So Much for Working...Year 2 Week 35

Ah so work haven't found me any shifts so far this weekend, great!

Not gunna lie I'm more than content with lounging around all weekend but it's such a waste of time (and money!).

Ta for now,

x Alex x

Exam Results...Year 2 Week 35

So I got my exam results for a Nursing Practice 2 yesterday...

76.5% !!!!! Which is a 1st!!

I'm so happy because I did revise quite a bit for that and now I have a good 1st to take forward to third year. Whoop whoop.

Today I also handed in my Evidence Based Practice and Professional Values assignment. I reckon I will get about 50% as I always struggle with assignments. We shall see :) it's really good to have all of that weight lifted of my shoulders though.

I'm working all weekend as I'm totally skint and need to work otherwise no one is receiving any prezzies from me ha ha.

Really want to get back into blogging as I love reaching out to others who are considering a nursing career, studying or qualified! Plus, I really like to look back and see what was happening with my life at that time.

Hope you're all well,

x Alex x

Back in Uni...Year 2 Week 35

Hey guys I've not written for ages!
I'm back in Uni at the moment with lots of work so I've been really busy.

I've done my Nursing Practice 2 exam and get my results tomorrow! Ahhhh. I'll let you know :)

I have an assignment on evidence based practice due on Friday and then a maths exam and an OSCE at the beginning of January.

The year started off so slow and now it's all BAM BAM BAM loads of work!

Ah well, can't wait to get this year over with :) it's flying by.

How are are you first year nurses doing? Hope you're enjoying your first year.

Alex x

Horrible Assignments...And sorry for being MIA...Year 2 Week 28

So last week I got my results for the assignment I was discussing in my last post...

40%!

So gutted, basically I did really badly but not bad enough to fail, I JUST passed.

My flat mates failed! We are all very disappointed but I knew I wasn't going to get higher than 50% as there was a lack of guidance and I didn't have the opportunity for a tutoring session as I was back home for the summer.
Fortunately, that mark doesn't have to go towards my final degree thank The Lord!

I am also really sorry for being missing in action recently. I have been really busy!
I'm currently on placement, only 2 weeks left now I can't wait to finish. Time is flying nowadays and it's pretty scary tbh.

I hope you are all well?
Promise to post more often, loves xxxxx

Assignment Done and Handed In...Year 2 Week 23

Sorry I didn't post again until now, I'll just talk you through how it went.

I was really shocked at the lack of guidance, for example, I hadn't even seen a real care plan until I wrote my own!
I spoke to a few friends and everyone said the same thing, they had no idea what they were 'supposed' to be doing but were trying their hardest.

The care plans weren't hard, but when you are really unfamiliar with something it can seem difficult, the rationales weren't my forte. I have an issue with writing essays without becoming chatty and colloquial, it's very annoying and I actually don't know how to stop it!

The mother and baby leaflet was really enjoyable to make and once again the rationale was probably a load of chatty crap.

The worst part of any assignment is by far........writing the references, hate it!

But at least it's done now, I'll let you know my mark but I think I will have got 50% if I'm extremely lucky :(

Hope you're all well,
Alex xxx

Time to be Studious... Year 2 Week 21

So I have an assignment due in 9 days and today I have set myself the task of reading through all the material they have given us. And to be honest, there isn't much guidance at all!

I have to produce 2 care plans for a make believe patient and write a rationale for each, then I have to make a 500 word leaflet about mother and baby and then write another rationale for that.  All in all it sounds like a piece of pie.....

But not when you have no clue what you are doing!

I'll update you once I've read the material.

Ta ta for now amigos

Nx Alex x

Off on Holiday! ...Year 2 Week 17

Hey guys, just to let you know I'm off on holiday from Tuesday for 2 weeks!
Going with my boyfriend to stay with my Nan in Portugal (I'm half Portuguese) and can't wait!
Sun, Sea and Suspicious Nan ;) hahaha

Hope you're all well and don't miss me (too much)

Bye for now!
Alex xxx

Halfway Through...Year 2 Week 16

Just to say...I'm halfway through my course!

