Publish date: 4 August 2026
Results day stories: Dorathy, Diabetes Specialist Nurse
Ahead of Results Day, we're sharing the stories of colleagues from across Northumbria Healthcare whose careers have taken them on unexpected journeys.
Meet Dorathy!
What is your job title and where do you work?
I'm a Diabetes Specialist Nurse.
Can you tell us about your career journey so far?
Growing up, I always knew I wanted a career where I could make a positive difference to people's lives. Nursing was my ambition, so I completed my first nursing qualification overseas before moving to the UK.
Like many internationally educated healthcare professionals, I assumed I would be able to continue my nursing career when I arrived. However, I soon discovered that transferring my qualifications was not as straightforward as I had expected, and I was unable to practice as a registered nurse. It was disappointing, but I made the decision not to let that define my future.
Instead, I started again from the beginning and joined the NHS as a Band 2 Healthcare Assistant. At that point, I already held another nursing qualification and a Masters degree in Public Health in the UK. Although it sometimes felt frustrating to start at the bottom despite my qualifications, I knew every step was taking me closer to my goal.
Determined to become a registered nurse in the UK, I successfully applied for my trust's accelerated nursing programme and completed a second nursing degree. Finally, after years of determination and hard work, I achieved my ambition of becoming a registered nurse in the UK.
I have always had a particular interest in diabetes. Growing up, diabetes was often seen in my community as a "rich person's illness" and surrounded by cultural beliefs and misconceptions. Those experiences sparked my curiosity from an early age and inspired me to understand the condition better and help people navigate it with knowledge rather than fear or misunderstanding.
Today, I am privileged to work as a Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse, supporting people living with diabetes to better understand their condition, develop confidence in managing it and improve their quality of life. Seeing patients become more confident, make informed decisions and successfully manage their diabetes is one of the best parts of my role.
My career has certainly not followed a traditional route, but every challenge has helped shape the nurse I am today. Starting as a Healthcare Assistant taught me the importance of every member of the healthcare team and gave me a deep appreciation for compassionate care. Looking back, I wouldn't change my journey because it has made me more resilient, more understanding and more determined to help others.
What does a typical day look like in your role?
No two days are ever the same, and that's one of the things I enjoy most about my role.
A typical day involves running diabetes clinics, reviewing patients with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, interpreting glucose monitoring data, adjusting medications, supporting people using diabetes technology such as continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, and helping patients make informed decisions about their treatment.
I work closely with consultants, GPs, dietitians, podiatrists, pharmacists and other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive the best possible care.
Education is also a huge part of my role. Whether I'm supporting someone who has just been diagnosed, helping a patient build confidence in managing their diabetes or teaching other healthcare professionals, seeing education give people real confidence is one of the most fulfilling parts of my job.
What do you enjoy most about working for Northumbria Healthcare?
Without doubt, it's the people and the opportunities.
Northumbria Healthcare gave me the opportunity to achieve my dream of becoming a registered nurse through its accelerated nursing programme. That opportunity completely changed the direction of my career, and I will always be grateful for the support I received.
I work alongside incredibly talented and supportive colleagues who genuinely want to see each other succeed. There is a strong culture of teamwork, continuous learning and professional development, where people are encouraged to grow and reach their potential.
I am proud to work for a trust that invests in its staff and recognises that talent and determination can come from many different backgrounds.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Your results do not define your future.
There will be times when life doesn't go to plan. You may have to take a different route, start again or work harder than you ever expected. That doesn't mean you've failed, it simply means your journey will be different.
Don't be afraid to start at the bottom if it takes you closer to your dream. Every experience teaches you something valuable, and every challenge helps you grow.
Be patient with yourself. Keep learning. Stay resilient. Don't compare your journey with anyone else's because everyone reaches success in their own time.
If someone had told me that I would go from working as a Band 2 Healthcare Assistant to becoming a Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse, after having to restart my nursing journey in a new country, I probably wouldn't have believed them.
Dream big, work hard, embrace every opportunity and never let a setback convince you that your ambitions are out of reach. Sometimes the longest route becomes the most rewarding journey of all.
To discover careers at Northumbria Healthcare, click here.