Student nurses share their experiences of working during COVID-19

Hospital corridor

Nursing students have shared their experiences of working in the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic and their strategies for coping with the hosts of the University’s ‘Coping with COVID’ podcast. 

Dr Helen West and Dr Suzi Gage, the psychologists who host the podcast, wanted to give students the opportunity to talk about their experiences of working in the NHS during COVID-19 and their strategies for coping. The podcast also includes interviews with experts on topics relating to mental health and psychological wellbeing.

Dr Suzi Gage, said: “Nursing students from the University of Liverpool and elsewhere have played an active role in caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Interviews with Hannah (episode 15), Megan (episode 11) and Duncan (episode 5) show how this cohort of student nurses have applied their knowledge and skills in the NHS as part of the UK response to the pandemic. The episodes give an insight into the challenges they have faced and the valuable contribution they have made to patient care.”

Dr Helen West, said: “In the latest episode of the podcast, I am joined by Hannah, a 3rd year student nurse. Hannah talks about the most difficult and rewarding experiences of caring for patients during COVID-19, and how she felt well-supported and equipped by her course to meet these challenges. She said “I think I’ll look back and be proud of it. We’ve worked through coronavirus – if you can do that you can do anything!””

About the Bachelor of Nursing degree

The Bachelor of Nursing degree is a three year programme which requires students to achieve 2300 hours of theory and 2300 of practice over a three year period. Students therefore spend half of their degree working in clinical areas, supported by practice staff.

As part of the programme students study public health and they also learn about complex and critical care nursing, which incorporates caring for seriously ill people. This incorporates learning about how to care for people who are extremely poorly and those who will never recover.

Dr Vicky Thornton, Head of Nursing, University of Liverpool, said: “The course provides theory around end of life care which is then practised when students work in clinical areas, with the support of staff who supervise and assess them.

“These areas of study have, we hope, been invaluable in helping our students to feel able and as best prepared as possible to care for patients in this unprecedented time. Our small cohorts have also allowed us to maintain close support of them throughout this period to ensure they feel they have an opportunity to talk about and share their experiences. We are so very proud of them and what they have become- and know they will be incredible registered nurses, which this experience will have played a part in creating.”

Further information on the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Liverpool can be found here.

The ‘Coping with COVID’ podcast was created as part of the ongoing support for students in nursing, medicine and allied health professions. All episodes can be found here.

If you would like to get in touch with the podcast team please use the following email address: covidpod@liverpool.ac.uk