Health Board Nurtures Future Workforce by Welcoming Coleg Gwent Learners into Hospitals across Gwent
This week, local health and social care students from Coleg Gwent have been taking part in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Nurse Cadets programme by completing a work placement at hospitals in Gwent.
Taking place during National Careers Week (4th-9th March 2024), the students have been spending the week exploring a career in health and social care by gaining hands-on experience of working in a clinical setting as RCN Nurse Cadets.
The RCN Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme is a partnership with young learners to develop skills for life and employment in nursing and the nursing family.
Beginning their week with a welcome induction day, the Cadets received some essential training to enable them to undertake their ward placement, including learning about the Health Board’s Values and Behaviours; taking part in some roleplay exercises to develop their communication and compassion skills; CPR training; and receiving a tour of The Grange University Hospital. The students were also able to hear from existing nurses as they discussed their career journeys throughout the Health Board, as well as meeting some of the Health Board’s much-loved volunteers – the Pets as Therapy Dogs – and hearing all about the difference they make to patients.
Following their induction, the students were then assigned placements on different wards across Gwent hospitals to gain experience of working in a hospital environment.
Sian Wilson, Senior Nurse for Undergraduate Education at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said:
“A career in healthcare is extremely rewarding and can offer a number of opportunities to develop in the future.
“The RCN Nurse Cadets programme is a fantastic opportunity for those who are doing health and social care courses to experience what it’s like in a hospital environment and have a think about their future careers in nursing. I would encourage anyone who gets the opportunity to undertake the RCN Health Cadet course to take it up, and come out and experience what it’s like in the clinical environment with us.”
Coleg Gwent student and RCN Cadet, Ruby, said:
“I’m really excited to be doing this experience with the RCN Cadets. I know I want to go into Midwifery or Paediatrics so I’m hoping that this placement will give me the knowledge, experience and skills to hopefully make this decision.”
Allison Werner, RCN Nursing Cadets Co-ordinator at Coleg Gwent, said:
“This week presents an incredible opportunity for our students to step into the dynamic realm of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, as RCN Nursing Cadets. Each moment is a chance to learn, grow and shape their future success to progress as our future workforce.“
Clare Cullis, Learning and Organisational Development Manager at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said:
"At Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, we know that young people are the future of our organisation and the NHS. Our job is to open the door to others and we want to nurture our future workforce. Work experience is one of the valuable ways that we are able to introduce our young people to the vast range of careers we offer as the Employer of Choice in Gwent.
"We are passionate about helping young people and it has been a pleasure to facilitate our second cohort of Nurse Cadets and to inspire them to grow and achieve great things. Our partnerships with Coleg Gwent and the Royal College of Nursing Wales has helped to make this opportunity possible, and we wish every Nurse Cadet the best for their future careers in Health, and hopefully welcoming them to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board as future employees."
To find out more about taking part in work experience at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, visit: https://www.abuhb-jobs.co.uk/working-for-us/work-experience-and-volunteering/ or e-mail: ABB.WorkExperience@wales.nhs.uk