What's going downnn... Week 37!

Hey guys hope you're all well!
I've been reading a nursing blog from a woman in America, I think her blog is the most famous one there is tbh! It's so good to read through her journey as she is now qualified.

I just wanted to reach out to you and say I'm still here! I worked 2 nights in a row this week and it's totally messed my sleep pattern up :( horrible.

So guys, which of you are students nurses, thinking of becoming student nurses, qualified or not even close to studying nursing?! Do tell..

Alex x

Florence Nightingale... Week 34

Who's this lovely lady?

The beloved Florence Nightingale.
This may be a little OTT, but a patient told me i was the reincarnation of Florence Nightingale yesterday ^.^

I was particularly happy!
I love and strive to make sure my patients feel comfortable, have water, food and feel happy to speak to me. After all, the nurse is supposed to be the patient advocate.
I totally love my new ward though, and the patients are great. I can feel myself improving all the time it feels amazing :)

We had a student forum meeting at the hospital on Tuesday, it was so good we met with some 3rd years in their management placement and they just told us what it was like and gave us some advice. It was so good to see where we will be in a year (omg only just over a year til I'm a 3rd year!!!)

Sorry for being so moany in my last post haha, I'll blame it on the hormones ;)

Any questions guys??
x

I'm in a Bad Mood... Week 34

I don't know why (well, I do) but I am in an awful mood!
I have an essay waiting to start (kill me now) the new Twilight film was pants IMO, boyfriend's family issues, missing home, contemplating my future, thinking about how far away I am from qualifying. The list is almost endless!

I'm just in a crappy mood and procrastinating from my work, naughty naughty.

Got placement tomorrow, 07:00-19:30, such long hours! And I bet I won't sleep tonight :(

Moan moan moan, someone cheer me up?

Alex x

2nd Placement!...Week 33

ALOOOHA!

I am officially the worst blogger in the world! I have this wonderful blog which lots of you read (thank you :D) and yet I rarely post!

Well now I am on my 2nd placement, in the same hospital but I am on a surgical assessment ward now, very exciting.
My previous ward was respiratory medicine, and it was a lot tougher than this ward. I enjoy both but it depends if you want an 'easy' ride, as such. Not that this placement is a doss, because it's not, it's just a lot more laid-back.

So far I have completed 1 week and already had to call in sick once which I am totally gutted about!! I hate having to call in sick, makes me feel so awful.
My mentor is a sister, so my experience is so far very interesting. I am involved more in the paperwork, handovers, drugs etc which I am enjoying.

Also big news! I am now a bank health care assistant for an agency! Basically means if I want to work, I give them my availability and they book me in for shifts! Happy days, I get money and experience!

I finally feel like I'm getting a grip of what I'm supposed to be doing, the work as a HCA has boosted my confidence ten-fold. I am just looking forward to completing this placement and therefore, completing my 1st year! I have already finished uni until my 2nd year now (scary)

I am currently sat here reading through teenage pregnancy articles as I have an assignment to hand in that I want to get done pronto. Also have an exam, boo :(:(

Wish me luck!
And to all of you either contemplating a career in nursing, currently a student nurse or qualified, good luck! ^.^

Placement! Week...22

Well I'll give you a few updates before I go on to talk about placement :)

First off, I passed both my OCSE and assignment. Not with flying colours but I passed. First time for everything, I can only get better ey!

I'm currently sat at home home (parents house) feeling like utter death. On the weekend it was my cousin's wedding (was incredible btw!) and as we were leaving I breathed in my own saliva (I think). I'd had a couple to drink so all I remember was coughing a lot and I fell asleep coughing. Woke up on Sunday with really irritated lungs and coughed alllll day. Monday I went to a GP and was told that I sounded ok and it is probs just inflammation making me cough, but yesterday (Monday) I started having a runny nose and coughing, so I think my irritated lungs allowed me to get an infection of some sort.

