We Are The NHS campaign is back for 2022 and this time there is an even greater focus on recruiting nurses from the Black community.
Now in its fifth year, the latest NHS England and NHS Improvement’s ‘We Are The NHS’ campaign is championing the extraordinary work of Black nurses in a bid to inspire a new cohort to consider a career in the health service.
The campaign highlights the range of nursing specialisms across the NHS, including in learning disabilities, mental health, adult and children’s nursing. It features Black nurses, who are proud to showcase the many ways in which nursing has a positive impact every day, on patients and on the nurses themselves.
Helping to front the campaign, Sandra Hungwe, a nurse at Queen Mary Hospital, said: “I am extremely proud to work for a diverse NHS, which has given me the opportunity to fulfil my potential.”
“I am extremely proud to work for a diverse NHS.”
Candidates for university nursing courses have access to a support system to guide them step by step through the application process, alongside tailored support. Annual payments of at least £5,000 are also available to help nursing students with their studies.
After completing her nursing degree and training, Sandra is now an Adult Nurse, where she plays a crucial role in patient recovery.
“Seeing a smile on a patient’s face and knowing that you have delivered the patient care they needed is the best feeling in the world.”
“If you are looking for a rewarding career with plenty of opportunities to develop and progress, then a career in nursing could be for you,” said Sandra.
Nursing is one of the most employable professions with 94% of graduates gaining employment within the first six months of leaving university. Once qualified, there are many opportunities to further develop through additional training or by focusing on a specific area, such as trauma, orthopaedics or neonatal care.
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To help those who are unsure of what to specialise in, the ‘We Are The NHS’ campaign has also launched a quiz to raise awareness of the plethora of nursing roles available and to help people find out which nursing role they would be best suited to.
The campaign hopes to increase applications for both degree courses and direct entry jobs, seeking to build upon the existing 1.2 million-strong workforce and to shine a light on the incredible work they do in multicultural adverts across TV, cinemas, radio and billboards.
“The NHS’s greatest strength is in the diversity of our people.”
Dr Navina Evans, Chief Workforce Officer at NHSE, said: “The NHS’s greatest strength is in the diversity of our people. Nurses from multicultural communities across the UK are the backbone of our national health service and the contributions they make every day must be celebrated.”
Nurse Susan Olusoga, a member of the Nigerian Nurses Association, said: “Nurses will tell you that the biggest perk of a nursing degree is making a difference to people’s lives. As a nursing student, you learn to fully absorb the required knowledge and in training, you learn how to apply it. There are a range of opportunities available so there will be something to suit you, no matter what your interests. Whatever you choose, with a career in nursing, you are guaranteed to make a positive difference every single day.”
To learn more, visit the Health Careers ‘Nursing Careers’ page.
