Trust relies completely on nurses to fulfill aims

Thus Western Trust chair Gerard McGuckian extolled the work of the authorities largest staff grouping to an audience of sixth year and further education students. Mr Guckian said: “The careers evening is unique as students get to see first-hand the desire and passion needed to succeed in these two vocations. “Nurses and midwives are vitally important to the provision of health and social care in Northern Ireland. “They form the largest staffing group in the Western Trust and we rely completely on them to fulfil our core aim in the provision of high quality patient and client-focused care.” Sixth form and further education students interested in a career in nursing or midwifery gained an insight into the two professions at the open evening. Held at the Multi-Disciplinary Education Centre (MDEC) at Altnagelvin Area Hospital, the careers event was attended by over 80 local students, from schools across Londonderry, Strabane, Limavady and Donegal, hoping to study and work towards a career in healthcare. Assistant Director of Nursing at the Western Trust, Brendan McGrath said: “Following the careers evening and engagement with nurses and midwives from practice, the students will now be in a better position to make informed choices about their future career in nursing or midwifery. “They will be aware of the qualifications needed to gain entrance onto the university courses and will have an outline knowledge on the range of roles in areas of Adult, Children’s, Mental Health and Learning Disability nursing and Midwifery. “The world of nursing and midwifery is changing rapidly. The care demands of patients and clients needs are increasing, reforms are altering how services are delivered and professional roles are changing and developing. “Nurses and midwives form the most significant relationships with patients and clients, both in the community and in hospital settings. Although qualifications and training are vitally important. The ability to build trust and how you relate to people in your care is also central to being a nurse or a midwife. “Nursing is a challenging career, it requires a strong and lasting commitment, but the reward is in knowing that you are making a difference to the lives of your patients. ” During the careers evening students participated in practical workstations and interacted with staff working in Resusitation, Tissue Viability, Maternity, Renal, Health Promotion, Mental Health, Intensive Care, Theatres and Accident and Emergency.