Laura Howarth

My name is Laura Howarth, and I am 36 years old. I have worked as a Healthcare Assistant for over 18 years, and during this time, I have cared for patients in nursing homes, the community rehabilitation unit, and acute hospital settings. I began working in 2008 in a dementia nursing home, which taught me how important compassion, patience, and dignity are when supporting vulnerable adults, and how to build trust and rapport through good listening and communication skills to provide person- and family-centred care. This role helped shape the caring values I still follow today, and I completed my NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care in 2013.

In 2016, I moved into Adult Intermediate Care as part of a community rehabilitation team. Working alongside nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers helped me understand how joined-up care really makes a difference to people’s recovery and independence. In 2020, I started doing bank shifts in the hospital, which gave me a wide range of experience across different wards. Supporting patients during the pandemic made me realise even more how rewarding nursing is and pushed me to finally follow my goal of becoming a registered nurse.

I completed my Access to Nursing Diploma in 2023 and my English and Maths Level 2 qualifications. Balancing study with night shifts taught me discipline, resilience, and how to stay motivated.

Growing up in a large family with six siblings, supported by parents who were positive role models, helped me develop good communication skills, respect for others, organisation, and the ability to work well as part of a team. These values are reflected in my person-centred approach to care. As a parent to two children now in their teenage and adolescent years, I have developed patience, flexibility, and good time-management skills. Managing family life alongside study and placements has strengthened my ability to prioritise and remain organised. Outside of nursing education, working and family life, I enjoy caring for my horse and having a regular gym routine, as I like to maintain good health and well-being.

University and Placement Experience

I am a third-year Adult Nursing student due to qualify in August 2026. Throughout my training, I have gained a wide range of experience across acute, emergency, community, and critical care settings, developing the clinical skills, professional values, and confidence required to meet the standards of the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing programme.

Placements completed to date include gastroenterology, breast care, respiratory, orthopaedics, treatment rooms, district nursing, critical care, and the older persons assessment unit (OPAU). These experiences have provided me with a strong foundation in holistic patient assessment, recognising and escalating deterioration, medication safety, infection prevention and control, and accurate documentation. They have also increased my confidence in delivering safe and effective handovers, taking part in safety huddles, and working collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team.

From year one to year three, my confidence has continued to develop, particularly in recognising when to escalate concerns and refer patients to appropriate inpatient or outpatient services to support person-centred care throughout the patient journey. I am organised and structured in my approach to care, using checklists and prioritisation to ensure all patient needs and documentation are completed efficiently during each shift. Towards the end of year two, when caring for my own bay of patients under supervision, this approach supported safe and effective time management, and this will be taken forward throughout the rest of my placements and into my future career.

I work in a calm, professional, and person-centred manner, always maintaining dignity, privacy, and informed consent. I value teamwork and clear communication and have worked closely with the multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, high-quality care. I am hands-on in my approach to learning and actively seek learning opportunities to develop my knowledge and reflect on my practice. I am committed to working within my scope of competence while continuing to develop my clinical skills.

I am now looking for a nursing role where I can deliver high-quality patient care, uphold professional standards, work within a team and continue to grow as a confident and compassionate nurse. I am motivated by providing safe, compassionate care that supports patients and their families holistically. Through effective communication and active listening, I aim to make sure patients feel comfortable, respected, and supported. It is rewarding to know that I have made a positive contribution, and I am keen to continue developing my skills to make an important difference in my future nursing career.

• The Administration of Medication, Bolton Council, 2 Days, 2019-01-01
• Healthy Eating and Food Hygiene, Ascentis, 1 Day, 2012-01-01
• Health and Safety, Orchid Rock Training, 1 Day, 2013-01-01
• Emergency First Aid, TLC Learning Academy, 1 Day, 2019-01-01
• Moving and Handling, University of Greater Manchester, 2 Days, 2025-01-01
• BLS, University of Greater Manchester, 2 Days, 2025-01-01
• Fire Safety, University of Greater Manchester, 1 Day, 2025-01-01
• Conflict Resolution, University of Greater Manchester, 1 Day, 2025-01-01
• Equality and Diversity of Human Rights, University of Greater Manchester, 1 Day, 2025-01-01
• Data Security Awareness, University of Greater Manchester, 1 Day, 2025-01-01
• Adult Nursing BSc Honors Degree, University of Greater Manchester, 3 Years, 2023-01-01

I am a 36-year-old female with 18 years of healthcare experience in different care settings. I am from a large family with 6 siblings. 

• BLS Adult and child
• Moving and handling level 1 and 2
• equality and diversity
• fire safety
• Infection control levels 1 and 2
• Data awareness
• conflict resolution
• Dementia awareness
• Mental capacity act and DOLS

• Gym and Training
• Boxing
• Horse riding
• cleaning
• Fitness and well-being
• Walking