A new scheme to encourage students to embark on a career in nursing at their local hospital has been launched this week.
The James Paget 2020 Future Nurse Award programme gives students from Great Yarmouth and Waveney an exclusive financial incentive to train locally as a nurse, studying for a BSc Adult Nursing degree.
The award scheme is a joint initiative between the James Paget University Hospital and the University of Suffolk – and also brings with it the guarantee of a job at the hospital, once students have qualified.
It has been developed with support from Health Education England and the first successful applicants will start studying for the degree, with a placement at the James Paget in January.
Sharon Crowle, Head of Education and Practice Development at JPUH, said: “The James Paget is an organisation committed to continuous improvement, innovation and is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission for the care it provides for its patients.
“It’s also at the heart of a great community in a fantastic part of the country – and we know that there are people in Great Yarmouth and Waveney who want to embark on a career in nursing but don’t want to travel out of the area to complete their studies.
“This new scheme is a win-win. It will give local students the chance to study locally, with financial assistance; it will give them a job at their local hospital once they have completed their studies – and it will help the James Paget grow its workforce for the future.”
Dr Sam Chenery-Morris, Head of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Suffolk, said, “The James Paget University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Suffolk have worked closely together for a number of years to educate students, in theory and practice, to deliver high quality nursing care to patients. This exciting initiative has been designed to attract a cohort of local nursing students from the Yarmouth and Waveney area. Prospective students will be well supported to reach their potential and make a difference to members of their community.”
Currently the University of Suffolk runs two intakes for nursing, in September and January.
In detail, the James Paget 2020 Future Nurse Award offers the following:
· The opportunity to be part of a local cohort with placements in Great Yarmouth & Waveney
· The opportunity to complete a comprehensive preceptorship offered by JPUH
· The opportunity to avail of guaranteed offer of employment at JPUH after completing the three year BSc Adult Nursing programme (subject to performance).
· The opportunity of financial support from the University of Suffolk, up to £1,000 per student
· The opportunity to engage in the University of Suffolk international student exchange programme
· Regular one-to-one sessions with a designated personal tutor and ongoing support when on practice placements.
Anyone who would like more information is invited to email Bryony.Lingwood@jpaget.nhs.uk or call her on 01493 453737.
Dr Sam Chenery-Morris, Head of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Suffolk; Julia Hunt, Director of Nursing, James Paget University Hospital; and Sharon Crowle, Head of Education and Practice Development at the James Paget University Hospital.