Kirkcaldy students celebrate Nurses' Day

The annual event, organised by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) takes place today (Thursday) - the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale - to mark the hard work carried out by the profession.

And Gary Lawson, student president at Dundee University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, took the lead on setting up events at the campus on Kirkcaldy’s Forth Avenue in what is the RCN’s 100th anniversary.

“We held a few different events over three days this week, to fit in with everyone’s timetables,” he said.

“It’s just really informal. On Tuesday and Thursday we’re having a little coffee morning and we’ve got goodies lined up so people can just sit down and have a chat.

“There’s some information stalls set up too.

“We’re also holding a pub quiz - but it’s all about nursing! It costs a pound to enter and the money raised will be spilt between Sense Scotland SAMH, Fife Carers’ Centre.

“We’ve asked everyone if they can make a donation towards Glenrothes Foodbank. If you do you can enter a competition to design a nurse outfit and the best one will win a prize.

“We took inspiration for that from a famous quote from Florence Nightingale that ‘nursing is an art’.

“Professionals from the NHS have sent us storyboards showing their nursing journey which will serve as an inspiration, and there’s a few other things happening too. We got freebies from union reps!”

Gary, who is in his second year and hopes to go on to work in an acute stroke department, added: “It’s all been a lot of fun and everyone’s been joining in.

“It’s really a day to celebrate our vocation.”