A LEYLAND nurse swapped her uniform for a cap and gown after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire recently.

Mum-of-two, Tracey Ginger, gained a DipHE in Nursing from the Preston-based university where she has been a student for three years.

Staff nurse Tracey, 33, began her caring career after leaving school and secured a job in a nursing home.

After the birth of her children Shannon, ten, and Jack, nine, Tracey returned to education and enrolled on a university course which combined practical work with classroom-based studies.

Now, hard-working Tracey is a staff nurse at the Royal Preston Hospital where she specialises in adult care with a view to becoming a nurse for those suffering from terminal illnesses in the future.

"I would eventually like to move into palliative care," said Tracey. "My aim is to be a Macmillan nurse."

Another newly-qualified nurse is Stephen Ball also from Leyland, who swapped a career in the printing industry to fulfil his lifetime ambition.

Stephen, 49, picked up his nursing application forms 30 years ago before deciding to take the plunge and fill them in!

"I realised that there was more to life than just sitting at a computer," Stephen said.

"I had worked in a nursing home for a few years and enjoyed the contact with adults, so I decided to take it further and finally filled in the application forms."

Although he found his academic studies a challenge at first Stephen knuckled down and achieved one of the best marks on his course.

Now Stephen is studying for a degree in nursing at the university while enjoying his new-found career on the surgical wards at the Royal Preston Hospital.