Good things happening!

So…where have I beeeeeeeeen?

Well, since the last post I have been very busy (as usual) and have had amazing things happening. Who said hard work doesn’t pay off. I don’t believe in doing anything half heartedly and it sure is paying off for me!

Following the end of placement, we had some OSCEs assessments. OSCE stands for Objective Structured Clinical Examination and it’s basically when our practical clinical skills get assessed.We had to show we knew how to wash our hands (yes really – it is very important to know how to wash your hands properly to avoid transmission of infections!); how to move and handle loads and patients safely, which involved assisting to move a person from one chair to another; how to do Basic Life Support; and finally how to do Observations of vital signs such as pulse, temperature, respirations and blood pressure. I was so nervous! I practiced taking my own blood pressure so much that my arms where numb by the time I got to my exams. I was mostly worried about taking blood pressure because using a stethoscope can be a little challenging for me – one of the disadvantages of being partially deaf is that “amplified” sounds are still not quite loud enough for me to hear them properly…but I did really well and I passed it all! Yey!

We also had a mock exam for anatomy and physiology and considering I only did a couple of hours revision I actually didn’t find it too hard. I know that I answered a number of questions incorrectly but I will learn from them and for the real exam in May I will definitely study properly and focus more!

Talking about focusing, I’ve recently got contact lenses so I can now see all the time…it may not sound like a big deal but sticking things in my eyes (just like injecting patients with big needles) doesn’t really come naturally to me! It took me 45 minutes to put my contact lenses in the first time…Now it only takes about 5 minutes to put them in and less than 1 minute to take them out! Woooo! Progress! I have put my contact lenses inside out and have had them popping out…I won’t be doing that again! I have learnt from the above picture 😉 Most of the time though I manage to put them in without crying and wanting to scream and they are amazing! I love them so much…it’s like seeing everything in High Definition…which certainly helped when I did my skydive!!

Yep…the time finally came for me to jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet strapped to a burly man! It was amazing!!! I have to say that I really wasn’t nervous or scared! I’m not sure why because it is quite an extreme thing to do I guess but I was just excited that the time had finally arrived! Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored me who helped me get to my £500 target! For those who didn’t manage to sponsor me this time, don’t worry! I will ask you to sponsor me on my next challenge whatever that may be! Haha!

I’m starting to think of what I will throw myself into/out of next and I think I really really really want to go overseas for my elective nursing placement in my second year. I have volunteered abroad before and it was one of the best experiences of my life and being able to do that again but on a nursing capacity sounds completely and utterly incredible! I’m thinking Africa or South America since I haven’t really been to either. I’m really getting into all this nursing and philanthropy stuff!

Which reminds me, a little while ago I mentioned that a nursing magazine had picked a topic I had suggested for a new article…well….it’s gone above and beyond that and now the very same magazine has picked me to write a monthly blog for them! I can’t really believe it. I love writing and I love nursing and now both of those passions have come together and my articles have been published! Isn’t that amazing?? It’s going to be fun keeping this blog updated as well as my monthly blog – wish me luck! See if you can spot me below!

AND…there’s more! A few months ago I was asked by my university to support their bid for a number of Student Nursing awards, including Nurse Education Provider of the Year, and I wrote a testimonial about the university and my course….. and guess what?! Uni has been short listed as a finalist for the second year running! I’m so happy that I contributed towards such an incredible achievement! I hope we win…and if we do, I will be there to see it first hand because I have been selected to attend the awards ceremony in London as a student nurse representative! Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yea!!! I don’t know what to be most proud of…the fact that Uni has been shortlisted again, which shows how brilliant it really is or the fact that I’m getting to experience all these amazing new things because I’m really getting involved with everything I can and putting my all into it… it just shows how much it means to me and how passionate I am about making the most out of every opportunity!

‘Do or do not…there is no try’ ~ Yoda

Happy New Year and Thank You

I wish you all the very best for 2013! I have my fingers crossed that all your hopes are fulfilled and all your dreams come true!

