Hundreds of trainee nurses from the University of West London (UWL) have started their healthcare careers early in hospital wards across London and Berkshire to help during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Students from across UWL’s adult, children’s, mental health and learning disabilities nursing courses have taken up the opportunity to enter the workforce months earlier than planned this summer and put themselves on the frontline for the nation’s health.

Third-year adult nursing students have signed up to work either full time or 80% of full-time shifts, along with scores of specialist nurses who are finishing their training early to begin full-time work in hospital wards across NHS trusts – either directly helping with the Covid-19 treatment or easing pressure on other areas of essential healthcare.

All students from the University’s College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare (CNMH) will continue to have regular contact with supervisors, academic assessors, and personal tutors to ensure they remain supported by healthcare lecturers at all times over the coming months.  

Charmagne Barnes Dean of CNMH said:

We pride ourselves on having a strong and united student community and this is a shining example of how inspiring and committed our students are to helping others and doing their bit in entirely unprecedented times.

For students to make this decision will have taken a lot of courage and determination and we are incredibly proud of all of our trainees who have decided to enter the workforce and work full-time, or who are continuing to study ready for when they will put what they have learnt into practice. 

Frances Eastwell, who lives in Wokingham, is several months into her final year of adult nurse training and among the students who opted to work full time in the NHS in Berkshire.

She said:

It has all been surreal, I came out of second year and am now working alongside senior trainees. It is like being thrown into the middle of the ocean but we are getting so much support, from the University and the hospital and everyone on the wards is incredibly supportive.

Helping others is what I have been training for, and the support we are all getting is making it all more enjoyable despite the worries. One positive to come out of this is how the health sector has really come together, and how much support we are getting which is incredible to be a part of.

CNMH is a major provider of nursing and midwifery courses, alongside a smaller number of allied health courses in Berkshire and west London. Students have access to fully-equipped simulation learning, and clinical placement opportunities through partner organisations and NHS Trusts.

The University was ranked No.1 in London and 23rd in the UK for nursing and midwifery in the Guardian University League Tables 2019.