8th March 2023
The Theatres and Day Procedure Unit (DPU) at South Tyrone Hospital has been nominated as being a top placement for student nurses.
The unit has been shortlisted in the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards 2023 for offering a unique student learning experience.
Maura McCarthy, Theatre Manager at the DPU, said that the whole team are honoured to be nominated in the ‘Student Placement of the Year: Hospital’ award.
“Learning is always made easier when in a relaxed and structured environment and that begins at South Tyrone the moment any student is allocated with us.
“We are very proud to promote a positive student placement in the DPU from before they set foot in the unit until the second they leave and sometimes beyond.
“Through co-production with previous students, we have created the unique ‘Study Bubble’ – a private, dedicated area for student’s to have a coffee break, study, undertake learning or assignments or just a place for them to rest and reflect.
“We also offer them the invaluable experience of the entire patient journey, from pre-op, admission, anesthetics, theatre, recovery, discharge to follow up, across a range of procedures and surgical specialties. In one year, the unit would see almost 10,000 patients, averaging about 200 a week.
“Students have also been able to see first-hand the potential growth and development within the unit. We are delighted that many of our former students are still working with us as band 5 nurses, band 6 specialist nurses, band 7 managers, band 8a lead nurses or some have progressed to be part of the lecturing team at Queen’s University.
“All our students who come to Theatre and DPU have the benefit of learning from their peers. In fact 10 of our nursing colleagues have collectively almost 350 years of nursing experience between them”.
Anna McCaul has recently commenced her first Band 5 post and now works alongside the team who supported her in her placement.
“It was one of my top placement experiences. Everyone was so welcoming, helpful and supportive. I love the variety of services that the unit offers and look forward to learning more about them over the coming months.”
Cathrine Reid, Director of Maternity, Investigation, Cancer and Surgery (MICS) said:
“Students training to become nurses undertake placement at teaching hospitals as part of their studies and it can provide an invaluable opportunity for them to be immersed in real life aspects of the nursing profession.
“They are our future and I am proud that the team in the Theatres and DPU in South Tyrone Hospital have able to give students a positive experience and that they been recognised for their dedication in committing to develop new nursing talent as mentors and providers of placements.”
Caption:
The Theatres and Day Procedure Unit (DPU) at South Tyrone Hospital has been nominated in the ‘Student Placement of the Year: Hospital’ award at prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards 2023. Placement students are pictured with Theatre Manager Maura McCarthy and other nursing staff in the unit, including Anna McCaul, who has commenced her first Band 5 post and now works alongside the team who supported her in her placement.