What a year 2012 was…so much happened! I went back to work after being poorly for a few months, I applied to uni to be a student nurse and got my place soon after, I moved house, I turned the big 3-0, I quit work, I started writing this blog, I started my nursing course, I completed the first 3 months of university, I had a wonderful Christmas, I went to Disneyland Paris to welcome the New Year and now here I am!! I survived 2012! Woohoo! Lots of other things have happened in between but there is just too much to mention! There have been lots of laughs (mostly at my expense!), lots of tears and lots of reflection. Every little and big thing has contributed to one of the most challenging, fulfilling and best years of my life! Long may it continue!

I’m very grateful for everyone who has taken the time to read my posts and for all the amazing comments that I often receive through this blog, facebook or twitter. I am particularly humbled for all the supportive comments following my last post. It was tough to write and even tougher to reflect on it but you all helped me through it and for that I will be eternally grateful.  I guess that’s the spirit of my writing.To write from the heart. I am frequently asked why I started writing and people often express surprise that I am so open and candid with my posts. I have to say that I don’t generally write for an audience…I just write what I feel and what I’m thinking in the hope that:

• I won’t offend anyone
• Someone out there may be able to relate to what I am talking about (if they are able to understand my ramblings!).
• It may help others to reflect on situations and not be scared to express themselves
• It may encourage others to write

Aside from writing and collecting snowglobes I don’t really have many hobbies.Unless I count sleeping and eating that is…They are definitely my two favourite pastimes  I think I would like to try out a new hobby for 2013 but I’m not quite sure what…I have dabbled with zumba, swimming and yoga in the past and I obviously tried hiking in 2012 but clearly I’m not very good at that, and whilst I know that hobbies are not about being good at stuff, it would be lovely if I was able to do it fairly confidently and without feeling completely inadequate or falling into holes. Wikipedia suggests things like fishkeeping and metal detecting as some options (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies) but I don’t really fancy those. I quite liked the sound of gongoozling until I found out what it was. Back to the drawing board!

Talking about hobbies and collections… a little bit of bad news…one of my snowglobes has broken, not sure how a snowglobe can break sitting on a shelf but it has (sorry mum!) but good news is that I treated myself to one from Disneyland so I guess it balances out 🙂 Out with the old, in with the new!

Thank you for a wonderful 2012. Happy New Year and all the best for 2013, I have a good feeling about this year!

Where has time gone?

Oooops! Two weeks since I last posted an update! I would love to say it is because I have been really super busy but I’m really not very sure what it is that I have been doing the last couple of weeks! Where does the time go?

I’m now in my final week of uni/placement before the Christmas break and that will be the first term over! I can’t believe that 3 months ago I was posting about starting my nursing course and being nervous and worried about my first day and now here we are! Ready to go! I have now finished lectures until next year and I instead find myself with placement from tomorrow until mid February 2013 (with a break for Christmas). This is the real deal folks! This is when I get to find out what it is like to work as a (student) nurse, full time. This is when I will stop writing my blog and people will stop hearing from me on text/ facebook/ twitter/ email….and when my life will mostly consist of 5am starts, packed lunches and ironing uniforms. I’m so excited!!!! I know it’s going to be tough but also totally worth it! Speak again in February!

The last couple of weeks also marked the end of my 10-week writing class. I joined back in September because I thought it would be useful to have a refresher on grammar/ sentence structure more my uni writing but mostly I joined because I love writing and it seemed like a cool thing for me to do. Even though it meant additional homework and lessons it was actually a lot of fun. I think I will miss it! It was nice to have something outside of nursing  to be involved with on a weekly basis…I have sort off given up on the hiking club for now. I also joined in September and have been on less than a handful of hikes mainly because they are too strenuous for me! I always end up falling in a bog, or in a river, or almost doing the splits or rolling down hills. Writing suits me better I think, because I can be indoors, relaxed and warm whilst I do it… and there is also little risk of injury.