Not that I'm counting....


Alex x

Summertime ...Year 2 Week 16

Hi guys hope you are all well :) I just want to thank you all so much for reading my blog, I see all of the views and it makes me very very happy :) I recorded an updated nursing blog for my channel and I'll link you to it when I put it up :)

Well, I'm into my 3rd week at home and I haven't done anything study-wise; just loving this time off. It's the last summer off I'll ever have! (Until I retire haha)

Feeling a total 2nd year slog; basically a complete lack of motivation. It really doesn't feel like I'll be moving back to birmingham, I'm so happy at home! Miss my friends though.

Leave me a comment if you like, let me know about your situation :)
Thank
Alex

I'm home! ...Year 2 Week 14

I'm finally home for the summer, yippee!

For the next 4 weeks I am supposed to be on Community Scoping Experience (CSE) which is our time to choose what we want to do with it. My mum is a health visitor supervisor so has organised a few bits and bobs for me, but we'll see if the people drop out or not. But I will be starting next week and am looking forward to getting an idea of my mums role at work :)

So on Friday I finished the first 3 months of uni. 12 weeks solid of university which was honestly driving me crazy! I have loads of work to crack on with to prepare for assignments and exams later on in the year, so I definitely have a lot to be doing in the next 2 months! Hope I do actually do it.... ;)

Anyways, I'm very excited as in 1 months time I will be halfway through my entire training! It's hopefully all downhill from there-on (in a good way) scary to think I will be responsible for people lives though! Ahhh

Hope you guys are all well!
Muchos luvos, Alex x

I Got the Job!...Year 2 Week 11

Yay! I got the job as bank house auxilary!
Very pleased with myself :)

I worked all weekend and I'm so so tired waaah but nevermind, it's money!
Got loads of uni this month which is kinda crap, but only 2 more weeks until uni is over until November :O I have loads of assignments though, oh well!

I hope you're all well guys and still enjoying my blog. I know it's a little brief but I will make my next one more in-depth :)

Love, Alex x

I went for a New Job...Year 2 Week 10

Hello all!
I had an interview on Monday for in-house bank staff as a HCA. Hopefully I do get it as it's slightly better pay, I get proper uniform and I can get lots of different training which will benefit me in the long run.
But...I really am not that bothered! I took a look on the website the night before but didn't even practice THE question "why do you want to work for us" lol! Oh well we shall see haha. I have the same job anyways and I work in the same hospital but its just an outside agency.

Last week was annual leave which was lovely :) got to go home and spend time with my family, boyfriend and his family. Love his little nephews :)

Well anyways I have uni tomorrow morning and will then hopefully work a late and an early on Friday. Fingers crossed!

Hope you are all well :) x Alex x

It's a 1st!! ...Year 2 Week 9

Sorry I've been MIA recently guys! Not really feeling my 2nd year tbh. Don't feel properly involved at all!

But I do have some really really good news...I got a 1st in my first assessment of 2nd year which is especially important because it actually counts towards my final grade.

A group of us (4) had to make a poster that analysed an article of our choice and we had to present it. We got 70% which is exactly a 1st, so basically it was very good and worthy of a 1st, but only just.

I am really happy though! I am currently on annual leave but then have a month's worth of uni believe it or not!

Still feeling impatient as ever about qualifying....wish I didn't feel that way though :(

Hope you are all well,
Lots of love,
Alex x

Weekend Work...Year 2 Week 2

So! I worked a long day yesterday (Saturday) that's 07:00-19:30.

I was on the male side of a ward called AMU think it stood for Assessment Medical Unit. Where patients who are about to breach A&E are sent while waiting for a bed on the ward they need.
So I spent most of the day cleaning and changing beds! Haha

Although a long day like that really exhausts you it was an OK day, the staff were lovely and the work was quite easy.

There was a patient who's foot was completely to one side, so weird! I don't know the cause as he had difficulty explaining it to me. I can't find any pictures to show you, but imagine the bottom of your right foot facing the wall when you are standing. It really was extreme!

