Campaign launched to thank nursing students on the COVID-19 frontline

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is today (May 12) marking International Nurses Day by launching a social media campaign to say a massive thank you to past and present nursing students on the COVID-19 frontline.

More than 500 student nurses from GCU have joined the NHS Scotland’s national emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic as well as alumni, community nurses, advanced practice and return to practice nurses.

Scores of staff from the Department of Nursing and Community Health, who are still registered nurses, are also working on the frontline in their spare time and deserve recognition for their commitment.

To show our appreciation for their commitment to the NHS, GCU’s is marking International Nurses Day today with a social media #ThankyouGCUNurses campaign.

Senior nursing lecturers Gordon Hill and Tom McAlear, behind the campaign, are calling on staff, students and the public to show their support by posting videos, stories and spreading the word through their local communities, politicians, friends and family, using the campaign hashtag.

Tom said: “The truly remarkable efforts made by our student nurses and GCU alumni in rising to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the way in which our students and staff have worked together for the common good at this time highlights the strength and resilience of the GCU nursing family.”

Gordon and Tom were inspired by the amazing response to #clapforcarers and thought International Nurses Day would be an ideal time to launch their own campaign social media platform to give people the chance to say thank you to GCU nursing students and staff.

“The response of the undergraduate student nurses, community nurses, advanced practitioners and all the other students in the Department of Nursing and Community Health has been awe inspiring. We would also like to thank the staff in the NHS and care sector for supporting our students during this period,” said Gordon.

GCU’s School of Health and Life Sciences Dean, Professor Andrea Nelson, said the way the whole School has pulled together throughout the coronavirus pandemic “really demonstrates the commitment and passion” staff have shown for their professions and their students.
“In this year of the nurse, we wanted to say a big thank you to everyone involved in caring for communities under pressure, including the nurses of the future. We are immensely proud of all our students and staff for their contribution to the global pandemic,” said Professor Nelson.

Head of Nursing and Community Health, Professor Jacqueline McCallum, added: “Staff in the department have been nothing short of amazing. To organise for students to study online and for others to go out on paid placements has been hugely impressive.”