Helping hand for trainee nurses will benefit patients
Experienced nurses are part of a new pilot project to mentor 60 trainee nurses, which will help improve care for patients.
Known as legacy nurses, they are former or current nurses who are drawing on their years of experience, to help the next generation of nursing staff at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
The legacy nurses will keep in touch with trainees throughout their placements by visiting them on wards, and help guide trainees to become registered nursing associates after their two-year nursing degree.
The legacy nurses have already been introduced to Southend Hospital and Broomfield Hospital, with one at each site. There are also plans to have one at Basildon Hospital as well.
Nila Chauhan, a legacy nurse at Southend Hospital, said: “We are handing our wealth of knowledge to the nurses of the future. Having more nurses with years of experience passing their knowledge on will help our trainees develop essential skills a lot quicker, making patient care better.
"I remember being a student and how busy the ward can get, so would have loved this support of a dedicated mentor when I first started. This is my chance to give back to the NHS for the skills I have learnt over the past 37 years.”