Esme Savage, 23, became ill in her first year of studying Adult Nursing and had to take two years out to undergo multiple surgeries.
She has now completed her studies and will formally receive her degree next week (Tuesday March 4).
She says spending time as a patient helped to confirm that nursing and helping other people is what she wants to do.
"It was a setback, but being on the other side of nursing and being a patient brought back everything to me," Miss Savage said. "It made me realise it was definitely what I wanted to do, to help other people."
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When she was able to return to her course, she started her nursing placements and took a particular interest for working with patients in GP surgeries.
She said: "Every day is different. You never know what you're coming into, but because you're in the community you often get to see patients more than once, so you get to build that rapport with them, you get that relationship with them."
Miss Savage, who is from Gloucester, now gets to help people feel better and says: "That often feels surreal, that you've actually done that, but it is the best feeling ever."
Despite the challenges she has faced during her course, more studying is on the horizon as she looks to do a Master's.
"I want to do my Master's," she said. "I want to do prescribing, and my end goal is to be a nurse practitioner."
Looking back on her time at university, Miss Savage says it was her personal tutor Sam Meredith, a senior lecturer and course lead, who got her through it.
The student said: "I feel proud of myself for getting through it, and my personal tutor Sam was amazing.
"Throughout it all she was the one who got me through it, so it was nice to have that relationship with just one person that I knew I could just go to about anything."
Now, Miss Savage has urged others facing setbacks like she did to "keep pushing".
She said: "It sounds a bit cliché, but just never give up.
"Just keep pushing. At the time you think everything is against you, and that's how I felt, but just look ahead, take each day as it comes, and you'll do it."
Ms Meredith said: "Esme has shown remarkable resilience and determination throughout her course. Despite facing numerous challenges, she has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her studies and her future career.
"We're incredibly proud of Esme's achievements, and she is an invaluable asset to the NHS. She has consistently demonstrated the qualities that are essential for providing excellent patient care."