From Truant to Teacher: How Tesni Davies is Redefining Clinical Education at CHEC

• Post Date : May 6, 2026
• Career
• 4 minutes read

However, a move to college sparked a transformation. Starting with an NVQ in Care, she worked her way through A-levels and eventually into nurse training in Gloucester in 1988.

“I wasn’t academic enough to do the RGN (Registered General Nurse) training straight off,” Tesni reflects. “I qualified as an enrolled nurse and began in major bowel surgery. It was intense, but it set the foundation for everything that followed.”

The Call of Endoscopy

After a period working in nursing homes and gynaecology, a single bank shift in endoscopy in 1999 changed the trajectory of her life. “I never looked back,” she says. “Once you’re in endoscopy, it’s in your blood. I love the adrenaline rush of the complex cases, in a vital area of medicine.”

Tesni’s career saw her managing endoscopy units in Cheltenham and Gloucester, leading teams through rigorous JAG (Joint Advisory Group) accreditation, and even successfully remediating a failing medical day unit that had previously been rated as ‘Inadequate’ by the CQC.

Finding a Home at CHEC

Despite a previous negative experience in the private sector that left her hesitant, Tesni joined CHEC a year ago. It is a decision she hasn’t regretted.

“I’ve found a level of flexibility here that is quite new to me,” she explains. “My line manager provides excellent support, ensuring my schedule is well-coordinated and aligned with the needs of my clinical colleagues and the wider endoscopy service. Within that framework, I have the freedom to organise my own time and travel across the Midlands. It’s a wonderfully supportive culture; everyone from the patient coordinators to senior management has been lovely.”

Her role as a Clinical Educator is multifaceted. On any given day, you might find Tesni rolling up her sleeves to assist with an endoscopy list, signing off staff competencies, or teaching life-saving skills like cannulation and basic life support. She has been particularly successful in rolling out Pentax system training across the regions, ensuring every site is up to the highest technical standard.

A Passion for “Different” Learning

Because of her own difficult history with traditional schooling, Tesni brings a unique empathy to her teaching. She understands that if a student isn’t “getting it,” the fault often lies with the explanation, not the learner.

“I take education very seriously because I know what it’s like when it doesn’t work,” she says. “I’m passionate about how people are taught. If they can’t do it one way, you need to change your approach. Do they need a visual sense? Do they need to physically touch the equipment?”

This hands-on approach even involves some unconventional methods. To keep skills sharp for rare procedures, Tesni uses chicken breasts or pigskin to simulate removing polyps. “It sounds gross, but it works! It allows staff to practice using a snare to cut through a polyp in a safe environment. If you don’t do it often, you lose the ability.”

Aligning for Excellence

As she looks to the future, Tesni is focused on “aligning for excellence” and ensuring the Midlands region feels fully supported. Her goal is to work with education and frontline staff, moving towards a collaborative, hands-on style of leadership.

Tesni Davies is proof that a career isn’t defined by where you start, but by the passion you bring to the journey. At CHEC, she isn’t just teaching clinical skills; she’s proving that with the right support, anyone can exceed the expectations once set for them.