Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) marked a remarkable family milestone in recent weeks with two sisters from Co Kildare advancing their healthcare careers under the same roof -one finishing her nursing degree as the other progresses through her medical training as a doctor.
Kate Cribbin from Leixlip in Co Kildare was among the 64 new nurses graduating from TUH at a special ceremony in recent weeks where she officially received her hospital badge and certificate. Kate recently helped her sister Eve settle into the hospital as she began her on-site training as a junior doctor and medical intern.
For the Cribbin family, this moment is particularly meaningful. Kate’s path into nursing began at just 16, inspired by the time she spent caring for her grandfather, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease. That experience, she says, shaped her determination to work in healthcare and support families going through challenging moments.
Eve’s decision to pursue medicine was sparked during her Transition Year, when she undertook a placement at TUH. The exposure to patient care, teamwork, and the hospital’s fast-moving clinical environment left a lasting impression and set her on course to return years later as a medical intern.
Overall, TUH celebrated the graduation of 64 newly-qualified general staff nurses, each of whom completed a four-year degree programme delivered jointly between Trinity College Dublin and TUH.
Throughout their studies, the students divided their time between university lectures and clinical placements across the hospital’s wards and specialist departments. In their final year, students spent one semester on campus - aside from a six-week supernumerary placement - before transitioning to a nine-month internship at TUH beginning last January.
The graduates were formally conferred with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Nursing by Trinity College Dublin in November, returning to TUH to mark the completion of their clinical nurse training.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, TUH Director of Nursing Áine Lynch commended the dedication of the group saying it was:
“wonderful to stand alongside our new nursing graduates who have worked extremely hard to reach this moment. This is an important and proud milestone, not just for the graduates themselves but for their families and the colleagues who supported them along the way. I am especially delighted that 87% of our new graduates will begin their professional careers here at TUH. Their commitment to our hospital and our patients is deeply valued.”