Student nurses find Shetland an ‘excellent’ place to develop skills

NHS Shetland staff should be “really proud” of the overwhelmingly positive feedback it receives from student nurses, a meeting has heard.

A survey of students showed that 100 per cent were very satisfied with their learning experience.

It was given a mention at NHS Shetland’s board meeting on Tuesday by director nursing and acute services Kathleen Carolan.

She said NHS Shetland supported student nurses from a range of universities, with more than 120 hosted each year.

“I very much see students as the eyes and ears of the organisation,” Carolan said.

“They play a really crucial role in terms of feeding back around quality.”

Board member Kathy Hubbard said it was a “joy” to read about the feedback as recruitment is a priority for NHS Shetland.

“If you’ve enjoyed your placement, you tell other people about it, you tell other students about it, and you may want to come back and work here,” she said.

NHS Shetland’s HR director Lorraine Hall said most students find the isles an “absolutely excellent” place to develop their skills.

Carolan also praised staff working during the two large scale disruptions faced in Shetland last year in telecommunications and power/weather.

Meanwhile board chairman Gary Robinson said NHS staff are continuing to be affected by illness as respiratory infections like flu and Covid pick up.

Earlier this month staff shortages prompted NHS Shetland to cancel a week of planned procedures at the Gilbert Bain Hospital.