Today I have a temperature, feel awful and my head hurts so much from the pressure of coughing. Bleurgh.

I'm supposed to be at placement today but I had to call in sick, which I'm really disappointed about :(

Anyway, I've been on placement for 5 weeks now believe it or not! I love love love love love it :D

So interesting, hard work and so much fun all at the same time. I've lost 3lbs its such hard work!

People always ask me what I've done/seen, but I feel like I've done so much I can't even list it!

I've had loads of good feedback from my mentors and co-workers so I'm happy :)

Here's a list of stuff I've done so far:

-injections

-dressings

-observations

-washing

-tidying

-bed making

-generally running around for patient's every needs!

-feeding and serving food

-wash a dead person

-speak to family members in person and on the phone

-watch and breast biopsy

-write in patient notes

-admit patients to the ward

-Probably so much more than this, but because I've been away for so long I don't want to go into too much detail, unless you would like me to..?

I love it though, even when I'm literally rushed off my feet it's still amazing!

I've realised why being a student nurse on placement is such hard work, you're expected to:

1. Be a HCA (health care assistant) and do all  basic care

2. Learn and research EVERYTHING because at the end of the day, you are a student

3. Be a nurse, write in patients notes, admit them to the ward etc

Doing all these things makes you run around like a headless chicken and sometimes, your head may be close to exploding!

I hope you enjoyed reading :) If you want to know more about anything I have mentioned, just ask :)

Alex

This Damn Assignment... Week 16

Hey everyone,
I've been away for ages as I've not been at uni and went on holiday! Then we moved into he new flat and only just got the internet! So massive apologises for not giving any updates.

The new flat is lush, I love it. It feels like home, yay *claps*

I called my placement earlier and found out I am working Monday, Wednesday and Sunday 07:00-19:30!! That's 12 1/2 hours! I honestly don't know how I'm going to do it, but at least I just get stuck in, and that means I have 4 days off :)
So excited to start!!

Well at the moment I am procrastinating. I'm sat here trying to start (and finish) my assignment of 1500 words. The biggest problem I have is I never allow myself to get sucked in and just get on with it. I love to procrastinate 'til the last second :(
I'm writing my assignment on respect, they kind of let us do whatever we want, and I really want to do well.

Last week I had my OCSE; a practical exam. I was so so scared! They weren't allow to express any emotion so my heart was racing, I was shaking. it was so scary. I couldn't answer a couple of the questions because I was so nervous my mind went blank :( Should have passed though!

Anyway I need to do this essay.... :/

Speak soon guys :)

Alex x

Where have I been?!...Week 13

I'm so sorry I've been MIA.
I have been on holiday for a week (which was amazing btw) and just haven't blogged as uni has been quite on and off the past few weeks! Currently in my 2nd week off.

I have exams in numeracy, practical exams and a biology exam in a few weeks! Scary; but I start placement in a month, yay!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here! And I move into a new flat on Sunday so will be back with you soon :)

Bye x

Personal Safety... Week 7

The amazing thing about nursing is it has SO SO SO much to do with social skills. And lots of what we cover I think, gah this is just common sense. But it's almost so much common sense, that people with common sense forget it! Haha, sounds ridiculous but when you are taught a procedure sometimes you can forget that you aren't talking to a robot patient. They are real people with real lives.

I am going to try my absolute hardest to NEVER forget the patient.

But today we had a lecture on personal safety, how to talk someone down from a rage and how to prevent the rage from happening in the first place! I love what I'm being taught but they only teach you something once, and don't revisit it, so I am going to have to go over EVERYTHING.

But I suppose that's what uni is all about, no spoons to feed me any more!

I'm going home tomorrow and I cannot wait :D
I miss my boyfriend family and best best friend so much, will make it all the better to see her again :)

That's it for now folks!
Alex

My First Assignment! (and my first tattoo!)...Week 7

So I had a lecture today on the basis of our first assignment which is exciting! Its not due for another 2 months but it is best to start these things early as lots of reading around the subject is necessary.
I have the day off tomorrow and hope to begin reading around the area I choose to write about. Oh yeah, I need to choose that first!

