A great idea to support our student nurses was replicated by five other hospital trusts within 24 hours of being shared on social media.

Special wall boards around our hospitals display the names and photos of paediatric and neonatal student nurses working there. They also outline each student’s stage of training and identify their practice assessor and supervisor.

The boards enable students from different universities to recognise and support each other. They also help ward staff to follow the students’ progress during placements, some of which can last for up to 12 weeks.

The paediatric and neonatal education team shared the Your Future Nurses initiative on Twitter (@paedsedufh), and it was quickly replicated elsewhere.

Mary Jenkins, Matron of Education for Paediatrics, said: “We are now working with six universities across paediatrics and neonates, massively increasing our student capacity over the last two years. We need to think of creative ways of ensuring we track their progress effectively.

“Our student nurses are our future nurses so we need to look after them and engage them. This is a wonderful way for them to get to know about their peers, share learning and support each other.”

The boards are “owned” by the students themselves and are introduced during their induction to Frimley Health. The students add their photos and tick the relevant boxes to indicate when their initial, mid and final interviews are completed.

When a student has finished a placement in one area, they move it to the next one – such as a ward, neonatal unit, emergency department, assessment unit or in the community.

Students say the initiative helps them feel part of the team.