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UNIVERSITY applications site Ucas came under fire this week for an advert belittling the vital role nurses play.
The now-pulled course ad suggested nurses simply “provide support to doctors and other medical staff”. But in reality, nursing is a highly skilled role, which can lead to top NHS management.
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It is also the UK’s most employable degree with 94 per cent of students landing jobs within six months of finishing their course.
The Government is spending millions to fill an estimated 43,000 nursing vacancies in the UK.
And some NHS trusts are targeting nurses for extra training to help them climb the career ladder.
Among the schemes are nursing degree apprenticeships — equivalent to a full honours degree — and nursing associates training, which is the same as a foundation degree and bridges the gap between healthcare assistants and staff nurses.
Some areas are offering specialised programmes for black and ethnic minority staff to increase diversity in NHS management.
A spokesman for the West London NHS Trust said: “Our goal is to increase the number of black and minority ethnic people in senior management by ten per cent over the next three years.”
Pay can range from £17,600 for a newly qualified nurse to more than £50,000 for senior nurses with specialist and management skills.
See healthcareers.nhs. uk/explore-roles/nursing/ studying-nursing or jobs.nhs.uk.
‘HELPING PATIENTS IS GREAT’
NEIL RAGOOBAR came to the UK from Trinidad in 1995 to study nurse training at the University of Surrey.
While a student nurse, he worked at Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital and decided to specialise in mental health, landing a staff job there.
After rapidly moving up the career ladder, Neil is now the service director for men’s medium secure services at St Bernard’s Hospital in Ealing, West London.
He completed a BME (Black & Minority Enthnic) Programme at the West London NHS Trust.
Neil, 47, from Berkshire, said: “I worked in the oil and gas industry in Trinidad.
“A few family members migrated to the UK in the Seventies and Eighties and all worked in the NHS, so they encouraged me to give it a go.”
He added: “My favourite part of my job is interacting with patients, helping them on their journey to recovery and being able to see the real person behind the illness.
“This is more than a job to me, it’s like a second home and having another family. There is a great sense of camaraderie among the staff.”
Ditch winter blues
THE Winter blues – or Seasonal Affective Disorder – are believed to affect one in three people.
Workplace wellbeing expert David Price says: “SAD is a major depressive disorder, brought about by the lengthening periods of darkness. It’s a serious issue that can have drastic effects on productivity in the winter.”
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With the clocks going back this weekend, David, CEO of Health Assured, reveals how to guard against SAD.
➊ MAKE more of your office light: Some offices are dark and dreary, with staff seated in cubicles far from natural light sources. Try rearranging your floor plan to maximise the natural light, and consider moving people suffering from SAD closer to windows.
➋ ENCOURAGE more outdoor time: Employees should be taking lunch away from their desks and get outdoors. Outdoor meetings and coffee runs can help too.
➌ HELP out with health: SAD can wreak havoc on appetite, causing weight gain. Try providing healthier snack options in the winter months, such as fruit and herbal teas.
➍ LIGHT box therapy. This uses fluorescent lights to simulate natural sun and is an effective therapy recommended by the NHS. Many people suffering SAD benefit greatly from a SAD lamp or light box.
Job Spot
FIND your ideal post with the ROYAL MAIL. It is still hiring for Christmas staff including sorting and warehouse roles. Visit xmasroyalmail.com.
THE WONDER OF TUES
TUESDAY is the most productive day of the working week.
Twenty-four per cent of staff say it is their top “get it done day”, followed by Monday then Wednesday.
Employees are also most productive between 10am and 11am, the survey of 2,000 people found.
Just five per cent said Friday was their best day for work while only two per cent were productive between 4pm and 6pm.
Cal Lee, global head of flexible office broker Workthere, which carried out the poll, said: “While overall productivity levels for UK office workers will inevitably vary from day to day, it is interesting to see the average optimum times for productivity, particularly in terms of time and a specific day.”
Get the taste of Co-op
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HERE’S a fang-tastic chance to join Co-op Food this Halloween.
It needs 115 new employees, from staff at some of its 2,600 stores to warehouse workers at its depots and operational personnel at its support centre in Manchester.
Among the chain’s employees is bakery product developer Rachel Calvert, who is responsible for its Halloween products. Rachel, 31, from Ribble Valley, Lancs, said: “The job has loads of great benefits; learning and exploring cuisines, travelling, constantly learning about new innovations and technologies and eating fantastic food.
COINING IN IT
Ancient coin from 723AD sells for £3.1million at London auction
CASH BACK
Under-fire Barclays reverses decision to axe cash withdrawals from Post Office
SUN SAVERS
Stop the cost of Halloween from getting scary with our money-saving top tips
FINGER LICKIN’ GOOD
KFC is testing a massive 80 piece popcorn chicken bucket for £6
“We spend so much of our lives at work, the most important thing is to do something you love, so it doesn’t feel like work.”
Apply at jobs.coop.co.uk.
Job Spot
LOOKING for a summer job for 2020? Bunac – an expert in gap year and working abroad placements – is interviewing now for work at summer camps in America. For details search summercampusa.co.uk.
