University felt out of reach but the mum had a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives
From addiction to advocacy, Cheryl Mogey’s recovery shaped her path to becoming a mental health
nurse
From battling addiction and raising four children (with another on the way) to qualifying as a registered mental health nurse, Cheryl Mogey’s journey has been nothing short of inspirational, a testament to how courage, support and flexible learning can transform lives.
Cheryl, 36, from Dungiven in Co Derry, didn’t always see nursing as possible. After completing her A-Levels, she worked as a healthcare assistant, juggling family responsibilities and frontline care.
University felt out of reach but Cheryl says a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives stayed with her: “With being a mum, the flexibility of getting time off for placements was really the only viable way I could have completed my degree.
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“Learning from home at times that suited my family was incredible. Attending a brick university wouldn’t have worked for me.”
Study became part of daily life, fitting around school runs, family routines, pregnancy and quiet evenings when the house was still. She made her home her classroom, creating a calm study sanctuary where candlelight and classical music helped bring focus and peace.
But life had deeper challenges still to test her. Midway through her degree, Cheryl faced one of the most difficult battles of her life: addiction. Eventually, she made the brave and humbling decision to seek help.
“I took some time off the course to attend a rehab facility and came back sober, stronger and more determined than ever,” she said.
Cheryl’s recovery was not just about sobriety. It was a reshaping of her identity. She learned resilience, self-care and how to show up fully for others, qualities that would become central to her work as a future nurse.
University felt out of reach but Cheryl had a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives
When she returned to her studies, Cheryl immersed herself in placements that pushed beyond theory and into real-world caring. One of her most meaningful experiences was working in addiction services, where her personal history became a powerful asset rather than a shadow.
“Having lived through addiction and recovery gives me insight that books can’t teach,“ she says. “I can connect with people on a human level, not just as a clinician, but as someone who truly understands the journey they are on.”
Her mentors noticed it too. Supervisors encouraged her confidence, affirming that her empathy, strength and patience were rare gifts in nursing practice.
The Open University’s response made all the difference, according to Cheryl: “The staff tutors were phenomenal when supporting me through this and remained non-judgmental. They cheered me on from the sidelines.”
Now heading into her fourth year of sobriety, Cheryl has found renewed purpose, shaped powerfully by her lived experience.
Cheryl’s achievements were formally recognised when she was named the winner of the NIPEC Open University Student Excellence Award, presented by the Northern Ireland Practice Education Council for Nursing & Midwifery, an accolade celebrating student nurses who demonstrate professionalism, commitment and compassionate practice and dedication throughout their training.
Cheryl’s degree didn’t just transform her qualifications, it changed her life
The award reflects not just academic success, but the values Cheryl brings to care, dignity, respect and a lived-experience lens that strengthens her connection with patients.
Cheryl’s degree didn’t just transform her qualifications, it changed her life. Upon graduating, she moved from a Band 3 support role into a Band 5 Registered Mental Health Nurse position with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
And now she’ll be marking International Nurses Day 2026, celebrated on Tuesday, May 12, as a member of the profession.
“It has literally enabled me to get the job of my dreams,” she says.
When Cheryl crossed the stage at The Open University Dublin degree ceremony, she wasn’t just collecting a qualification, she was celebrating sobriety, resilience, and a future defined not by her past, but by how far she has chosen to rise.
She believes that nurses with lived experience of recovery bring a unique voice to healthcare, one that can challenge stigma, inspire hope and offer real connection to people navigating their own challenges with addiction or mental health struggles.
“For anyone thinking about nursing, or recovery, or going back to learning, know that it’s possible. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.”
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