Hope you're all well!
Alex xx

2nd Year Modules...Year 2 Week 2

So I have a slightly better understand of my modules for this semester now, and as requested I will quickly go through it :)
Just so you know, all universities assess their students in completely different ways!

Nursing in Society - Assessed via a Health Promotion Leaflet Assignment
Professional Values and Evidence Based Practice - Assessed via Poster Presentation & Assignment
Nursing Practice 2 - Exam
Nursing Practice 3 - Numeracy Exam & OSCE (practical exam)

So as you can see there are a lot of assessments this year, and these grades count so I really must try hard and work hard.

So far we are focusing on our poster presentation, sounds easy right?
WRONG
It's all based on an article surrounding a question you choose. You must include some kind of study and god I don't think I know much more else! Hahaha

I went to the gym day before yesterday and ran 3k
And I went yesterday and ran 5k!
Think I'm gunna go today and try to run 5k in less time :) woooo

Hope you are all fine and dandy!
Alex xxx

THE BEGINNING OF YEAR 2!...Year 2 Week 1

Hello everyone!
I am finally in 'year 2' of adult nursing which means...only 2 years 'til I am a qualified nurse! Can't wait.

So far we have had a one week introduction to our 2nd year, during which they basically try to scare the living daylights out of you and warn you how tough it will be!

These are my modules for this semester:
Nursing in Society
Professional Values and Evidence Based Practice part 1
Nursing Practice 2

Once I have access to all the modules online I'll let you all know what exams, practicals and assignments we have (boo)

All in all I can't wait to get stuck in but I do feel quite scared since the marking criteria has gone from level 4 to level 5 so I will in turn have to step up my game!

Hope you're all well, anyone else in their 2nd year of nursing?
Love, Alex x

I've Lost Some Weight!...Week 48

Zzzzz

So I have so far done 4 days of Herbalife and lost 1 lb! Very happy. On my 5th day today!

I have continued to work 2 nights a week each week, it's great for extra cash and isn't too demanding. Normally I special particular patients. For example I was on a liver ward and had to special an extremely confused middle-aged man. He was an ex alcoholic & drug user also previously in prison. Apparently according to his family he isn't usually confused but after having a procedure on his liver he has become confused.

He was very testing of my patience! He spoke non-stop all night about a whole load of stuff ranging from the 'Govenor' being shot, his friends in jail, his sexually abusive grandad, Jeremy Kyle and much more. Baring in mind he was 1 of a 4 bed bay so the other patients were extremely angry at his never ending stream of conversation!
With the occasional 'Be quiet!' He would shush for a minute or 2 only to carry on rambling. Anyway, the other patients described me as an angel in the morning and I apologised profusely for their lack of sleep, bless them.

Oh also, I accidentally let him drink about 100-200ml of calogen (a high cal drink) since he was telling me about living on fortisip so when he asked me for 'his drink' I presumed the calogen was a fortisip and passed it to him. He finished the bottle and then the nurse came to me and said 'Why did you just let him drink all of that?? He's only supposed to have 90ml a day and has already had 60ml!' Well I felt like a complete idiot! Another lesson learnt! In my defence, no one said anything about it to me and it was left out along with his meds. Never mind ey...

Specialling patients is a boring yet very interesting job!

Hope you are all well my lovelies! Xx Alex xX

Weight Loss...Week 47

So guys! I am finally ready to lose some weight. My realistic goal is 10st7 (147lbs) but if I lost more than that I'd be ecstatic!

I intend on losing this weight through increasing my exercise to 3 times a week minimum and using herbalife.

If you haven't heard of herbalife, it's a very successful programme (my particular programme is for weight loss) which manages to decrease your calorie intake but still allows you to receive all the nutrients you need AND you still get to eat 1 meal a day of your choice as well as shakes to replace your other meals. Really excited to start this as I have high hopes for my 1st month helping me lose a fair bit of weight :)

Thinking of creating another blog surrounding my weight loss and workout journey and routine. Perhaps some YouTube videos to accompany it and make it all a little more 'hands on'

Let me know what you think?

