Opportunities to return to nursing in Northumberland

Claire Nixon recently completed the return to practice programme at Northumbria University and has urged people to apply for the posts remaining on the course starting in September (see below).

Claire, 49, now works as a staff nurse on the surgical assessment unit at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital at Cramlington.

She was a nurse for 23 years before having a career change and running her own café in Morpeth. Seven years later when her youngest child went to university, she decided to return to nursing, having missed the day-to-day contact with patients and colleagues.

During her programme, she did a placement with the trust at the Northumbria hospital and jumped at the chance to apply for a role after meeting senior staff and matrons at an open day last November.

“Don’t hesitate, just do it,” said Claire. “While the course was challenging, help was available at all times. I have been fully supported and my transition back into nursing has been very straightforward.

“I’m very pleased to be working here and really happy to be back nursing.”

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has partnered with Northumbria University and Health Education England to offer nurses with lapsed Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registrations to complete its return to practice programme.

There are 11 spaces remaining to start in September and people are encouraged to apply by the Sunday, July 17, deadline at www.jobs.nhs.ukThe programme involves completing academic work and between 100 and 450 hours of clinical practice, depending on time spent away.

The nurses will have guaranteed employment with the trust when they have completed and gained NMC registration, with opportunities in Northumberland and North Tyneside.

Debbie Reape, interim director of nursing at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “We got a great response to our initial advert for our return to practice posts and are delighted to have nine people starting our bespoke programme in September and joining our trust when they’ve completed.

“This is an excellent opportunity for people to get back into the nursing profession. We will give them all the support they need and a salary while training, and we would encourage anyone who wants to rekindle their nursing career to apply for our posts.

“At Northumbria, we greatly value our nurses and are one of the best trusts in the country. This is yet another example of our trust devising our own solutions to fit our needs and benefit our patients.”

All successful applicants will be provided with a mentor/practice teacher to support them in their new journey back into nursing. For more information contact Gillian Bell on 07789 173782 or Cath O’Kane on 07826 908958.