The second and third year adult and mental health student nurses have chosen to opt into a provisional six month paid placement in Dumfries and Galloway, Rachel Kerr is one of those and said: “We will be paid at Band 3 and Band 4 level respectively, and will be adding to the current Covid-19 workforce being developed locally.
“We are all very nervous and apprehensive about the tasks ahead of us and we understand that it will be difficult. However, between us a we have a wealth of knowledge and skills that we can utilise to support the NHS in this tough time, and we feel ready and prepared to help where we can.
“Whilst some students have not been able to opt in to this for personal reasons, a large number of students also undertake bank healthcare support worker shifts within hospitals across D&G, and support the COVID-19 response in this way.”
Fellow third year student Megan Crosbie added: “We are a strong cohort, who are all very close and we have been a good support to one another at this unprecedented time.
“We’re also lucky to study at a rural campus, and so in turn have a close relationship with our lecturers. They have tried their best to support us in all ways they can whilst they work from home – going out of their way to do video calls and phone calls in some cases – and we are so grateful for that.
“UWS Dumfries adult and mental health nursing students are so proud to be a part of the NHS.”
