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Career switch nursing student lands dream job after graduating with first-class degree
Jamie Smith had a job specifically created for him after impressing on a placement
University news / Student news / Health and Community Wellbeing
Monday 09 November 2026
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A Coventry University student has shown it is never too late to follow your dreams after changing career and landing his perfect job.
After leaving school, Jamie Smith worked in sales before following in the footsteps of his mum and other family members into the care sector. He spent a decade supporting people with learning disabilities before deciding he wanted to make an even bigger difference.
At the age of 29, he enrolled on an Access to Higher Education course before progressing onto Coventry University's Learning Disability Nursing programme.
I loved working in care but I wanted to do more. As a support worker you can have ideas about how to improve somebody's quality of life but often those decisions have to go through other people. Nursing gave me the opportunity to make those changes happen and advocate directly for patients.
It's just making someone's life a little more enjoyable and a bit more engaging. For me, it's making people laugh and making people happy.
Jamie Smith, Learning Disability Nursing graduate
As for returning to education later in life, the 33-year-old from Holbrooks in the city revealed how words of wisdom from his brother inspired him to make the jump.
When I was thinking about applying to university my brother told me 'In four years you'll still be 33 whether you do a degree or not. The only difference is one version of you has a degree'.
Life is too short not to try – give it a go.
Jamie Smith
Jamie faced a series of personal challenges during his second year at university, including the death of a close friend and recovering from an injury.
Despite it all, he never gave up on his ambition to become a nurse and impressed managers so much during a placement that they created a position specifically for him.
Now, having completed his Learning Disability Nursing undergraduate degree, Jamie is about to start working as a staff nurse at Gramer and Holly House in Atherstone, a residential short-break service for children with learning disabilities and associated physical health conditions.
Jamie is also due to receive an Excellence Award at his graduation ceremony in February in recognition of his dedication and academic achievement. Despite the challenges he faced during his studies, Jamie never missed a class and went on to achieve top marks in his degree.
A year ago I never imagined I'd be leaving with a first-class degree and a job I love. Looking back, I'm really proud that I kept going.
It felt like one challenge after another but my tutors were incredibly supportive. One of them told me 'There's no way you're dropping this course. Whatever support you need, we'll do everything we can’.
My degree gave me a sense of purpose when everything else felt out of my control.
Jamie Smith
Jamie's passion for learning disability nursing is also deeply personal. He is currently seeking an ADHD assessment and believes his own experiences of neurodiversity help him better understand some of the challenges faced by the people he supports.
Throughout his studies, Jamie continued working weekends in the care sector to support himself financially, balancing university assignments, placements and employment.
Receiving confirmation that he had achieved a first-class degree came as a surprise.
When I got my results, that's when it finally hit me. After everything that had happened, I'd done it. I remember feeling emotional because I couldn't quite believe I'd made it through and come out the other side.
Jamie Smith
Follow in Jamie's footsteps by studying Learning Disability Nursing at Coventry University.
