A taste of practice

Abstract

In his report on the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Robert Francis recommended that nursing recruits be assessed for their competence in delivering compassionate care. One university pre-empted this recommendation with a pre-nursing scholarship programme. The University of Stirling’s school of nursing, midwifery and health started a two-year pilot in 2012. Run in partnership with Scottish health boards and education authorities in the Highlands and Western Isles, the project involves nursing work experience for secondary school pupils. The programme is an incentive for future nurses and will help young people develop workplace and nursing skills by studying for the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s skills for work health sector intermediate 2 course. The project aims to: promote nursing as a first-choice career; increase understanding of healthcare careers; enhance pupils’ employability, communication and networking skills; address career needs of pupils in remote and rural areas; and provide pupils with experiences to advance in their UCAS application or when applying for a healthcare position. This first programme started with a residential week in September 2012 when 22 school pupils started at the university. Each pupil was allocated a senior nursing student buddy and an academic mentor to offer support and guidance throughout the programme (see box below). Pupils were also able to use Succeed, the university’s online learning platform, which provides an interactive approach to learning, especially for those living in remote areas of the country. Pupils were positive about the experience. ‘The lecturers gave us lots of information about nursing and made me want to apply for a nursing course even more,’ said one student. Another said: ‘The experience has made me set on nursing as I now understand the work that nursing entails.’ Highland Council school liaison officer Maxine Garson says: ‘The experience will undoubtedly put these young people ahead of their colleagues in terms of a university application and readiness for university life, as well as giving them a good understanding of the course and profession they wish to enter.’ Iain Stewart from the Western Isles Education Development Centre says his students appreciated the opportunity to gain a national qualification while completing their pre-nursing placements. ‘Interestingly, pupils thought the remote learning experience could be replicated in their schools,’ he says NS