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