Nurse's Malta placement

9:10pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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A student nurse will fly to Malta to complete a hospital placement.

Steve Smith, from Baron Close, in Stratton, thinks it is a great opportunity to work abroad for a month.

The 21-year-old, who is due to start his third and final year of training at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, will jet out next week.

Steve, who is also a dedicated St John Ambulance volunteer in Stratton says its will be interesting to see how the country’s Mater Dei hospital compares to the GWH.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me and I am going to make sure I make the most of every moment,” he said.

“I wanted a career in nursing since I finished my A-levels at New College.

“I went to GWH as an auxiliary nurse and helped on the acute assessment unit and really enjoyed it.

“Being a nurse is very rewarding and gives a lot of job satisfaction.

“It will be interesting to see how the two hospitals compare when I’m in Malta.

“I’m looking forward to working in this exciting new hospital and to bringing back plenty of photographs and stories for all the St John Badgers and cadets in Stratton.”

The 825-bed Mater Dei hospital opened in July 2007 and is equipped with all the latest technology and equipment. Steve will be working a range of shifts in different wards throughout the hospital where he hopes to gain experience that will help him develop his nursing expertise and skills.

He chose the Mater Dei hospital in Malta for two other reasons.

Malta plays a major part in the history of St John Ambulance and Steve, who has been a member of St John Ambulance’s unit in Stratton for the last three years, hopes to find out more about it while he is there.

Malta is also where his father comes from and so he is looking forward to having the opportunity of meeting up with some of his relatives.

Steve has had to fund this elective nursing placement himself and so, apart from working long shifts at GWH, he has taken on two part-time jobs.

Funding the placement has also been helped by sponsorship from St John Ambulance.

He received a £750 grant from them to £1,080 he needed to make his dream possible.

His placement will run from September 5 until October 6.