Prince William and Kate thank student nurse who shared video diary of Covid-19 ward

'There's such incredible days and some days that are so so hard', said the 18-year-old

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have praised a student nurse who shared a "day in the life of" video on TikTok.

On Wedneday, Kensington Palace shared a TikTok that Abigail McGarvey created detailing her routine on a night shift.

In the video, McGarvey speaks about both the things she loves about the job, and its challenges, particularly during the pandemic.

The Ulster University student is seen wiping away a tear alongside text which reads: "There's such incredible days and some days that are so so hard".

Text in the clip reads: "Caring for people puts me as a student nurse in a very privileged position as many of these people are extremely vulnerable.

"In providing person-centred care, we often form close relationships with patients and watching them becoming ill and perhaps dying means we have to develop the resilience to cope with that."

McGarvey, a first-year adult nursing student, had the chance to speak to William and Kate on Wednesday about her work.

She said that her experiences have confirmed that this is the job she "was meant to do", and also told the royals that her sister, mother and grandmother were nurses too.

Kate replied: "Compassion and empathy clearly run strong in your family then."

The nurse also opened up about the difficulties of nursing during a pandemic.

The 18-year-old said: "You don't have the families there to support the patients and you have to give them so much more."

In a comment on Instagram, the teenager thanked the couple for an "incredible experience". 

The royals also spoke to a group of nursing trainees from Ulster University.

The Duchess told the group: "Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in the country, so you couldn't have chosen a better career choice and it's needed now more than ever.

"You've got almost three generations now – those coming back from retirement but also you guys doing your training who are stepping up – it shows real commitment and real teamwork, and it should really be celebrated, so really well done."

William said: "It's very difficult for you guys to go straight into a pandemic I would imagine, that's really baptism by fire as they say, isn’t it?"

Third year nursing student Lisa Semerdzhieva replied: "Yes, right, although it was frightening at the start, you know, you really want to go out more.

"Now you can't wait to get back out and practise, to feel like you're helping, you know, because that’s what we were born to do really."