As the International Day of the Nurse approaches on 12 May, student nurse Sheila Nguna has spoken about the importance of her role on the frontline. The 47-year-old, a second-year student at Teesside University, has joined the staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
Sheila is one of 44 student nurses currently working across the Trust’s wards to pressure on registered nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak. She is primarily based at the stroke rehabilitation unit at the University Hospital of North Tees, where she is gaining experience.
While acknowledging the challenges of working during the pandemic, Sheila stated that the induction process helped her feel confident in her responsibilities. She noted that the experience has her pride in being part of the global nursing community.
In addition to her clinical work, Sheila has used her language skills to assist the Trust’s communications. She recorded a video message in her native Shona to share safety advice and encourage physical distancing within non-English speaking communities.
Archive : This story is based on reporting originally published by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust on 2020-05-11. The original source image has been and credited.