Job offers have been made to more than 130 local nursing students who are set to qualify this summer.
A total of 132 people who are in their final year of study at the University of Hull have just been offered permanent roles working at either Castle Hill Hospital or Hull Royal Infirmary.
Interviews have taken place over three days, following a highly successful recruitment event held at the University back in January. Job offers have now been made to the student nurses subject to successful completion of their nursing degrees later this year.
Simon Nearney, Director of Workforce for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:
“Hospitals across the region are competing for a limited number of newly qualified nursing staff each year, so to have interviewed and be in a position to offer jobs to more than 130 of those is fantastic.
“We have worked really hard in the last year or two to improve the image of our hospitals, to create a better culture within the organisation, and to promote some of the amazing work, research and developments which take place here day after day.
“All the signs seem to indicate that this work is starting to pay off, as this is the second year in which we’ve been able to offer permanent roles to such a high number of final year nursing students, and it is certainly good news for our patients.”
Over the coming weeks and months, the Trust will continue its drive to attract newly qualified nursing staff by developing further links with educational providers. In addition to the work already carried out in Hull, the Trust has also been asked by a number of providers across the North of England to attend other recruitment events, as they have heard such good things about Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Meanwhile, Mike Wright, Chief Nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, is delighted to see so many people who have trained locally now looking to continue working locally. He says:
“I am delighted with the level of interest shown in working for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at the university recruitment fair. This was really encouraging, and my colleagues and I have been extremely impressed with the calibre of the nursing students we’ve met so far, so it’s great that this has now translated into real job offers for people living and studying locally.
“We know each of those nursing students that has been offered a job will have a particular passion or area of clinical interest, so where we can, we have offered people roles in their preferred areas of work. There has been a high level of interest in emergency care, cancer and elderly care, for example, so these are just three of the specialties which are likely to benefit from additional staff in the coming months.
“All in all, this is a really fantastic result for local hospital care and for our patients and service users, and we look forward to welcoming our next cohort of newly qualified nurses in the autumn at the start of what I hope will be an amazing career for them.”
Professor Julie Jomeen, Interim Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull, said: “We are delighted that the recruitment fair for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been such an overwhelming success.
“A key aim of the School of Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University is to provide a high quality workforce for our region and we are working hard with our partner NHS organisations to realise this aspiration.
“This outcome is therefore extremely positive and an indication that the University and NHS organisations are working together successfully to support the future provision of local healthcare.
“This excellent news comes at a time when the University is investing heavily in its facilities for our healthcare students with a £28 million health campus set to open later this year meaning our students will be better equipped for the working environment than ever.”
CASE STUDY: Gemma Ansel (pictured aboved)
Gemma enrolled on the University Certificate in Health and Social Care Practice, which provides a qualification-free route into higher education for health related subjects at the University of Hull.
After completing the Certificate, Gemma progressed onto a specialist child nursing degree. Then, during her final year, Gemma secured a job as a children’s ward nurse at Hull Royal Infirmary.
Now fully qualified and putting her skills into practice, she is loving her new career.
She said: “It’s really rewarding. When you have a poorly child come onto the ward and you spend time caring for them it’s really good to see them going home healthy and happy.
“My studies really laid the foundation for my job and are put into practice every day.”
The icing on cake was discovering she got a first in her degree.
Gemma said: “I was the first person in my family to go to university and as a mature student I am doubly proud to have got a first. Balancing studying and family life can be tricky but if it’s something you love it doesn’t feel like hard work.”