Sohail Mushtaq pursued BSc Nursing (Adult) at UCLan to deepen his understanding and support individuals with mental illnesses.
Sohail (Sully) Mushtaq chose to enrol onto the BSc Nursing with Registered Nurse (Adult) at the University of Central Lancashire as he was fascinated by the mind. He wanted to develop his understanding and skills in order to help those dealing and suffering from mental illnesses.
Since graduating from University, Sully has managed to gather plenty of working experience as a Nurse. From working as a Substance Misuse Nurse for the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust where he would aid prisoners who’ve got a history of substance misuse, to being a Charge Nurse at Priory Kemple View Hospital where he practiced across six inpatient wards and was able to introduce ward improvement initiatives. One of these being the ‘seclusion assistance pack (SAP)’, a 12-step guide on the correct and legal procedure on how to carry out a safe and effective seclusion. This SAP was also designed to safeguard and protect the patient, guaranteeing the patients safety, dignity, and respect at all times.
After five years of working at Priory Kemple View Hospital, Sully now works as a Mental Health Practitioner for the NHS, where he was able to join the Initial Response Service - a new service introduced in Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust to triage and signpost individuals who require support with their mental health.
"I have fond memories of the University which I will cherish for many years. The fondest of those are the friendships and professional relationship I made, many of which I still keep in contact with 13 years on."
— BA (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy and BSc Nursing with Registered Nurse (Adult) graduate, Sohail (Sully) Mushtaq
Sully is grateful for his time at UCLan, where he feels he has had the best kind of opportunities to “build professional relationships” with his lecturers. He said: “The experiences I remember the most, and the ones I feel had the biggest impact on my life were the talks and 1:1 sessions I had with my lecturers. They were truly beacons of light and their love of education and teaching really was awe-inspiring.
“The lessons and values they taught me along with the help and guidance they proved was something I truly will cherish for the rest of my life. For them, they may simply be doing the job they love, but their pursuit of excellence for those they teach is something that makes UCLan stand head and shoulders above the rest.”
When asked about if he had any advice for nursing student, Sully said: “Be kind and treat people with fairness and respect. Take pride in your work and value the relationship you build and recognise that we’re at our best when we work well with others.”
