Modern family: father and son enrol on same nursing course
Posted 21 March 2023 - 10:00
Adrian Dzialo and son Kacper are classmates on a mental health nursing degree at Nottingham Trent University, and want more men to consider the profession
It’s ‘like father, like son’ for two nursing students in the Midlands, as a dad and his eldest son are training to become mental health nurses together.
Study partners: father and son support each other on their course
Adrian Dzialo and his son Kacper are studying for a mental health nursing degree at Nottingham Trent University because they want to help vulnerable people.
They help each other study, keep tabs on each other’s coursework deadlines and help decide on their clincial placement choices, which they say has brought them closer together.
Nursing clearly runs in the Dzialo family, as wife and mum Alicja has worked as an adult nurse for many years, inspiring her husband and son to pursue their own careers in the profession. Youngest son Jacob also wants to follow in their footsteps.
Adrian said: ‘At first, all of our friends and family were surprised when they found out that my son and I would be studying together at university.
‘It has brought us closer together and helped us realise we have more in common than we thought. Kacper is much better at planning than I am and has been able to give me tips with my assignment planning.
‘I’m so proud of him and how hard he works. I’ve also been able to understand Alicja’s experience at work better now that I’m studying to become a nurse as well.’
The UK nursing workforce is made up mainly of women, with men making up 11% of all registered nurses. Adrian and Kacper hope their story will encourage more men to think about a career in nursing.
Men are in the minority on nursing courses
Latest University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) figures show just 4,040 men applied for undergraduate nursing courses this year, compared to 29,530 women. The majority of male applicants were aged over 35.
Kacper added: ‘It’s been a really interesting experience studying with my dad and it isn’t common for people to say they come home and share stories with their dad about their day at university.
‘My little brother Jacob has said he’s been inspired by my passion for nursing and he now wants to apply to study nursing when he is old enough.’
As for what the future holds, the father and son duo are on track to graduate in September 2025. Adrian is considering further study as an adult nurse, while Kacper is considering working abroad.
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