Oooh Matron, trainee nurses return to Southend

2:00am Saturday 19th July 2008

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NURSES can now be trained in Southend after an break of almost two decades.

The new course is being offered by University of Essex Southend from September.

Training to become a nurse has only been available at Chelmsford or Colchester for years and for many in the south of the county, this has proved a real barrier.

Now with Southend starting a Bachelor of Science nursing course, applications are coming in from mothers of young children and single parents among those considering a career in the health service.

Sarah Lee, course lecturer for four years and a former nurse at Southend Hospital, said: “We are taking lots of applications and attracting people with young children and single parents.

“People are saying this is the only way they can do it, because it’s in Southend. We have a lot of mums who have children they need to drop off at school and they can get to the Southend campus for this course, but would never be able to travel further.

“In the past if you lived in Essex there was only Chelmsford or Colchester for training. There was nothing for people in the Thames Gateway area. The only option was to travel.

“I was lucky I trained at Southend Hospital in the Eighties when hospitals still undertook training. I had young children and otherwise I wouldn’t have become a nurse.

“I understand where the new students are coming from and it’s why I am passionate about this course which is opening more doors for people.”

Students applying are from a wide spectrum aged from 17 to mid fifties, about 70 per cent women, and with a variety of qualifications including NVQs and A levels. The three year course starts on September 22 in new facilities and there are 120 places each year.

The last two years of the course will focus students on one of two career paths, either as a general registered nurse for adults, or mental health nursing.

Within five weeks of starting the course, students will be in a healthcare environment in both hospital and in the community, with health visitors, district nurses and in nursing homes.

Ms Lee, who used to teach at Colchester, but lives in Southend, said: “It is obviously a very practical course to enable students to get a good sense of where they want to work.

“Their experience will be gained mainly from working in the community, going out with their mentor nurse who will be fully qualified with extra training in teaching.

“Students will be assessed both in the classroom and by their mentors in a practical clinical setting.

“The idea is to prepare nurses for the future where there will definitely be more care in the community, but obviously they can, when qualified, work in a hospital if they choose.

“This course is an excellent opportunity for people in the town, and those in Basildon as well as further afield in East London.”

All fees are paid by the National Health Service and a £4,000 annual learning allowance is available.

Recruitment is still ongoing. Anyone interested in a career in nursing can contact Ms Lee by e-mailing sjlee@essex.ac.uk