Lots of love, Alex x

I joined the gym!...Week 46

So on Monday I joined the gym! It's called 'Pure Gym' and its only £18.99 a month which is super cheap for a gym. I've been 3 times this week so far which I am really happy about!

Planning on going today too :)

My long-term boyfriend has come to stay this weekend it has been lovely having him here :) I love Birmingham and having him here too makes me whole :)

I've also asked work to find me a night shift tonight as I really need the money..! Fingers crossed I get one as I need to work 2 a week for the next 5 weeks otherwise I am just penniless!

Tomorrow starts my 4th week of annual leave, what the hell those weeks have actually flown by I can't believe it! It just shows how quickly time passes, make sure to enjoy every moment whether you're a student nurse, or not!

Good luck to all of you whatever you're doing! Would love to hear from some of you? I promise to reply!

xx Alex xx

Relax!...Week 46

Relaxxxxx

You heard me! It's time to relax, the weekend is here so let us cheer!

As if weekends mean anything to us nurses ey... ;)

Night Shifts...Week 46!

Hello all how're you??
I worked 2 nights in a row this week, as a health care assistant.
The first was mega boring as I special-ed a patient who just slept the whole night, the 2nd was far more demanding on a stroke ward and the day after I am well and truly spent!
For me thought I earn a lot more doing nights so its worth it. 2 nights is the equivalent of me working about 5 lates!

So as I'm sure you can guess I'm exhausted today and therefore really want to go home...   :( miss everyone a lot.

Do you work many nights? Do you like them or prefer days? Do tell do tell darlings x

Don't be a Plonker...Week 45

BIG TIP: when working as a bank health care assistant, don't work for an hour only to realise you're on the wrong ward, then proceed to not be paid for your hours work :(

I worked for and hour, regardless of whether it was on the right ward or not....... Right?




Learn from me, don't walk onto the first ward you see, actually go to the one you've been allocated!

1st Year is Over! ...Week 44

So I've finally completed my fist year!
 I wish I could write you all an essay of what I've learnt, advice for you and more but I just don't know. It's very difficult because I've learnt it all over the course of a year and everything merges into one!

I'm so happy to have finished my first year though, only 2 to go and I pray the time will fly :)

I have definitely passed too, only needed 40% and I achieved:
Assessment-48%
Assignment-48%
Placement-P*

Exam-81%
Assignment-68%
Placement-P

You can see how I improved my work too, which I'm super proud of!

Overall the advice I would give for surviving your 1st year is staying open minded, being as sociable as possible and try to get as much experience as you can. Whether that is through work, or bank HCA work, try to get as much help and experience as possible. Don't skip your lectures believe it or not, they are important (boo) and get as much help with assignments as possible.
I think I'll post advice on various things separately for you guys :)

Do you have any advice on how to make my blog more interesting or user friendly?
Thank you so much for your support :)
Alex
X

Back to Placement!...Week 40

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Due to a family loss I had to take compassionate leave from placement (only 2 shifts) as my grandfather in Portugal died, we had to fly over. Also the reason I haven't been here in a little while.
So I'm halfway through my 6th week at placement and I've been off for nearly 2 weeks now! Bit nervous about tomorrow but I'm sure it'll be fine :)

Nothing too nurse-y to mention today as I said, I've been away from placement for a while!

Guess I could mention my relatively 'new' ideas. I have always been very interesting in midwifery, but haven't set my heart on it as getting into the 18 month course is so so hard. Also, there is only 1 university kind of near my home so it's even harder again. I researched and found out that 12-24 months into working as a midwife your pay rises to a band 6 which is incredible. I want to have my own home and a family with my boyfriend when I'm still relatively young but I also want a good steady wage before I lunge into the world of parenthood. So I'm currently trying to organise work experience with a community midwife so my application is as desirable as possible. What do you guys think?
Anyway, speak of the devil, One Born Every Minute is on!

Hope you're all well
Alex x