QUEEN'S NURSING STUDENTS HELP WITH COVID-19 CRISIS
21 April 2020
Over 320 final year nursing and midwifery students from Queen’s University Belfast who have less than six months to complete their course have taken the opportunity to work with local health Trusts to help with the current COVID-19 crisis.
They were among 600 students from Queen's, Ulster and the Open universities, who have joined the fight against Covid-19 by joining the workforce early.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council worked with government to develop legislation to enable those in final year within six months of registration to go into the NHS in a paid capacity.
They will conduct all the duties of a final year student and give much needed support to clinical teams on the front line.
This positive step by government recognises these individuals as key workers and rewards the valuable contribution Nursing and Midwifery students can make to patient care within NHS and wider society.
In preparation for this early entry into the workforce, Queen’s has been supporting the students with a top-up on skills, knowledge and confidence. Eden Baker, a final year children’s nursing student who has also written a personal blog in the NursingStandard, said: “Everyone realises that Covid-19 is a serious threat to the lives of people in Northern Ireland.
“Students like me are very willing to do our bit to care for patients and help our colleagues in the NHS.”
Professor Donna Fitzsimons, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “I am enormously proud of these students who have decided to take up this opportunity and make a valuable contribution to patient care in an emergency situation.
“Staff in the School have worked under significant time pressure to educate and support our students.
“Although this is an anxious time for the whole country, we are confident Student Nurses and Midwives will play a vital part in delivering high quality patient care within this crisis.”
Final year Queen’s Adult Nursing student Odhran O'Brien from Belfast, who hopes ultimately to work in an intensive care unit, is also among those opting to support the nursing workforce during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Odhran was on placement when he heard about COVID-19. “The nurses and mentors at my placement were amazing and very supportive.
“My whole cohort was anxious. Because it was so unknown – there were just so many factors – this made us all quite anxious. But we were very well supported by Queen’s and by our mentors at the time.
Of his role and his thoughts about what lies ahead for him and his fellow members of the Nursing and Midwfiery Class of 2020, Odhran is very clear. “We will help where we can and help the rest of the nurses to battle against COVID-19.
“I have a sense of pride and privilege to be asked to do this. And I, and the rest of my colleagues, are ready for this and are happy to do so.”
COVID-19 rapid response innovation fund
Your support will help our work to produce innovative protective equipment for healthcare workers as well as using simulation-based training to equip our students in the healthcare professions with the skills and confidence required for their early entry into the mainline workforce.
If you would like to support the University in its efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.
During the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ Queen’s Development and Alumni Relations Office will endeavour to remain in contact with graduates and donors, and to promote online networking initiatives, to keep alumni and supporters connected.
For general enquiries about this story or to submit a graduate news item, please contact Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO), Queen’s University Belfast, on telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.
For more information about Queen's work in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, visit: https://www.qub.ac.uk/coronavirus/
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