Hawkhill House Proudly Welcomes Its First Nursing Student
Hawkhill House Nursing Home is a care home with excellent standards, a stable and committed team and an inspirational manager - the perfect environment for a nursing student to gain practical experience, alongside learning about the importance of wellbeing for residents in care.
From Hairdresser to Trainee Nurse
Home Manager Mel Shearer’s long held ambition was to offer placements to student nurses, and on 29th January, this ambition was realised as Donna Allan became the first placement student to join the nursing team at Hawkhill House.
Donna is local to the area of Aberdeen and had been a hairdresser for 25 years, owning her own hairdressing salon for over 10 years. After her husband suffered a heart problem which required a lot of care, Donna decided that nursing was a more fulfilling path and gained a place to study for a BSc degree in Nursing at Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University. This is the only university in Aberdeen to offer a nursing course and one which Mel, also a registered nurse, is building a strong relationship with.
Collaboration and Partnerships at the Heart of Success
In order to be assigned a nursing student, Mel collaborated closely with Jill Morrison, a Care Home Education Facilitator from Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Both believe that Hawkhill House offers a nurturing environment where students can gain invaluable practical experience which will complement the solid foundations being gained through their nursing education at the university.
Mel’s final step was to complete the required NHS modules to become a Practice Assessor and she encouraged three of her nursing team to also complete the modules. Hawkhill now has two Practice Assessors and two Practice Supervisors to support students - an investment in the future of Hawkhill House as a recognised destination for nursing student placements.
The Future Looks Bright
Mel is incredibly excited about the potential for all involved: “Our partnership with Robert Gorden University and our local Care Home Education Facilitators will have a positive outcome for the student – who we hope will learn and thrive during the time spent with us - and for our beloved residents who will enjoy an enhanced quality of care. We’d love to welcome students on a regular basis, and I truly believe that Hawkhill House has a lot to offer someone looking for a supportive environment as they begin their nursing career”.
Discover Hawkhill House Nursing Home in Aberdeen
Hawkhill House Nursing Home provides residential, nursing and specialist dementia care in a bright and comfortable environment, surrounded by lovely gardens. The home offers care that is tailored to individual needs, interests and preferences, and a team who are committed to delivering the very best. If you would like to learn more about the types of care and services available from Caring Homes, please visit our website page. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to learn more.
