Student Adult Nurse Perspective (Adult Nurse)

Member Name: mon1cat

Product:	Adult Nurse
Date:	22/10/08 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: providing care to patients, lots of time spent on placement

Disadvantages: level of bursury payments, having to work extra to qualify for childcare help

Currently I am a third year Adult branch Student Nurse, due to qualify in March 2009. I have recently gone back in June of this year following 6 months maternity leave to have my second child.

I got into nursing when i was 18 and took up a job in a nursing home. Prior to this i worked in telesales and really didnt feel challenged or fulfilled. I loved my job as a care assistant and never woke up dreading to go to work. After 12 months or so, although i loved my job i felt i needed more so i applied off to universities through NMAS to do my Nurse training. I got in to my preferred university and here i am 3 years later almost at the end!

I have loved the last 3 years although admittedly year 2 was emotionally demanding. I was too far from the beginning to quit and too far from the end to see graduation and this was a low time for me. I found out i was pregnant with my son and the 6 months i had off for maternity leave were just what i needed. I have 2 children and as much as i love them, i couldnt be without nursing. I went back in June of this year and start my last placement in November.

Basically, the course consists of equal amounts of theory and practice and now students are sent out on to the wards after 6 weeks of starting university! Basically you do 6 weeks theory then 6 weeks practice followed by 12 weeks theory and 12 weeks practice and so on. Due to the hours requirement, we get 7 weeks annual leave a year plus 'reading' weeks and you must do 30 hours of nights a year.

Ive done placements on an acute surgical admissions ward, nursing home, operating theatres (fabulous placement!), dermatology and rehematology, community and my last placement will be on an orthopaedic ward.

The practice side i have truly loved and feel really at home caring for patients the job satisfaction is immense. Ive had lovely mentors who have been a true support.

The theory is the bit i struggle with. Im not academic and get myself into a real state when assignements are due (like now!) but ive done enough (so far) to pass first time. But you do get a second attempt and in special circumstances the university will give you a third and final attempt.

Ive secured a job on the Gastro unit at my local hospital specialising in endoscopy and other procedures for when i finish and i cannot wait to get started. The opportunities for nurses to develop professionaly and expand their skills and knowledgs has never been greater and in my view, although there are issues with pay, staffing, support from the government and trust debt there has never been a better time to become a nurse. Anyway, after receiving a bursury of around £6.200 for the past 3 years a jump to earning £20,000 (or near enough) is a welcome one!

Summary: its not a job, its a vocation