Alisha Cook

I’ve wanted to be a surgeon for as long as I can remember. I love biology and I love learning about all of the organs; I’m so fascinated by it. I didn’t get the GCSE grades I needed to study A Levels so I thought there was no way I could be a surgeon. I started looking into midwifery or nursing. When I heard about the Adult Nursing T Level, the lecturers at college opened up all of the options and told me how it can become a real career path.  

As part of my course, we get to work alongside Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to gain first-hand experience, and hospital staff have come to deliver presentations and talk about careers. I took contact details and got in touch with the Theatres team over the summer and was invited in to see two biopsies in theatre. 

It was very exciting. It was very fast paced but at the same time quite chill. Everyone welcomed me in and even went through career options with me during the surgery. Getting that experience has been eye opening and makes it all feel real. It’s given me more motivation for my course this year – I’ve already done extra work on Skin Integrity because I enjoy it so much! 

If I’d done A Levels I wouldn’t have this experience already, and I probably wouldn’t have the same opportunities to work as bank staff in surgery this year. I’ve been able to experience surgery before starting university or an Operating Department Practitioner Apprenticeship, so one massive benefit of my course has been the experience – it’s really cemented my decision to be a surgeon.