New Course Addresses National Nurse Shortage

22nd May 2014

A new course designed to attract former nurses back into the profession is being launched at Sheffield Hallam University.

The Return to Practice scheme is a part-time course that prepares for the re-registration of nurses who have been disconnected from the healthcare sector for the last 10 years. Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and in conjunction with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, the course looks at current practice, legislation and policies, record keeping and safeguarding as well as time spent on placement. Students will also be able to redevelop their clinical skills and their specialist knowledge to update their learning in line with current healthcare guidelines. There are 20 places on the four-month course which starts in February 2015 and if successful, the course will be rolled out to other trust areas. Joanne Benn, deputy head of nursing and midwifery at Sheffield Hallam, said: "According to the Centre for Workforce Intelligence, the NHS is likely to have 47,500 fewer nurses than it needs by 2016. "We are aware of the challenges employers face when it comes to planning and sustaining the supply and demand of the future nursing workforce at a time of financial constraint which is why we are introducing this new course in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. "Nursing can be one of the most rewarding professions but because of the challenges the healthcare sector is facing at the moment, former registered nurses or health visitors may not have the confidence to go back into the service but this new course is about tackling those reservations and giving nurses the support they need to renew their registrations." Linda Crofts head of Learning and Development at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Sheffield Hallam on this Return to Practice initiative. "Qualified nurses take career breaks for many reasons and we are really keen to help practitioners refresh their knowledge and skills and welcome them back into nursing." Two open days are being held at the Northern General Hospital on 5th June and 15th July, 10am - 2pm where staff from both Sheffield Hallam's Faculty of Health and Wellbeing and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals will be available to provide more information. For further information or to apply for a place see http://www.shu.ac.uk/ad/return-to-practice/