Celebrations for apprentices who worked and studied through pandemic
Posted: 24 November 2021
The latest group of nursing associates at West Herts to complete their apprenticeship programme were overjoyed as they celebrated their success at Watford Football Club – a feat made all the greater as they studied through the pandemic.
Nursing associates work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients. Nursing Associates have their own accountability and responsibilities and are an integral part of the nursing workforce. The nursing associates are also registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The nursing associates spend one day a week at the University of Hertfordshire as part of their two-year apprenticeship. Classes have predominantly been virtual due to the pandemic. However, face-to-face teaching has restarted.
The nursing associates programme has been successfully running since 2017.
Healthcare assistants (HCAs) and clinical support workers (CSW) made up the latest group to complete their apprenticeship, hosted by the trust, which WHHT also provides nursing associate placements to HCAs and CSWs from places like such as GP surgeries.
The celebration day was hosted by the education team where chief nurse Tracey Carter presented the students with certificates while Jo Prytherch, lead nurse for workforce and education, spoke about the next steps they could take in their nursing careers.
Joanne Harris, clinical skills facilitator who works directly with the nursing associates on the wards, said: “It is wonderful to celebrate the success of the students who have worked so hard over the past two years. Each student has gone above and beyond to complete the programme and should be very proud of their achievements.”
Ends
- For more information, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.uk. Out of hours, please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 500,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,000 staff and volunteers.
- For more information about our hospitals, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk. You can also join our followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) and find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS)
