Guernsey nursing students join workforce after graduation

Eleven of the nursing graduates are now working on Guernsey

More nurses have started working in Guernsey after graduating.

A group of 23 students completed their BSc Nursing award or post-graduate awards with the Guernsey Institute.

The courses were set up in partnership with Middlesex University and the Institute of Health and Social Care Studies to allow on-island study, the States of Guernsey said.

The States added 11 of the graduates were now working locally as registered health and social care nurses.

The post-graduate scheme is designed to support the development of professional practice, the States said.

A graduation ceremony was held at St Pierre Park Hotel.

Dr Tracey McClean, executive director at the Guernsey Institute, said it was fantastic to see the students complete the courses.

"Balancing study, work and home life is challenging, and some students have had to face difficult situations during their programmes, but they have overcome these difficulties and succeeded," Dr McClean said.

In March last year, a scrutiny meeting of Guernsey's Health and Social Care Committee (HSC) heard 154 vacancies on the island were being filled by agency workers at the start of 2023.

Figures also showed £11m had been spent since 2018 on agency staff to fill vacancies in Guernsey.

Deputy Al Brouard, HSC president, said during the meeting the main reasons why HSC could not get permanent staff was because of wages and a lack of suitable accommodation.