I stayed at uni this weekend and actually really enjoyed myself. Got my first tattoo on Saturday and I love it! Something my boyfriend of 4 years drew me...

A heart with roses coming off the side, and it looks slightly wonky at this angle, but it just depends on how I'm sitting and where my leg is as to what angle it is at. Oh well nothing I can do about it now! haha

I have wanted a tattoo for over a year, and when I saw this drawing I knew this was the tattoo I wanted. It really wasn't even that painful either, I was expecting a lot worse!

I know this is a nursing blog so let get back to the nursing side (what is this 'nursing' all about anyway?).

All my flatmates have started placement this week so my flat is a very quiet and lonely place as they are all either at work or in bed exhausted!
Makes me even more desperate to start placement! They started their courses in September '11 whereas I began in April '12 so our timetables are completely different.

Oh yesterday we had a lecture on nutrition which was funny, feeding each other yoghurt whilst sitting in the most uncomfortable position is so so funny! We brushed each other's teeth in the first week, haha what a way to introduce yourself!

Anyway, ta ta for now!
Alex

LaLaLa Boring Lectures!...Week 6

So my past few days have included many hours of boring (and potentially pointless) lectures.

We've learnt about how to reference, which I guess is very important and I did learn a bit. Also how to search for journals etc and today we learnt how to write an essay properly!
But I did study English Literature A-Level so think I'm pretty clear on that!

Honestly, if you live in halls at uni, make sure you socialise! It's no fun being stuck in your room all day doing bugger all. Luckily my flatmates are lovely and I have been spending a lot of time with them :)

Other than that not much has happened this week, its been pretty chilled, but next week is a bit busier.

I'm spending the weekend here, the first time! Hopefully it wont be too boring but I'm sad I can't go home as I am missing my boyfriends nephews 1st birthday :(

Anyway! I'm about to watch some 'One Born Every Minute' as I am obsessed with babies! hahaha

Bye guys :)
Alex

Patient Handling Training...Week 6

So today I had my 2 1/2 hours of patient handling training! Which I very much enjoyed! One thing I must say is...all the staff that train nurses and healthcare workers are just so charismatic and lovely! The person we had today was hilarious and being taught in a fun environment definitely helps you take on board the information.

We learnt the proper ways to move and carry objects and patients. It's so surprising all the bad habits we have as humans! The majority of us don't even sit or stand properly! So learning the best ways to help a patient to stand, move them in bed etc. etc. was eye opening! Studies suggest that 1/3 of nurses will end their career due to injury at work through bad technique and poor posture!

Fingers crossed that isn't me, I will try my hardest to stick to the advise we have been given, but when moving a patient up the bed it hurt my shoulder a little so I can definitely see how easy it is to injure yourself.

I've been dying to write another blog post but I told myself no, not until I have had another lecture! haha

Also, I couldn't sleep last night (once again) and only got 3 hours kip :( so I had a nap from 5-8pm and am hoping I'll be away with the fairies around 10-11pm!

I bought a couple of books at Tesco today, one called 'District Nurse' and another called 'Tales of a Midwife', I do not like fictional novels, I much prefer autobiographies and factual things so these should help me read more and give me some background info on my profession !
Not to forget a lovely diary I bought, as I have so much spare time I want to write down what I'm thinking for most days, will be lovely to look back on once I am qualified :)

Anyway guys, thank you for reading this!
Lots of Love,
Alex

This May Well Turn into a Diary!...Week 5

I really think this may turn into a diary of my thoughts! Obviously I will relate each post to nursing but to be honest, nursing takes over your life, it is not just an average university course, you don't just study nursing, you are a student nurse!

