Rose: I decided to become a children's nurse because working with children is fun and it's
exciting and its entertaining, but being a children's nurse is more than that; it's about
caring for them and helping them at their most vulnerable moment.
Fiona: The department of children's nursing here at LSBU is the largest department of
children's nursing in the country; there is a large teaching team that includes expert
practitioners and well experienced academics, and also a research team that is well renowned
with their work into children's cancer care. Rose: The teaching at London South Bank University
was absolutely fantastic; we got specialists from both inside the hospitals and specialists
from outside the hospitals that come in and tell us about the latest pieces of research
and also their experiences, and how nursing has evolved over the years.
Andy: When Megan was ill I used to do talks to the staff at Great Ormond Street about
what we as parents want and expect from staff looking after our children, and LSBU heard
about me and asked me to come and do the same, and I now teach the children's nurses, cancer
nurses what we expect and how we can work together as a team to make our children better.
Fiona: The students love their practice placements and their evaluations are generally that that
is the best bit of course that's why they are here; they tend to be people that learn
through doing and it gives them every opportunity to do that.
Karen: So each member of academic staff are allocated a clinical link area. We go out
on a regular basis and support the students and work with the mentors and the practice
educators within the trust to ensure that the students are well supported, and they're
central to the experience within London South Bank.
Jackie: As part of my role I link in with London South Bank. So Not only do the link
lecturers come out into the practice areas to support students but I also come into the
University itself, I was here this morning teaching, and we cover any practical aspects,
any employability aspects, we teach them about interviewing and what the employer requires
of them when they qualify, so they have a good understanding at the end of their programme
what I'm looking for as an employer.
Megan: When I was two I think it was, I was diagnosed with Leukaemia and I was taken up
to Great Ormond Street and they've cared for me from then on, like throughout the wards,
and they're are all really nice staff.
Sally R: The relationship between Great Ormond Street and LSBU is a close working relationship
to make sure we provide the best possible learning environment for the students that
we have within our trust.
Sally S: the students who come to Bart's health for their practice placement can expect a
warm welcome and the support and encouragement to develop their career. They'll get lots
of opportunities to practice all of those basic nursing skills that you would expect
to see on a nursing programme, but also other skills such as communication skills and working
with other agencies.
Rose: The course that I studied at London South Bank University really helped me begin
my career as a nurse, I mean without it I don't think I would have got as far as I've
got today.
Fiona: An ideal candidate for children's nursing is someone that is committed to looking after
children and their families; someone that is kind and caring and compassionate and also
intelligent and capable of undertaking the graduate programme.
Sally S: I would encourage students to undertake a career in nursing because I think there
are so many fantastic opportunities - so many different pathways that you could follow and
there really is something in it for everyone and a real opportunity to make a difference
to people's lives.
Rose: I'd definitely recommend London South Bank University's children's nursing programme
to other people because the support you get is amazing, the facilities are state-of-the-art
and I don't think you can get any better. I mean I had a fantastic time, the people,
the diverse culture and just the environment of London South Bank University and its location
really stuck out and I'm really glad I studied there.
Fiona: Children's nursing can be very demanding, it can be sad, but it's an absolute pleasure
to be working with children and their families and it is highly rewarding.
Andy: I actually think the nurses in a hospital are more important than the doctors. The doctors
made our daughter better without doubt, and we will always be grateful but it's the nurses
that made her what she is today. The care that they showed and the love, they're the
ones that make the stay in the hospital what it is very, very special.