After qualifying as a Registered Nurse Associate, Charlotte Garrick has continued to grow her career with St Martins Care. We caught up with her to learn more about her journey so far.

A passion for care

Charlotte's path into care was shaped by a long-held ambition and a moment of clarity. Before joining St Martins Care, she had spent her career as a dental nurse, but the desire to work in nursing had always been with her. 

For Charlotte, the barrier was not motivation but opportunity; the cost of traditional training routes had previously made that goal feel out of reach.

That changed when she came across the Trainee Nurse Associate role at St Martins Care. Speaking about what drew her to care, Charlotte reflected, "I think the desire to care for others has always been part of who I am. Even when I was working as a dental nurse, I found myself drawn to the parts of the job that involved supporting people, reassuring them, and making them feel safe. But it wasn't until I saw the role advertised that I realised I could turn that instinct into a real career in health and social care. The idea of becoming a nurse had always been there in the background, but the financial barriers made it feel impossible. The route I took changed that. It gave me a way in, a way to learn, grow, and build a future in nursing without the pressure of traditional university pathways. That's when I knew, this is where I'm meant to be."

Development opportunities 

Charlotte joined St Martins Care at Willow Green in January 2023, stepping into a sector she had never worked in before. She was offered the role as a Night-Shift Training Nurse Associate, enrolling with Teesside University at the same time. It was a significant change, bringing with it new skills, new responsibilities, and no prior experience in elderly care, though Charlotte was determined to make it work.

After a few months, she felt personally that night shifts were not making the most of her training. Rather than let that become a setback, St Martins Care stepped in by mid-2023, and Charlotte had moved onto day shifts. This was a change that made a real difference to her personal learning.

To further broaden her experience, Charlotte also completed shifts as a Senior Carer alongside her role. This gave her valuable hands-on experience in medication administration, leadership, and the responsibilities that underpin safe, person-centred care.

After 18 months of hard work, placements, study, and personal growth, Charlotte completed her course with a Distinction and officially qualified as a Registered Nurse Associate in May 2025. Her dedication was further recognised when she achieved a Leadership Award through Teesside University and the NMC, one of the proudest moments of her career to date.

Charlotte’s advice

In just over two years, Charlotte went from an entirely different sector to qualifying as a Registered Nurse Associate, which is a remarkable achievement that reflects both her commitment and the support around her.

Her advice to those considering a career in care is: "Don't underestimate yourself. You don't need years of experience to start; you just need compassion, curiosity, and the willingness to learn. Care is a career where you grow every single day. You'll learn from colleagues, from training, and most of all, from the people you support. Be open, ask questions, and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. If you're thinking about progressing, whether that's becoming a Senior Carer, a Trainee Nurse Associate, or a Registered Nurse, take the leap. There are so many routes into nursing now, and organisations like SMC genuinely want to help you succeed. If I can go from Dental Nurse to Nurse Associate in just a couple of years, then anyone with passion and determination can build a future in care."

Supporting your career in care

Throughout every stage of her journey, Charlotte felt the full backing of St Martins and her team. Reflecting on that support, Charlotte said, "St Martins Care has supported me at every single stage of my journey. From the moment I applied, they saw potential in me that I wasn't even sure I saw in myself yet. The support I received is a huge part of why I was able to complete my course with a distinction and achieve the leadership award."

At St Martins Care, we believe in nurturing talent and recognising potential, especially in those who will make our care homes and residents' lives better. We are proud to provide countless opportunities for growth and development, as well as extensive support throughout your whole journey in a rewarding career.

To find out more about some of the positions we have on offer, visit our careers page.