Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust celebrated the amazing achievements of its student nurses last week with a celebratory event. The event celebrated those students who have completed an innovative undergraduate degree course, designed to develop more nurses for the future.
The BSc Nursing (Adult) Programme is an adult nursing degree that runs as a partnership between Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and the University of Bolton; which focuses on the importance of practical learning.
As a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved programme, there is a 50 - 50% split between theory and practice, however students spend 75% of their time within a hospital setting between both Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley District Hospital sites. 25% of the theory sessions are delivered within the hospital premises, enabling the students to access clinical experts more easily. The students are taught in small groups, are supported by clinical nurse tutors, and have skills weeks prior to their clinical placements on the wards; enabling them to develop the confidence needed to care for patients under the direct supervision of staff.
Throughout the course, placements are conducted in a range of clinical environments within the hospitals including the major trauma centre, regional cancer centre (including radiotherapy, drug therapies and cancer surgery), disablement services such as artificial limbs and wheelchair services, neurosurgery and neurology (brain surgery and nervous system diseases) and renal departments (kidney diseases).
The three year degree is designed to prepare you for a successful career caring for people over the age of 18. After successful completion of the course and gaining the nursing qualification, students are given the opportunity to apply for a nursing post with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.
On Friday 4th January 2019, the next cohort of students on the course came to the emotional end of their three-year course. In order to celebrate their achievements and look back on a fantastic three years; an event was held at Chorley Hospital with all of the students, their families, mentors, ward staff, University of Bolton lecturers and other senior members of the hospital.
The event commenced with mentors reminiscing on a fantastic three years, with a presentation given by Gail Naylor, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Director, who gave out some fantastic advice to the graduating students to take with them in their careers. Gail also presented students with an engraved, uniquely designed hospital badge, which has recently returned to the organisation. Mentors then each chose a student to award a special prize with who has stood out to them over the three year course; followed by the students awarding their mentors with prizes! There were smiles, tears and lots of laughter as the students came to the end of their course.
One of the students said: "Our tutors have been amazing. They have given us the best experience possible and I would do it all again if I could! You feel like you can fly from the support that you get on this course. Words are not enough to show our appreciation.”
Bev Duncan, Clinical Nurse Tutor Lead at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “Our nursing courses are top in the North West and top five in the UK for both teaching quality and student experience, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018.”
“The students have all performed extremely well for the duration of their course and it is a great achievement that so many of the students who completed the course will be staying in full time employment with the hospital. We are really proud of the success of this course and the influence that it has had on other services.”
For more information and details on how to apply to study on the BSc Nursing (Adult) Programme, please contact [email protected] or telephone 01772 523242.