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

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