The beginnings of a student nurse. Two weeks in!

So after a long pause on this blog, I have finally started as a student nurse. I have just finished my 2nd full week and I am already loving it. The course is already in full throttle and there is no breaking you in gently. I can not believe I will be starting my first placement in just 3 weeks.

It is always hard embarking on a new endeavour and there is just so much to worry about! Will I make friends and get along with people? How will I manage the work load? Will I be able to cope with working on the ward or in the community? How will I balance studying, placements and coursework? For others there is the additional stress of paid employment and family commitments? Please do not worry or let this deter you, everyone is in the same situation and with an intense course like nursing there seems to already be a strong solidarity between peers. You are all literally in it together. My mum was an old school nurse who did her training in the early 1960's and she still regularly meets up with her friends from her training days. She has always said there is a bond with the people you train with as you go through so much together. Nursing education has evolved a lot since my mother's day but as a nursing student, your peers along with your placement mentors and your university lectures are your support network. Keeping this in mind, I have tried to become familiar with as many people on the course as possible, you never know when you will need to support each other in the future. You will always have people you have lots in common with but you will also have to build up a good working relationship with the people in your tutor group as they are likely to be the people you are doing practical's and group work with.

So what has my first few weeks been like? It is already so much fun. The first few days we were mainly given induction information but we were quickly thrown into lectures. Most of the lectures so far are concerned with nursing skills as we are going onto our first placement so quickly. We have has lectures and practical's on vital signs, moving and handling, injections, urinalysis and fluid balances, and infection control. We have also started some more serious lectures on professional practise and the legal and ethical responsibilities of nursing which I think I will find really interesting. We are also being introduced to lots of e-learning resources for practical skills and also for medication calculations. My first calculation exam is in 5 weeks and it is all online learning.

It is fresher's week next week and all the new faces will be joining us. It will be hard to balance going out, trying to make friends with the workload and 9am starts each morning, but as I mention before I feel it's important to make that effort to build a strong bond between you and your peers so that is something I am going to have to balance. I am making sure I get ahead of my work this weekend so I can enjoy socialising and getting to know my new friends over a pint.

If anyone has any questions about what the first weeks are like, please comment and I will reply. :)

HOT TOPIC- Privatisation of the NHS

An important part of nursing is to make sure that you are aware and up to date with health and social care issues, whether it be new policies, changes in funding, new medicines or treatments, current health epidemics or praise and condemnation received from the media. I believe everyone has an obligation to take a broad interest in their career, seeing the wider picture of their world of work . This is why I am sharing my views on the privatisation of the NHS.

To me privatisation seems like a short term solution to a long term problem. Yes, funding one of the best health care systems is never going to be easy but for me I do not understand how privatisation will provide service users with value for money in the long term. As long as private companies need to make a profit from providing health care then in my view, there is little opportunities for saving money without cutting the quality of care or the pay for workers. Besides, at least the NHS has economies of scale on their side (probably my naivety showing through). Have a look at this article that says that the NHS is actually one of the most cost effective health care providers in the world.  This article was written 3 years ago, so it is a shame there is not any more recent research on this.

I do not claim to be an expert in such things and I am sure I am mistaken, but for me the privatisation of the NHS is a gradual creeping of a health care system aiming to be something akin to America's health care system. If you have a good employer, who provides you with good health insurance cover then you are laughing. If like an increasing number of the population in the UK, you find yourself in an unstable job or low paid job then you would no doubt be provided with little or no staff benefits. If and when you then fall ill, you would be deprived of access to health care that many others in your local community would have access to. This would drive even larger disparities between the rich and poor. Can you really imagine yourself falling on hard times and not having access to the same health care as your neighbor, say? To me this seems ludicrous and really not what a wealthy western society should be promoting. The government have a moral obligation to provide a tax funded health care system available for all.

People argue that individuals and organisations promoting anti-privatisation are dreaming of the NHS's goldern glory days. This I argue is not true. For me, the NHS is a tried and tested system and it is and I believe will continue to be one of the best health care systems and providers in the world. Yes, the NHS may need to modernise in some respects, utilising new technologies to save money and time. However privisation is not the answer in the long term.

Now that is a face I just can not trust. 

Mary Seacole- An inspiration for nurses everywhere if there ever was one.

I listened to this on the radio a few weeks ago and thought I should share it. This lady should be a real inspiration to all nurses. A great example of a nurse with courage and commitment. In fact, she clearly exhibited all of the 6 C's, central to nursing today. She cared for soldiers in the Crimean War, which was a conflict from 1853-1856. Mary Seacole was a contemporary of  Florance Nightingale.

Clip 1- Mary Seacole: journey to the Crimea
Clip 2- Mary Seacole: the Crimean War
Clip 3- Mary Seacole: after the war was over

Mini drama courtesy of the BBC Learning Zone.

Mary Seacole

A brieft history of me and nursing and how I have come to where I am today.

