More than 150 nurses graduated from the University of Stirling last week – and more than one hundred of them have secured jobs with local health board, NHS Forth Valley. 

Others have taken on new roles around the country, including in NHS Lothian, NHS Fife and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

This year’s graduating nurses were celebrated at a ceremony on campus on Friday, November 21, after successfully completing their degrees.

They were joined by NHS Forth Valley’s Executive Nurse Director, Professor Karen Goudie, and Marissa Parker, Chief Nurse and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor.

NHS Forth Valley has employed 116 nurses of the 179 who graduated from the University of Stirling last week.

Professor Goudie said: “Staff across NHS Forth Valley work hard to support students throughout their education and practice placements and I’m delighted that so many of this this year’s graduates have chosen to start their nursing careers with us.

“It’s great to welcome so many of these nurses back and be able to offer them permanent positions in a wide range of local wards, departments and services across the organisation.”

Among the graduating nurses were Rachel Carver, 26, and Amy Winchester, 20, who are already working at NHS Forth Valley.

(l-r) Rachel Carver, Professor Karen Goudie, and Amy Winchester

Rachel said: “My time at the University of Stirling will be forever memorable. I made friends for life, which I am most grateful for. I felt supported through my studies, and the beautiful campus was the cherry on top.”

Amy said: “What I loved most about the University of Stirling was the people. I made friends who supported me through the degree, and those connections truly feel like they will last a lifetime.”

Professor Ashley Shepherd, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “We are very proud of all of our graduating student nurses who have worked so hard to obtain their degrees.

“University of Stirling nurses are sought after by health boards around the country and beyond, so it’s no surprise so many have already secured jobs – and we’re particularly pleased that more than half of our graduates will be working locally, at NHS Forth Valley, one of our key partners.

“The University of Stirling has a strong reputation for producing knowledgeable and confident practitioners who are not only equipped with the clinical skills required to succeed, but also have developed the compassion, values, integrity and resilience needed to thrive in an ever-changing and evolving service.”

In 2022, the University of Stirling, Forth Valley College and NHS Forth Valley launched the Forth Valley University College NHS Partnership, the first formal collaboration between a health board, university and college in Scotland, which aims to improve patient care and treatment for communities across the Forth Valley region and surrounding area.