NUH pride as 'homegrown' talents return to City Hospital
Two ‘homegrown’ nurses have shared their hands-on career journey ahead of a nursing and midwifery recruitment event in Nottingham next month.
Five years after joining Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust as apprentices, Eliza Barlow and Jack Robinson are now starting their careers as Registered Nurses.
Eliza and Jack have impressed NUH colleagues with their dedication to learning and developing, completing two apprenticeships before completing the NA-RN course at the University of Derby to become Registered Nurses.
Karen Butler, a practice development nurse in Cancer and Associated Specialities (CAS) who was a clinical educator at the time, interviewed the pair - then apprentice health care assistants - for trainee nurse associate placements in November 2018 and was impressed by their obvious potential.
Eliza and Jack went on to become trainee nursing associates and qualified nurse associates before qualifying as Registered Nurses in March. Both are now working in CAS at City Hospital.
“If I had my time again, this is the way I would do it,” says Karen. “You can be much more hands on, which suits my style of learning.”
Eliza is working on Fletcher ward – where she did part of her training - and Jack is going to Carell, a renal transplant unit.
“We’re delighted that Eliza is starting her career on Fletcher - she is going to hit the ground running -she has worked her way up and she will be amazing.
“We are also very excited to have Jack join Carell – he’s a fantastic addition. We’re so proud of them both - our homegrown talents.”
Eliza, 23, from Kimberley, always dreamt of becoming a nurse.
“I really enjoyed training on Fletcher - I got so much on-the-job experience. It was the making of me as a nurse, alongside my placements in children and adults and haematology. I was delighted to rejoin the ward I trained on - it felt like coming home. It has been a really special experience for me; everyone has made me feel so welcome - it’s as if I never left.”
Jack, from Bulwell, opted for an apprenticeship as he was also unsure about going to university.
“I decided to take the route of apprenticeships into nursing as my style of learning is definitely through a more practical hands-on approach. Being given the chance to gain experience and learn the theory behind the practice has helped us to develop and progress into becoming the nurses we aspire to be.”
“It feels good to be able to practise everything we have learned. I’m enjoying my new career and looking forward to making a huge difference to people’s lives.”
Eliza added: “I would definitely recommend this route. It is such a great opportunity as you learn so much, plus you earn as you learn so you come out debt-free. Whenever I get the chance to advocate for this route offered by NUH, I tell anyone that will listen and is interested as I really have loved every second of it, and believe it is such a good alternative route that provides you with so much experience and confidence working in healthcare.”
“I’m now looking forward to a different challenge as a Registered Nurse, building relationships with our patients and helping them on their road to recovery.”
The next Registered Nurses recruitment event takes place on Saturday 13 May. Find out more: IOCE.nuh.nhs.uk
Or, if you’ve been inspired by Jack and Eliza, and are interested in becoming a health care apprentice or registered nurse, you can contact Wider Workforce on widerworkforce@nhs.nuh.uk