how to write essays and reference correctly, which is incredibly helpful for me as a Filipino student.

My most memorable moment

So far, this has been completing my independent/supplementary prescribing (V300) module. This was challenging for me, but the teaching staff gave me great advice and were very supportive of my wellbeing. It was a real hurdle, but all the help I received made it less stressful and more enjoyable.

"Coming from a BAME background and having completed my initial nurse training in the Philippines, it was important that my chosen university was inclusive, safe and welcoming to students from different backgrounds."

My life at Surrey

One of the best things about Surrey are the open spaces – you can sit outside and take a breather.

The campus shop has a great selection of Asian food available, meaning I can have a taste of the Philippines. There are also microwaves and hot water taps dotted around, which is perfect if you’re on a budget.

My career and development

My time at Surrey has made me a more confident and competent nurse. I can now prescribe medications to patients, which is incredibly empowering, as other nurses now come to me instead of junior doctors.

I’m determined to become the first Filipino nurse with a masters in advanced clinical practice. Achieving this goal and completing the course will be recognition of all the years I’ve spent enhancing my nursing skills.

The course has made me realise that I can excel not only in leadership but also in education and research. In the future, I’d love to educate fellow nurses, performing evidenced-based learning through audits, and championing advanced clinical practice.

When I finish my course, I’m going to work as an advanced nurse practitioner. Once I’ve built up some more experience, I’m considering studying for a doctorate in nursing practice – this would be my dream come true!

My advice

If you’re an aspiring advanced clinical practitioner, think about the type of environment you want to study in. Every university will be slightly different and it’s important you choose the one that suits you. If you’re an international student, think about the commitment you’re taking on and consider what extra study and wellbeing support you could benefit from.

For me, Surrey ticks all the boxes.

Find out more about our advanced clinical practice course