SCOTLAND’S First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has written to Nursing students to praise their hard and work and dedication.
Students at the University of Dundee received the letter from Ms Sturgeon , in response to a letter sent by the Student President of the School of Health Sciences, Carike Barnardo
The First Minister’s letter has been shared with all students and also includes praise from Scotland’s Chief Nursing Officer, Fiona McQueen.
The First Minister praised nursing students at Dundee, and across Scotland, saying, “This year the COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on us all, and we are extremely grateful to our highly skilled nursing students who stepped up in an hour of need.
“Your extraordinary hard work, dedication, skills and commitment helped pull our health service through an exceptional time.
“Some of your colleagues have now joined the workforce permanently, others of you have continued with your programmes and are working hard to complete your studies, and many of you have just started on this journey to become the health professionals that Scotland will need for the future.
“I know that it has been difficult, and that many of you have family or other caring responsibilities as well as your nursing programmes.
“No matter what stage you are at in your career the people of Scotland will always remember our nurses are the lifeblood of the health service, and every day you work towards helping others.
“That is something truly admirable, and I thank you for your hard work and dedication, and wish you well in your career.”
Ms McQueen added, “I am very proud of the response of the nursing and midwifery professions and nursing support staff to this challenge. It has been truly exemplary and inspiring.”
The letter has been disseminated to students and shared widely on social media.
Carike, a 3rd year Adult Nursing Student at the University, says the gesture has been greatly appreciated by her fellow students.
Carike said: “Students and staff have been working so hard over the past year that they really deserved to be thanked and I thought there would be no better person for those thanks to come from than the First Minister,”
“I thought it was worth a shot but, to be honest, I didn’t think we would get a reply due to the pressures of the pandemic so I was delighted to receive this lovely, heartfelt letter.
“It has gone down very, very well with the students. Many have commented that it has made them feel valued, energised and motivated.”