I love writing so much that I’m even entering a essay competition next year. Like anyone, I
find it difficult to write about things that I have no passion for or that do not inspire me but the simple ability to put opinions, thoughts and feelings down on paper (or on e-paper) is, for me, liberating – pick a subject I’m passionate about and it almost impossible for me to not give it a go. So, I will be attempting to compete with student doctors, midwives, dentists and fellow students nurses for the Michael Pittilo Student Essay Award 2013 http://www.collegeofmedicine.org.uk/studentessayprize2013?dm_i=PC7,13229,8CRZX5,3CT2N,1  Wish me luck!!! None the least because at the same time I will also be on placement, finalising a summative essay for uni, revising for exams and also polishing my clinical skills ready for my practical assessments. I “may” be a little busy but I wouldn’t have it any other way  – everything I am doing, I am doing it for me and because it makes me feel good to know I am putting my all into something I feel so passionate about. Who knows, I could win and become a published author or I could not win and have lost nothing!

Talking about winning – this week has been very odd! I never ever win anything but this week alone I have won  a load of free food and drink vouchers for my local Christmas markets after submitting a christmassy picture to a twitter competition AND I have also been picked to choose a subject for an article in the Student Nursing Times (a magazine dedicated to nursing students with topical articles and advice). I’m not writing the article itself (shame  😦 maybe I’ll go for that next year haha!!) but my topic of “how to tackle negativity towards student nurses in the media, in practice and in the community” has been picked…so if you read the Student Nursing Times magazine or online content this month – look out for it!! I wonder if it will be credited to me…. To be honest, the biggest prize for me so far is the constant confirmation that I am having the best time and everything is, amazingly, working out for the absolute best. Is it luck? karma? I don’t really know but it’s about time the good stuff reached me…I’m going to enjoy every second of it!

If I don’t write before Christmas, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year! May all your wishes come true xxxxxxxxxx

Be as you wish to seem – Socrates

Christmas list

To celebrate the arrival of December and to start the countdown to Christmas (23 sleeps to go! Exciting!) I am dedicating this post to Santa Claus and my Christmas list. I’m not too greedy…at least I don’t think so!

Dear Santa, if possible, I would like:

1. To survive my nursing placement  – Due to finish mid February 2013. If surviving is not too much to ask for, I would also love to enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed my first week and continue to learn lots and lots.

2. A thermos – preferably a pink one and not too big but I’m not fussed so long as it can be fully sealed and it won’t leak…if it comes with a mug/cup even better. These cold mornings walking to placement require coffee…and a lot of it!

3. To achieve my full sponsorship for my skydive by March 2013  – jumping for The Together Trust which helps children and young people (as well as families and carers) with disabilities and autism. Please please please! It’s for such a good cause. I need all the pennies I can get.

4. The entire Friends boxset on DVD – I have seen every episode and all 10 series umpteen times but I don’t think that matters! Friends is timeless and my favouritest comedy ever! Plus it’s quite old now and not as popular so it really shouldn’t be too costly.

5. To get my Writing Project Certificate – I cannot believe my writing class is nearly over! The last few weeks have been so useful and such good fun! I would love a nice shiny certificate  – or a dull paper one – to celebrate my hard work!

6. A sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope – So I can take people’s blood pressure and listen to heart beats and other body sounds. That’s not an invitation for anyone who knows me to start externalising body ‘sounds’ by the way! Before anyone gets ideas! I know in theory this is two things but I can’t really have one without the other… so, it makes perfect sense to ask for both as one single pressie.

7. To make at least one hike without falling/slipping/doing the splits/getting bruised or maybe even just without needing a whole toilet roll to blow my nose throughout the day. The would be kind on my battered little body thank you!

8. An MMU hoodie (MMU = Manchester Metropolitan University just in case you’re not familiar with the acronyms, Santa) – the ones with fleece inside because they look so warm! I think I would like a navy one. Not the pink ones because they are too bright for me and I prefer to be inconspicuous. If not a hoodie then just vouchers for clothes will do…or some perfume. The vouchers need not be for the MMU shop though…any shop will do.

