Student nurses step up to help at Bassetlaw Hospital during virus pandemic

A new cohort of third-year nursing students have been welcomed at Bassetlaw Hospital to supplement the workforce during Covid-19.
Students have been welcomed as aspirant nurses at Bassetlaw Hospital.Students have been welcomed as aspirant nurses at Bassetlaw Hospital.
Students have been welcomed as aspirant nurses at Bassetlaw Hospital.

Helping staff to manage the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the learners have opted in for an extended placement at hospitals of their choosing.

Coming from around the region, including the universities of Sheffield, Lincoln, Leeds, Birmingham, Salford, Derby, Hull, Wolverhampton and more, 65 of them have chosen to help out at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH).

Having been in the last six months of training before the outbreak began, they are already extremely knowledgeable and prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

However, to ensure that they are given the right level of support, the trust delivered a condensed five-day induction as well.

The specially-tailored course familiarised the students with the hospital environment and equipped them with the relevant skills they needed to care for patients with Covid-19.

Alasdair Strachan, director of education and research at the trust, said: “We are so grateful and proud of these exceptional individuals, who have joined us at this very difficult time.

“Working alongside our pre-existing staff, they will help us to deliver a high quality service to the local population and our education team will be behind them every step of the way.’’

After completing their induction, the volunteers have now stepped up into the paid role of an aspirant nurse.

Robyn Godfrey, originally from Sheffield Hallam University, said: ‘’Growing up, I observed my grandparents being looked after in hospitals on numerous occasions.

“Watching how a complete stranger could care for my them like they were a member of their own family was amazing to see and I knew that after witnessing this care that I wanted to be a nurse as well.’’

DBTH has so far offered 56 permanent contracts to the new aspirant nurses.

Robyn Taylor, also from Sheffield Hallam, said: ‘’Looking after a patient when they are most vulnerable is certainly scary, but in many ways it is also a privilege. I cannot wait to continue learning, growing and developing into the nurse I want to be.’’