Basically, nursing and medicine is kind of in the blood:

• My maternal grand-farther was a doctor.
• My maternal aunts and uncles were all doctors, surgeons or nurses.
• My paternal aunt was a nurse.
• My mother was a nurse also.
• My sister (#4) is a nurse, my other sister (#1) was a student nurse and has always regretted withdrawing, my other sister (#3) is considering going into nursing at nearly 50 years old and finally my other sister (#2) is a dentist. So basically, yes, I am from a large family (I am the youngest of 6) and yes, the health care profession is running through our veins.

However, growing up I never really wanted to do nursing. I considered it from time to time but never considered it as a real possibility. My mother always told me 'never go into nursing, it's changed too much, it's all paper work and management these days' so that never helped the situation. At a young age I remember my stomach churning as my mother and sister #4 spoke about blood, guts, poop and a whole lot more as we sat down for dinner.

At school I was not overly clever or bright. I have always struggled particularly with spelling. I am not lying or exaggerating when I say that I could not spell 'hello' at age 11 in year 7 of secondary school. In hindsight I am probably somewhere on the dyslexic scale but unfortunately have never been tested. However, in secondary school I slowly progressed and I realised with hard work I will be able to make something out of my GCSE's all of which I got C or above apart from French where I got a miserable E.

I went to college to study A-levels and I loved it. It was a chance to push myself and see what I could achieve. Not able to take biology as I did not have the B in GCSE required, I stuck with other subjects that interested me: Sociology, Business Studies, Philosophy and Classical Civilisation. I did ok in my A-levels and I did a hell of a lot better than I thought I could achieve 5 years before where I gained a BBCc  respectively. I went on to study Sociology and Educational Studies at the University of York, with a view to go in to teaching afterwards. I quickly realised the degree was not for me, I lost interest, stupidly missed a lot of lectures and just did not achieve the way I should have. My determination to see something through meant I graduated with a 2:2, sadly missing out on a 2:1. On the plus side, I had a great social life to take my mind off my degree. If only I could go back to the 19 year old me and tell myself to just sort it out! But I am not one for regrets, so I definitely feel I have learnt from my time at university. I must admit, York and the University of York were fantastic places to live and study and it is a shame I did not utilise my opportunities.

To be honest, until now, I have always been too immature for nursing. The idea of 'wiping someone's bum' put me off. And then I got a job as a carer, and before I started I dreaded the 'bum wiping'. From day 1, when I first gave personal care, something clicked and I realised it did not bother me one iota. So what, I thought, it is something we all need to have done, whether we are 1 or 99 years old or someone in between. It was as this point I realised straight away that if this was my loved one, I would want to ensure they are kept clean, comfortable and given the care they need in a dignified manner- it really is not too much to ask. It was from here that I finally had the maturity to work in the real world.

I loved working in care. I worked mainly with people with learning difficulties. I worked in a care home with elderly adults with a range of learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health disorders. I then went on to support a young lady in her own home with a range of complex needs. I loved this job. It gave me a chance to develop and build on my skills and knowledge. A list of which are below:

• Electronic Communication Aids
• Makaton
• PEG feeds
• Overseeing and administrating physiotherapy for muscles and to clear mucus from chest
• Using cough assist and suction machines
• Giving medication
• Applying dressings for bedsores
• Working with a range of health professionals; GP, Physiotherapists, community nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech and language therapists, just to name a few.

I moved from York to Leeds to live with my partner so I was still traveling and this was exhausting after shifts that started at 7.30am one morning and I finished 9.00pm the next day. During this time I was working a few different jobs, I've worked in cafes, in a college as learning assistances and I finished care to work a 9-5 job in an office. It was this job that made me realise I need to work in care, it is where my heart is and what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. Nursing will allow me to do this, while also constantly developing and updating my skills to become the best nurse I can possibly come.

When I started care, I had a view to go into speech and language therapy. I do think I would enjoy this but it is not as flexible as nursing. With nursing I love the idea that there are so many branches where you can develop your own niche.

So despite never seeing myself as a nurse when I was younger, now I can not see myself doing any other job.

Advice for mature students wanting to study a nursing degree at university in the U.K (qualifications and money matters)

There is no playing it down, going back into education after a break is daunting. I graduated in 2009 so it has been 5 years since I last studied. It will be 6 years once I finally start my nursing degree.

The beauty of nursing is that universities really do value life experiences whatever your age. Many mature students will probably have some experience working in care or have experience looking after or caring for loved ones. Never under estimate this experience when applying.

I have worked in a college over the last year and I have spoken to a large amount of students regarding suitable courses, so hopefully I can give people an insight into a few of the different routes into nursing. The amount of people enquiring about going back into education to become a nurse is over whelming and goes to show just how competitive nursing is at the moment. Do not let it put you off, just make it your motivation to stand out for other applicants.

