Students complete placements at Great Ormond Street Hospital
This year, students on the BSc Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Children’s Nursing) course at the University of Surrey have undertaken their first round of placements at one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals as a result of the new partnership between the University and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
Students were fully immersed into the hospital and experienced caring for children within a wide range of placement settings and specialist areas within the hospital, and received well-rounded practical experience, helping to prepare them for a career as health care professionals.
As well as their placements, GOSH provided students with scenario-based learning and cohort-specific teaching sessions designed to complement and enhance the training students receive on placements.
The partnership cements Surrey’s position as one of the top nursing schools in the country. The University’s School of Health Sciences is ranked 4th in the UK for nursing and midwifery by the Complete University Guide 2019 and in the top 10 of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 and the calibre of teaching on the Children’s Nursing programme is highly recognised.
Nursing student, Sarah Noble, said:
“The SPF and ward staff were very friendly and welcoming. All the staff on the ward were willing to answer questions, but also challenged me to find my own answers and encouraged me to make suggestions on possible treatment actions. Now that I’ve completed my placement, I feel so much more confident in my clinical and communication skills. I’m really looking forward to my second placement there in a few months.”
Isabella Gomes, also studying on the Children’s Nursing course, had this to say:
“I spent most of my placement at GOSH in the Walrus ward, the day unit for cardiac and respiratory conditions, where I met some amazing people.
“I learnt so many things about human anatomy and patient care. I was also able to observe things I’ll never forget: I had the opportunity to go to theatres and watch open heart surgery and procedures which had only ever been done three times previously in the UK.
“My confidence has grown so much over my eight week placement, I was anxious to begin with but all of the staff were understanding and welcoming, making me feel at ease.”
Professor Melaine Coward, Head of the School of Health Sciences at Surrey, said:
“Our students have had a fantastic opportunity to experience placements at GOSH. We work with so many great placement providers but it is always exciting to bring new opportunities on board for our students. I’m keen for them to see the possibilities of the profession and to mix with clinicians who can share their own career story. Working in healthcare is challenging, exciting and the possibilities are endless.
"I’m looking forward to our ongoing partnership with GOSH and hope that they are enjoying the placements as much as our enthusiastic Nursing students.”