An Aberdeen health visitor has been given two great reasons to celebrate this year, after graduating from university and seeing her first article published in a leading health journal.
Nichola Forsyth, 35, graduated from RGU at the Music Hall yesterday with a BN Honours in community health.
The former Portlethen Academy pupil is currently employed as a trainee health visitor at Links Medical Practice in Aberdeen.
Mrs Forsyth said she set out to become a health visitor after having three children of her own.
“I feel very proud, it has been a lot of hard work and organisation over the past two years but I got there in the end,” she said.
“I first graduated as a nurse in 2001, and now I’m finally graduating as a health visitor. I love it and wish I had done it years ago because I really enjoy my job.
“We’re desperate for health visitors, so I think it’s really important and I have a big role to play.”
Her first article, which focussed on infant skin care, was recently published in the Journal of Health Visiting.
Mrs Forsyth added: “It was about promoting good skin care and health in infants. We have quite a high incident of eczema in this country and there’s a lot we can do to prevent that happening.
“I’m going to be celebrating by going out for a meal with my husband, my mother and my grandmother, but I’m working tomorrow so I won’t be able to have a drink.
“I love this job and would encourage others to pursue health visiting as a career. There is so much opportunity to make an impact on the future health of the country and after gaining more experience I hope to study for my masters to develop my role even further.”