First things are first. Contact universities you would be interested in studying at. At the end of the day, entrance onto courses is ultimately down to universities. Each university has different entry requirements, so I cannot stress this enough. Find out and research if you have the academic qualifications and experience needed for the course. If you do not currently meet the entry requirements, ask them for advice. What courses or work experience would support your application in order for it to be considered?
If you meet the entry requirements, fantastic! You can start considering which universities you would like to apply to and you can start thinking about your UCAS application. If not, carry on reading.

Qualifications
What qualifications would you need to get into university?

• When I have researched universities, literally all of them ask for English and Maths GCSE at grade C or above. If you do not already have this, contact your local college. Usually English and Maths GCSE courses are free, but you would need to contact each college directly to find out. Most universities want GCSE Science at grade C or above too, but this is more down to each individual university.
• A-levels are usually the most common route into university. Common entry requirements for Nursing degrees seem to range from around ABB-BCC. Some ask for a science related A-levels. Some will accepted health or social science related A-levels. Some universities will accept any A-levels, in any subject. If you do not already have A-levels, A-levels may not be the most accessible route into nursing for mature students. Usually A-levels are just offered full time and would usually run over 5days a week. Some colleges do offer A-levels part-time, so that may be an option. It may take a while to study part-time but it would be down to personal circumstances.
• Access to Higher Education courses are aimed at mature students aged 19 years or older. They come under different titles, but typical titles for nursing related Access courses are Nursing, Health Science or Health Professions. Entry requirement vary, but at my local college, the entry requirement is English and Maths at level 1 (which is equivalent to GCSE below grade C). These are usually 1 year courses that run full-time but is likely to run over about 2.5-3.5 days per week. Most universities accept the Access to He course, but double check!
• For those who already have done a degree, you can gain access onto courses usually with a 2:2/2:1 classified degree or higher. Science or health related degrees seem to be preferred, but I think they will consider anyone with a degree and experience.
• Some universities request recent academic study. Now, this can be fairly ambiguous, but can seem to range from 3-5 years. Some universities will be flexible with this and some will not. If you do need to gain a recent qualification, you could consider any of the Level 3 qualifications I mentioned above. Alternatively, some universities have advised me to do a Open University module to demonstrate recent study.
• You could also consider doing a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. I think most universities would accept this qualification, but again would be a full-time course and would last two years long so those precious years will start to trickle away.
• Again, contact universities regarding entry requirements. If you do not meet the requirements, some universities offer a foundation course to help you gain access onto their course. Two in my local area is Leeds and York. This really goes to show, universities really want to help you succeed.

Money
But these courses cost so much I hear you cry. Usually these courses can cost anything up to £4000 region, maybe even more. Please do not despair as you have options. Bear in mind financial assistance can change from year to year and personal circumstances so contact your local college for up to date information and information relevant for their institution.
23 years or under- if you are under 24 years or under then the course may be free if you do not already have a full level 3 qualification. If you do already have a level 3 qualification, you will probably have to day.
24 years or older- if you are over 24 years old there is good news and bad news. Unfortunately there is no funding for people aged 24 or older doing a level 3 qualification. Do not run in the other direct as there is a government loan available. Click here for more information about the 24+ loan.
Contact local colleges to see what other financial assistance is available while you study. The information given is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but do not quote me.

I really hope this helps some of you as I understand that education, particularly as a mature student can be a minefield. Graduation as a nurse may seem like a long way off but we all need to start somewhere.

The Start!

Ok, confession time. Despite the title, I am not yet a student nurse (but I am forever the optimist).

For a while now I have known deep down that nursing is for me. I have worked in care since I left university from 2010-2013. Over the last year I have been working in an office based job, and it has really made me value the caring profession as a career. I learnt the hard way that for me, money does not bring job satisfaction, but the chance to make a difference to people’s lives does. With this realisation, I knew I needed to follow my dream of training to become a nurse.

Yes, it is not a glamorous job. Yes, nurses are grossly underpaid. Yes, nurses are generally undervalued. Yes, nurses are over worked. Yes, basically everything nurses do is under scrutiny. But tell me of a profession that does not have its ups and down. I would much prefer working under these conditions, than clock watching, resenting my manager, struggle to get up in the morning, just because I am going to that job I hate. When I worked in care, it was far from easy, but making a difference to people, providing care and a quality of life to vulnerable members of our society made it all worthwhile. The smiles at the end of the day was more than enough appreciation needed for the hard work.

So why did I decide to start a blog? And why this early on? I have a habit; when I have decided on doing something I research it to the Nth degree. I have to admit I become very engrossed in things I am passionate about. I think it stems from always being organised when it comes to learning or work. I always want to have all the facts. But searching online, I have found some great blogs, vlogs and also a few forums but none of them seem to cover everything. And when I say everything, I mean right from the conception of deciding on looking into a career in nursing, right up to graduation day.

So I am here to tell my tale of a 26 year old who is embarking on the student nurse journey. Please feel free to share your comments. :)