Life begins at 40 for Debbie Chester who is about embark on a new career as a nurse after gaining an honours degree.
The mum-of-three only became interested in working in the medical profession after she saw how St Ann’s Hospice cared for her late father Bob.
That whetted her appetite and for the last eight years she has volunteered on the wards at the Little Hulton hospice close to her home.
Debbie decided to take the plunge full-time and after three years as a student at Salford University she has been awarded a BSc 2.1. She starts work as a community district nurse with Royal Bolton Hospital in September.
A delighted Debbie, who was 40 in April, said: “I found out I’d got the job the same week I learned I’d earned my degree and it’ll be strange going from a student to a qualified nurse. I love caring for patients and some of my work will involve palliative care at their home which is something I’m sure I’ll enjoy.
“My new job means I’ve had to hand in my notice as a volunteer at St Ann’s but I’m so grateful to the hospice for inspiring me to take up nursing and it’d be nice to work there one day.
” When my dad was a patient at the hospice, staff said I was very good with people and asked if I’d considered becoming a nurse. I applied to college but never dreamt I’d get through the course.”
One of Debbie’s biggest challenges has been studying around bringing up daughter Amy (18) and sons Sam (16) and Jake (13).
Her father Bob, a painter and decorator, died in St Ann’s in 2006 aged 59 after being treated for asbestos-related lung cancer for 10 years.
