University of Worcester student nurses return to the frontline as door-to-door testing begins
Efforts to control the new variant of the virus are being made to reduce pressure on the local NHS
Student nurses from the University of Worcester are once again heading back to work o the frontline to support the local NHS in the fight against Covid-19.
Third year students who are coming to the end of their degrees are being placed in hospital and community settings across the county.
It comes as door-to-door testing has begun today in some areas of Worcester after the arrival of the South African variant of the virus.
It's hoped ramping up efforts and testing people in the WR3 and WR9 areas on the county will reduce the pressure on the local NHS and the frontline staff.
So far 74 of Worcester's student nurses have put themselves forward for placements following a fresh call from Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
We've been talking to Lauren Cole, a third year student nurse, who's starting her placement at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.
"It's an emotional rollercoaster"
"When I started my first placement last October, naturally I was quite anxious about what to expect.
"It's a really emotional environment and until you're in it you don't know what to expect but I am part of a fab team who are able to support me and one another.
"The ICU for a nursing student is very different to a ward. Patients are on a lot of machinery and it can look really daunting.
"But the more I learn, the more that fear around how fragile the patients are diminished and I definitely feel more prepared heading back for the second placement".
"This is just my job - I sometimes forget I'm part of history"
"I know the pandemic is huge, but sometimes I forget that what we're doing is part of history.
"To me it's my job, it's my passion, it's what I want to be doing. I also feel really proud to be working for the local NHS Trust. I've done all my training locally so it's really amazing to be able to work in the local community.
"One thing that has been interesting though is getting to know the patient through their families. Usually I would see them face to face, but as some are intubated or on ventilators I haven't even has the opportunity to speak to my patient before they're put to sleep.
"We're all going through the same situation"
"It's brought all of us student nurses together. We're all in the same environment so there's nothing better than being able to talk to people who are in the same position.
"We don't get that anywhere else. We can talk to our colleagues but they're more experienced but the student nurses are at the same level as you so it's a nice support network.
"It brings a closeness that you can't get with anyone else. I don't think I could've got through this without a lot of people on my course".