Janet Wilson, head of the nursing course at CU Scarborough, part of the Coventry University group, returned to practice last year to help during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, she encourages former nursing colleagues to enroll in a return-to-practice course and do the same.

“I returned to help during the pandemic and we saw many former nurses returning to the wards”

Janet Wilson

Return to practice internships have been set up to allow nurses whose registration has lapsed after an interruption of practice of at least three years to renew their registration and resume nursing work.

CU Scarborough will be launching its return-to-practice course in 2022. The course consists of a 12-week theory module, a 2,000-word assignment and a minimum of 150 hours of clinical practicum.

Students of the course must attend one day per week of instruction from May 4 to July 20, and they will have one year to complete the course.

Ms Wilson said, “We want to give nurses who have left practice for whatever reason the opportunity to come back.

“Sometimes people go overseas, quit nursing, retire, and a few years later think they might want to come back. It is intended for people who have already completed the three-year nursing program.

“I returned to help during the pandemic and we saw many former nurses returning to the wards.

“We see this new course as an opportunity to help people come back and in turn strengthen the local NHS workforce.”

The CU Scarborough Course is one of 36 return-to-practice courses offered by universities across the UK.

Health Education England will cover the cost of the course and placement costs for nurses wishing to re-enroll who apply directly to a university, and will provide up to £ 1,000 for childcare, travel and books.