Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been celebrating the achievements of student nurses who have completed an innovative undergraduate degree course, designed to develop more nurses for the future.
The BSc Nursing (Adult) Programme (BNAP) is now in its fourth year and has been hugely successful, with 19 out of 30 qualified nurses choosing to remain working within our hospitals as a qualified nurse.
The BSc Nursing (Adult) Programme is an adult nursing degree that runs in partnership with the University of Bolton. 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 the Preston and Chorley 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 of no more than 30, they are supported by clinical nurse tutors, and have skills weeks prior to their clinical placements on our wards, enabling them to develop the confidence needed to care for our patients under the direct supervision of our fantastic staff.
During their final Clinical Skills Week, students are able to learn a range of clinical procedures such as venepuncture, cannulation, catheterisation and administration of medications in preparation for their future roles as staff nurses.
On Friday 17th August 2018, the cohort who have been studying on this programme since September 2015, came to an end of their three-year course. Celebrations with all of the students, their mentors, ward staff, University of Bolton lecturers and other senior members of the hospital took place on this day to celebrate their achievement on their official last day of being a student on the course during a special ceremony held at Chorley District Hospital.
The day commenced with a presentation of an engraved hospital badge awarded to each of the 20 students by Gail Naylor, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professional Director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals. This was followed by awards given by each of the mentors for a student of their choice, and then students awarding their own awards back to their mentors and teachers. Finally, all of the students were given a special gift to take with them in their careers – a small bag which included items such as “marbles – for when you lose yours”, “a candle – because you will be lighting the way for others” and “a tea bag - for the end of a busy day.”
Graduates who continue at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals will be employed predominately on the ward on which they have just completed their final placement in order to make a smoother transition into working life and allow the student to work within their area of interest.
Bev Duncan, Clinical Nurse Tutor Lead at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “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. At Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, the ninth cohort is now set to commence, and it is growing in size each year with 30 students signed up for the September 2018 class.
Gail Naylor, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “The BSc Nursing (Adult) Programme is a unique course which puts emphasis on students learning within the clinical setting, which is the best place for them to learn and gain invaluable experiences. I feel so privileged to have been able to present the badges to our next cohort of nurses on the BNAP course. The day was a fabulous celebration and I am so proud of the achievements of our celebrating students. They all have a great future ahead of them.”
