My journey to becoming a staff nurse
With many students getting their results this week, Chloe Nonhlonipho Thwala, a staff nurse at The Royal London Hospital, has shared her career journey.
If you'd told me a few years ago that I would become an Independent Student Member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Contract Advisory Committee, serve as an NMC Student Visitor, graduate with a first-class degree in Adult Nursing, and be shortlisted nationally for the Student Nursing Times Award for Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year 2026, I would have laughed.
Not because I didn't dream big.
Because, for a long time, I wasn't sure I could succeed academically at all.
My journey into nursing has been anything but straightforward. Like many students opening their results, I know what it's like to feel uncertain about the future. I know what it's like when things don't go to plan.
When I was younger, I made a couple of attempts to pursue nursing, but I struggled academically. At the time, I didn't understand why. What I didn't know was that I had undiagnosed dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD. I often felt like I was working twice as hard as everyone else just to keep up.
After years of trying, I eventually stepped away from nursing altogether.
Instead, I pursued a completely different path.
I completed an Art and Design diploma before moving to London to study degrees in Fashion Design and Fashion Styling and Communication. Alongside my studies, I pursued another passion: music. I competed on The X Factor UK, appeared on international television and performed as part of a London choir. Through music, I had the incredible opportunity to sing for Archbishop Desmond Tutu and perform alongside world-renowned artists, including Annie Lennox.
From the outside, it may have seemed like I had found my path.
But deep down, nursing never left me.
Then Covid-19 changed everything.
Like many people, the pandemic made me stop and reflect on how I could best contribute and be of service to others.
Watching healthcare professionals work tirelessly during one of the most challenging periods in modern history reminded me why I had wanted to become a nurse in the first place. I realised I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
So, I decided to try again.
One of the biggest influences on that decision was my mum, a retired nurse. Growing up, I watched her dedicate her life to caring for others. She always encouraged me to study nursing and would often say, "I work with all kinds of nurses, and I know you'd be great among them."
Those words stayed with me.
My dad also played a huge role in my journey. He taught me the value of reading, critical thinking and striving for academic excellence, lessons that became especially important when I eventually discovered why learning had always felt harder for me than it seemed to be for others.
Receiving my diagnoses of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD was a turning point.
For the first time, I understood how my brain worked.
With the right support, everything began to change. My academic confidence grew, my grades improved, and I stopped seeing my neurodiversity as something holding me back. Instead, I began to recognise it as a strength.
My superpower.
As a student nurse at London South Bank University (LSBU), I threw myself into every opportunity I could find. My classmates elected me as their Student Representative for three consecutive years, and I became an LSBU Ambassador, advocating for students and helping improve the student experience.
I also represented the university in the national 150 Leaders Student Leadership Programme, where I founded a Student Clinical Placement Support Group supporting students navigating academic and clinical placement challenges through peer-led guidance and support.
I wanted to learn as much as possible, both inside and outside the classroom.
I was selected to participate in the LSBU Turing Scheme Summer School, travelling to Egypt and India to engage with students from around the world, gain a greater understanding of global healthcare challenges, and develop personal and professional skills.
I was appointed as an Independent Student Member of the NMC and the QAA Contract Advisory Committee, where I advocate for student voices and contribute to conversations that influence nursing education across the country.
I was later encouraged to apply to become an NMC and QAA Student Visitor and was delighted to be successful
I also sought opportunities that weren't advertised.
I reached out directly to Caroline Alexander, then chief nursing officer at Barts Health NHS Trust, and asked if I could shadow her.
To my surprise, she said yes.
For a month, I attended board meetings, committee meetings and leadership discussions in my own time, gaining a unique insight into how major healthcare organisations are led. It was an experience that transformed how I viewed nursing leadership and the impact nurses can have beyond the bedside.
Afterwards, Caroline shared publicly that she felt hopeful about the future of nursing if all nurse graduates were like me.
It's a compliment I'll never forget.
That experience gave me first-hand insight into how Trust leaders navigate governance, engage in strategic discussions and contribute meaningfully to committee and board meetings. It strengthened my leadership confidence and enriched the experience I was already gaining through my national role.
In November 2025, I graduated with first-class honours in BSc Adult Nursing and in 2026 I was shortlisted as a finalist for the Student Nursing Times Award for Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year. I am now finally a qualified Staff Nurse.
But the achievement I'm proudest of isn't a title, an award or a grade.
It's persevering when things felt impossible.
Looking back, my journey has included setbacks, career changes, missed opportunities, self-doubt and challenges that I never expected to face. Yet every one of those experiences helped shape who I am today.
Chloe's story is one example of how we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can grow, thrive and belong. Everyone deserves the chance to Bloom at Barts. Visit our Bloom page to see the latest support, courses and development opportunities available to help you grow in your career.