Dungiven mother of four prepares to begin mental health nursing career after award-winning Open University journey

A Dungiven woman who balanced frontline healthcare work, family life and personal challenges while studying has spoken about how The Open University (OU) enabled her to achieve her ambition of becoming a mental health nurse, an achievement recently recognised with a regional award.

Cheryl Mogey, from Dungiven, is set to begin her first post as a mental health nurse with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust after completing her degree with The Open University. In November, she was named winner of the NIPEC Open University Student Excellence Award, recognising her outstanding commitment, resilience and contribution as a student nurse.

Cheryl began her nursing journey as a Band 3 support worker in Learning Disability Services, where observing the leadership and advocacy of nurses around her sparked a desire to progress.

“I loved my role, but I was particularly inspired by the nurses I worked alongside,” Cheryl said. “I admired how they advocated for patients, not only in direct care but also by influencing wider organisational change. I realised I wanted to develop those skills and take on greater responsibility.”

She chose to study with The Open University because of its flexibility, which allowed her to balance work, study and family commitments. After an initial unsuccessful application, she reapplied the following year and was accepted, a moment she says reinforced her determination to become a nurse.

Balancing study with life was not without its challenges. Cheryl had two children during her studies and is now a mother of four. She credits careful time management, strong family support and the OU’s flexible learning model with making it possible.

“A traditional university just wouldn’t have worked for me,” she said. “Being able to study in the evenings or attend tutorials while the children were at school made all the difference.”

Her studies were temporarily interrupted during Stage 2 when she became unwell and needed time away for treatment. While difficult, Cheryl describes the experience as a turning point.

“Taking that time allowed me to focus on recovery and come back stronger, with a renewed sense of purpose,” she said. “It taught me resilience, self-awareness and the importance of self-care, all essential qualities in nursing.”

Placements proved to be the most rewarding aspect of her degree, giving her experience across a wide range of care settings, including addiction services. One standout moment came during her final placement, where she delivered a group education session on recovery.

“That was the moment I knew nursing was my calling,” she said. “Seeing people engage, reflect and feel empowered was incredibly powerful.”

She also recalls advocating for a patient whose had been overlooked during a multidisciplinary team meeting, an experience that strengthened her confidence and reinforced the importance of courage and patient advocacy in nursing practice.

Throughout her studies, Cheryl was supported by mentors and supervisors who encouraged independence and professional growth, including John Cosgrove, her mentor during an addiction services placement.

Now preparing to begin her career with the Belfast Trust, Cheryl says the OU has equipped her not only with clinical knowledge, but with confidence and professional values, something reflected in her NIPEC Open University Excellence Award win. 

“The Open University has shaped me into a more reflective, capable and compassionate nurse.” She said, “It made this career possible.”

Outside of nursing, Cheryl’s focus remains firmly on family life. Alongside her four daughters, she enjoys spending time outdoors camping and fishing and is currently building a log cabin with her family.

For anyone considering nursing with The Open University, her advice is simple: “Go for it. It’s challenging, but every placement, and every experience teaches you something about nursing, about people and about yourself.”