Footage of nursing student singing to a patient wins her praise for person-centred care

Video of Brittany McArthur’s tender bedside moment went viral on social media

A nursing student has won praise for her person-centred care after footage of her singing at a patient's bedside went viral.

The touching footage shows Brittany McArthur – a third-year adult nursing student at the University of Ulster – singing Amazing Grace with patient Nellie Barr. Ms Barr can be seen and heard joining in to sing one of her favourite hymns.

Ms McArthur told Nursing Standard she was unaware she was being filmed by another patient and only found out after Ms Barr's grandson Jason Barr had posted the video on social media. 

Praise from the chief nurse

The video, taken at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, has been viewed more than 100,000 times, shared 1,000 times and received 2,800 likes. Mr Barr said his grandmother gave him permission to share the footage, and told Nursing Standard she was 'very excited' about it.

Northern Ireland's chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle said the clip showed the effort nurses make to provide the best possible care and thanked Ms McArthur on Twitter.

Ulster University head of nursing school Sonja McIlfatrick thanked Ms McArthur and said she was a great ambassador for the university.

Ms McArthur, who does bank shifts in a hospice and hopes to work in the emergency department on registration, said she was overwhelmed by the response.

‘I do this more regularly than I realise’

'People have been sharing the video as a great example of person-centred care, but it was merely a reflex for me – it is something I do more regularly than I realise.

'Normally, a nurse gets to a patient when they are at a vulnerable time in their life or they are in lot of pain or away from home. If you can do anything to make that easier, make patients feel less frightened and more comfortable then it is worth it.'

Mr Barr told the Belfast Telegraph: 'When I first saw the video, I cried. For her to have such compassion and take a minute out of her day to do that is just incredible.'

In other news

• RCN president recognised for ‘outstanding contribution’ to health research
• Safe staffing: guidance will pave the way for extension to law on nurse numbers in Wales