Children's hospital opens its doors as it looks to recruit new nurses

Nurse Emily Garner, with eight-year-old Owen from Sheffield.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital is looking to recruit new nurses, healthcare assistants and support workers for its Paediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU).

The unit provides specialist care for infants, children and young people with a wide range of medical and surgical conditions including acute infections, trauma, neurological conditions, oncology and haematology, and as a regional lead centre receives patients from across South Yorkshire and nationally.

An open day on Saturday November 7 will give newly qualified nurses, band 5 and 6 nurses and support workers the chance to tour the unit, speak to staff, and hear about its new advanced nurse practitioner course developed with the University of Sheffield.

Sheffield Children's Hospital is holding an open day as it looks to recruit nurses for its Paediatric Critical Care Unit. Pictured are PCCU sister Tracey Baker, Director of Nursing and Quality Sally Shearer, and ward educator Rachael Saxby.

The event was held for the first time last year, when more than 50 trainee nurses, experienced nurses and healthcare assistants attended.

PCCU sister Tracey Baker said “We’re a very busy unit, with 19 beds plus neonatal cots. We’re very proud of our staff and want to raise our profile so we can attract the best of the best.

“Our hospital is going through an expansion at the moment, and whilst this is an open day for PCCU, it’s as much about showcasing the hospital.”

Staff turnover and promotion means the PCCU hold interviews for new staff every three months.

Ms Baker added: “At the PCCU we are a family that sticks together but it can be a stressful area to work in and some nurses don’t find that they are suited to it.

“The PCCU demands quality nurses to provide quality care.”

Rachael Saxby is the ward educator and trains new staff. She said the unit is able to provide specialist support for new nurses and trained staff who may not have worked in intensive care before.

“There are a lot of extended skills that need to be learnt,” she said. “But we train our nurses so they have the skills and knowledge to provide excellent care.”

Director of Nursing and Quality at Sheffield Children's NHS Trust, Sally Shearer, said the PCCU was a fantastic place to progress a nursing career.

She added: “It’s really important to us that we have the highest calibre staff in order to provide the highest quality care.”

To register for the open day, visit www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/about-us/critical-care-open-day/