YEOVIL NEWS: Nurses returning to work in hospital

AN innovative course at Yeovil District Hospital for qualified nurses wishing to return to work in a hospital setting has received universal acclaim.

The RACE (return to work in an acute environment) course is run by Yeovil Hospital, and is one of only a handful offered in hospital trusts across the UK. It is aimed at qualified nurses currently working in care homes, community hospitals or other domiciliary settings, who want to return to work in an acute hospital.

The hospital’s associate director of nursing, Maddie Groves, said: “We know that a lot of nurses who have been working outside the acute setting can feel rusty, or lack confidence in coming back to work on a busy ward or unit.

“Nursing practice is constantly evolving, and we want to offer nurses the chance to refresh and update their skills in a supportive, non-pressurised environment.”

The course runs over a two-week period and combines academic and clinical skills education.

Students are assigned a mentor to work alongside them on the ward in their second week, after which they start work as a member of the hospital nursing team.

Students continue to be supported by their mentor in practice for the next three months while they complete a series of practice-based competencies, after which they receive the offer of a permanent position.

PHOTO - TOP: Some of the course attendees at Yeovil District Hospital.

The first course took place in March and has been hailed a resounding success. Students came from as far afield as Romania, Moldova and Italy, as well as elsewhere in the UK.

Louise Roels, who has been working as a community nurse for 15 years, said: “So much has changed since I trained and it’s daunting to come back to work in a hospital, but this course has filled me with confidence. It’s a gentle re-introduction and a really positive experience.”

This is a sentiment echoed by Andrea Kerekes, who relocated from Romania to start work. “Healthcare is very different here and I didn’t feel brave enough to apply straightaway,” she said. “This was the only course that helped me to find accommodation – I’ve felt really welcome.”

Sarah Harvey, practice educator at the hospital, said: “One of the reasons the course works so well is because it’s taught by practising nurses, who are in touch with current training needs.

“All the students already have the offer of a job here, so we can personalise their learning according to where they will be working, taking into account their previous experience and preference.

“It’s been great to see such positive reactions and to be able to bring the students’ many years of expertise in other settings into the care we provide here at Yeovil Hospital.”

Tony Brett, a care home manager, is getting ready to start in the Day Surgery Unit at the hospital.

“If you want to come back to the NHS and feel you don’t have the skills, the RACE course proves that you do. It’s amazing,” he said.

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