Emergency department staff at both Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Bassetlaw Hospital now have a clearer framework for building their careers. The new training route maps out how nurses progress from newly qualified roles through to senior positions such as Sister or Charge Nurse, and beyond into specialist and leadership roles.
For a newly qualified registered nurse, the first year focuses on core emergency care skills, including trauma training and practical procedures such as taking blood and patient assessment. As experience grows, nurses can move into senior roles where they lead shifts, coordinate teams and support junior colleagues.
Some nurses will specialise further, becoming Emergency Nurse Practitioners or Advanced Clinical Practitioners trained to assess and treat certain patients independently. Others move into education or senior management roles overseeing departments and service development.
Karen Jessop, Chief Nurse at the Trust, said the scheme helps the hospital retain experienced staff. "This new approach gives nurses a clear route to build their careers and helps us support our colleagues to grow here in Doncaster and Bassetlaw, so we can keep experienced nurses in our hospitals," she said.
The trust is also investing around £534,000 annually to increase registered nurse numbers on adult inpatient wards, bringing staffing levels into line with national best practice.
