RGU working to upskill NHS staff for COVID-19 crisis

Over recent weeks RGU has quietly and effectively been collaborating with the NHS to create an army of professionals who are stepping selflessly into new roles.

Groups of dental nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, and speech and language therapists are embracing new learning in order to use their considerable talents and expertise in a time of crisis.

These expert practitioners are redeploying back into the NHS to deliver care at frontline in different ways. Many will work in wards as healthcare support workers, delivering essential nursing care to the acutely unwell at a time of national crisis.

RGU is working closely with NHS Grampian to deliver the rolling programme of training, which employs a mixture of digital and face to face learning, focused on fundamental nursing care as well as the surveillance and care of the acutely unwell. Much of the face to face teaching has been carried out in RGU’s Clinical Skills Centre, a purpose-built teaching and training facility which is designed to allow healthcare professionals to practice clinical skills in a safe but realistic environment.

A further programme of training is also being delivered to complement the existing skills of groups of senior specialist nurses as they too step into different roles to work with the most in need across Grampian.

Leading the collaboration from RGU is Strategic Lead for Collaborative Practice and registered nurse, Laura Chalmers, who has a background in critical care.

“RGU has designed and is delivering training and education for the frontline redeployment of professionals across Grampian,” she commented

“Serving the community as never before, expert lecturers and clinicians are working seamlessly and tirelessly together to deliver training where it is most needed. Therefore, redeployed healthcare professionals are trained and ward ready to step into different roles that will make the world of difference to patients, multidisciplinary teams and to the success of the NHS during the COVID19 era.

“Students nurses are voluntarily stepping into clinical practice in frontline areas supported by RGU academic staff, where they are in daily contact with mentors and lecturers who are guiding and supporting their phenomenal contribution at this time.

“Serving the community as never before, expert lecturers and clinicians are working seamlessly and tirelessly together to deliver training where it is most needed.”

“Never has an emerging workforce more expertly worked collaboratively, jumping barriers and obstacles to make their contribution invaluable and so gratefully received. At a time when working from home is the norm, RGU staff are at the coal face, teaching online, providing clinical guidance and pastoral support to many students who are in hospitals caring for patients instead of going home and staying with their closest family.

“A further programme of training is also being delivered to complement the existing skills of groups of senior specialist nurses as they too step into different roles to work with the most in need across Grampian.

“This is not just community payback, this is RGU at its best, creating the workforce for right now and for tomorrow.”

Jane Ewen, Chief Nurse, Practice Education & Development at NHS Grampian, added: “This has been a great example of collaborative work which is playing a key role in supporting and preparing the workforce at this time of unprecedented change. The support and flexibility of our university partner continues to be appreciated.”