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School pupils sample nursing career with hands-on experience

A group of senior secondary school pupils from across Scotland are currently gaining a unique insight into the nursing profession as a result of collaboration between NHS Grampian and the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Robert Gordon University.

The 12 fourth and fifth-year pupils, who hail from Aberdeenshire, Fife and Perth, are coming to the end of the week-long Autumn Nursing School which has been designed as an educational experience to help interested school pupils make informed decisions about nursing as a career choice.

The week will culminate with an event tomorrow (Friday 21 October) in which members of the public will be acting as volunteer patients so that the pupils can undertake simulated nursing practice in the university's own state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Centre.

During the programme the pupils learn and practice core nursing skills, gain an insight into student life, observe nursing work within real clinical settings and interact with professionals and patients of NHS Grampian.

Earlier in the week, the pupils visited Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Woodend Hospital, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and Royal Cornhill Hospital. Specific activities included conversations with service users and scrubbing up in a real surgical theatre.

This is the second time that this programme has been run in 2011 due to unprecedented demand for the Summer Nursing School in July.

Professor Brian Webster, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery explained: "Across Scotland, recruitment to nursing programmes can be challenging. The nursing schools engage young people at a crucial point in their lives by providing them with an experience of nursing education and practice which is realistic, informative and fun.

“The aim is to arm them with the knowledge and experiences they need to make informed choices about their future career. NHS Grampian and the university look to encourage those with the aspirations and potential to become health professionals in years to come."

The university is already recruiting for next year's Summer School. Anyone wishing to find out more should contact Margo Learmonth on 01224 262635 or via email at m.learmonth@rgu.ac.uk.

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