Nursing students given ‘Time to Shine’
08 September 2010
Third year nursing students at LJMU displayed their employability skills last week through the organisation and hosting of the third LJMU Student Nurse Conference - attended by Lord Mayor, Councillor Hazel Williamson and bestselling author Bethann Siviter.
The event was taken on by students in their free time, allowing them to be self-motivated and giving them the chance to gain additional employability skills including management and communication outside of their formal studies.
Key speakers included Gill Core, the Director of Nursing at Whiston Hospital, who opened the conference and Bethann Siviter, who discussed and offered advice on the transition from student to staff nurse. The breakout sessions, also organised by the students, involved Pilates, back care and aromatherapy fitting in with the theme of 'Body, Mind and Spirit'.
Dean of the LJMU Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences Professor Godfrey Mazhindu said: “The Student Nurse Conference provides the opportunity for students to organise an event related to their employability field so that they can develop key communication and interpersonal skills while networking with potential future employers.
“This offers a different side of nursing skills for the students, but is important for them in a competitive graduate job market. It is therefore a great chance to showcase their abilities to the community and further progress on their transition into employment.”
Lord Mayor, Councillor Hazel Williams commented: “The LJMU Nursing Students should all be proud of their extra-curricular efforts in staging this event and I would like to congratulate them on behalf of Liverpool City Council. This really shows the innovation that students show in gaining extra skills to prepare them for employment.”
Bethann Siviter, author of the best-selling ‘The Student Nurse Handbook’ and ‘Newly Qualified Nurses’ Handbook’, which offer support and information for nursing students, also commented: “As a speaker and advocate for student nursing, I was impressed to learn that the Nursing Students used their own initiative to organise this day, carefully considering relevant themes to their studies and the nursing profession and organising speakers and activities that would be beneficial and of interest to all attendees. It’s so rewarding to support students with such a clear passion for nursing.”