I've had 26 blog views in a day, but it seems no one is 'viewing' my posts, I don't really understand I thought a blog view shows everything I've written, ya know, my blog...

ANYWAY

I had the day off today and my Dad brought me back home on his way back from work which was lovely!
cooked dinner with my family and now with my boyfriend, but he's asleep as he's up early for work tomorrow!

I've been speaking to my flatmates about how they're getting on, and they've all told me once I go on placement, although I'll be absolutely exhausted, I will also love it so so much. I'm scared for just not knowing what to do with myself, I have no previous experience and I'm afraid they will expect me to just pick it up and get on with it straight away. Oh I hope not!

I'm seeing my closest friend tomorrow, a week apart and I miss her! Haha, I love her, I think something that is crucial to getting through university is having a good support systems, whether it is friends, family or boy/girlfriends. They definitely make it easier to deal with stress, worry, and even to share your happiness :)

I feel like I'm babbling now and I don't really want to make this into a pointless diary...I want to give some useful advice!
Only issue is, I haven't even done much yet - so I can't give in depth advice just yet!

Thanks everyone,

Stay happy, focused and healthy :)

Alex

5 Weeks In...

So tonight is Wednesday and there are a couple of bank holidays coming up so I'm off until Tuesday! Going back home as per usual!

So I want to talk you briefly through my experiences so far!
I began my course on Monday 2nd April 2012, very excited after finally getting away from my previous course which I hated with a passion!
Feeling quite lonely and confused, also being 1 of about 10 people who were actually living on campus made it harder to fit in as 95% of the people I study with are from this area.
I made friends with my flatmates quickly which helped things so much but I still feel lonely at uni. I'm not a party animal, I have friends at home, and a long-term boyfriend who I love to the stars and back, not forgetting my wonderful family who I love so so much. I do find it hard staying away from home, so I go home every weekend which sometimes, I question. I think it actually makes me more dependant on my home town.

So anyway, so far we have had many introductory lectures and lots of physiology thrown at us (SO grateful I took Biology A-Level!) not forgetting some basic skills sessions which have been fun too.
After 5 weeks I really can't wait to go on placement. The lecturers mentioned that after a month or so we would feel restless, but I didn't think I'd feel this restless, with 13 weeks to go I will just have to try and stay focused on July 30th.

I realise I haven't painted the best picture yet, but seriously, nursing is amazing. And I haven't even nursed anyone yet!
It's such an amazing profession that I'm so proud to be a part of, I can't wait to provide care to the people who need it. Nursing really is my calling.(At least I think so)
Obviously I don't have any interesting stories yet, because I haven't really done anything! There isn't much to do, I sat in the library today trying to do some work but when there really isn't any, it's quite hard to make up work for yourself!

At 19 years old I never thought I would be the 'baby' of the course. There are a few others my age, but oh so many older people. I have noticed that people seem to realise nursing is for them, it just clicks and then no matter what age (and I'm talking 60s!!) they go for it! I'm glad to be starting young, so I can have a long and hopefully fruitful career, but I can see how I have a lot less experience than some others.

I just want to add, if you are reading this and debating on what you want to do in life, and believe nursing may be it, get some experience, work in a nursing home, speak to nurses etc... Once it hits you that this is what you want to do, you'll never look back! Don't just go into nursing 'because'. It's something that needs a certain type of person, and without that care and compassion you will not enjoy your job for long!

Thank you for reading my first post, it is quite a jumble as I don't quite know how to write all the things I've done without making it into a 10,000 word essay!
Alex

The Beginning...

Okay so this isn't the beginning, but it may as well be!


My name is Alex and I am a student nurse! There, I said it! (Sounds like I'm at Alcoholics Anonymous!)


I wanted to create a blog recording what I'm doing, how I'm feeling and so much more! I hope you can join me on this wonderful journey through my life, and hopefully, it will help you out too :)


Thank you,
Alex