Congratulations to our nurse degree apprentices

Our first-ever nurse degree apprentices; to qualify at Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Trust (STSFT) have received their graduation badges.

The pin badges were presented to Michael Sheppard and Kerri Peters ; at a special ceremony hosted by Sunderland University on Thursday 14th, as a nod to the former national tradition of ‘pinning ceremonies’ for new nurses entering the profession.

The cohort, which began training in January 2019, is the first to complete the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship programme run by the University of Sunderland in partnership with several local Trusts. Both our graduates have now moved from their Healthcare Support roles into Registered Nurse roles within the Trust,  with further cohorts currently studying to become our future nurses.

"The Adult Nurse Apprenticeship is a great opportunity for healthcare assistants to progress within the trust. Thank you to all the amazing STSFT staff I have had the privilege of working with and learning from over the past three years"
Michael Sheppard
Staff Nurse
Intensive care (ICCU)

"The Nursing Apprenticeship has been a fantastic opportunity where I have been able to progress in my career as well as still being able to work. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff within STSFT who I’ve had the pleasure of working with and learning from throughout the last 3 years even in the midst of a pandemic the support was fantastic."
Kerri Peters ;Staff Nurse; Ward 2

Nurse apprenticeships were first introduced in England in September 2017 as an alternative route into the profession following the removal of the government-funded student nurse bursary. We offer this Apprenticeship opportunity for our current staff to develop into Registered Adult Nurses, with costs covered by the Trust , it is an intensive degree level course with limited spaces, for more details contact: stsft.apprenticeships@nhs.net