9. For my family, and friends and patients to have all their Christmas wishes come true! If they are happy, I’m happy! If you could just grant me this and the next small wish I would forget about all the other 8 requests and be happy forever!

10. For the gorgeous Bradley Cooper to marry me  ==========>  He hasn’t noticed me yet but I’m sure he will soon! The only thing is that I have been waiting for a little while now so if you could please speed it up I would be extremely grateful. Some people are starting to doubt me when I tell them….

That is all. Thank you Santa!

 

Glad that’s over!

Unfortunately I’m not talking about this week – which is not quite over yet and which lasting about as long as the equivalent of 2 dog years. It is only Wednesday! It has been so hard to adjust back to uni after placement last week. The last few weeks have been so chaotic that I’m not quite sure whether I’m coming or going at the moment. I had uni for 6 weeks, then reading week (meant for studying and reading but mostly used for catching up with friends and sleeping!) so my routine changed, then back to uni so routine changed back, then placement so routine changed again ready for shift work and this week I have gone back to uni so another change before next week back to placement and shifts!  Are you confused yet? I am…. and I know the timer on my central heating is also confused as is my alarm clock!

All this change is definitely good practice for ‘real life’ nursing but I have to admit that I’m grateful to have this week back at uni to really reflect on my practice last week and also to ‘rest’.

At the same time, I’m very much looking forward to going back to practice next week. Part of me hopes to see the same patients that I got to know last week, just because I want to see how they are getting on and I have missed them. I think about them every day. The other part of me knows that’s a little selfish and hopes that those patients are now much improved and back at home with their loved ones. I can look forward to a whole new group of patients next week!

Talking about groups… 6 weeks ago we were given a formative (unmarked) assignment in the shape of a group presentation which we finally presented today. Goodness me! Am I glad that is over! I don’t really get nervous presenting the work itself, but if anyone reading this has ever done a group presentation I’m sure you will appreciate some of the challenges in surviving the dynamics of a group! I’m very much a get-everything-done-as-soon-as-possible-in-case-life-gets-in-the-way type of person when it comes to my work. I’m also not very good at differentiating the effort required between formative (unmarked) and summative (marked) assignments…by that I mean that I apply the exact same effort to both…even if one is marked and the other isn’t. Is it the best way? Who knows! Does my way of doing things save time? I have no idea but it’s the way I do things! I’m 99% sure that not everyone functions like me and that’s ok, I accept that everyone has their own style of working and I try to the best of my ability to work with it or around it so long as it means that we achieve the ultimate goal.

So, the full presentation (and poster) was finalised yesterday. We got there and it was quite good in the end! I completed my work weeks ago…I put together my presentation slides with cool animations and I was ready to go…What happened? A small technical difficulty with uni equipment today meant that I couldn’t show my slides and my videos because the volume wasn’t loud enough. Isn’t that interesting? Even with all that planning and anticipation, life still got in the way…right at the very last second circumstances interfered! What did I do? Made up an impromptu explanation of the videos right on the spot. No notes, not prompt cards. I was a little disappointed after the effort I put into it, and for a moment I could almost hear “I told you so’s” and “shouldn’t have bothered” comments but irrespective of whether that’s paranoia or not, I stand by my work and I’m really so very proud of it! I think that if the same thing would have happened a mere few months ago I would have probably got very upset and seen it as wasted effort. As it is, I’m taking it for what it is…nothing to do with me and the quality of my work at all but perhaps a little bit more to do with how the equipment is set up 🙂 If nothing else, I’m proud that I kept my professional face on, and carried on…

If you’re interested, the ‘unseen’ videos are below. They are in the public domain but I created them so…if you’re going to use them elsewhere please use them wisely! The first  video shows to how a patient from another culture (in this case Somalia) should not be treated and displays an example of derogatory behaviour:

and the second shows how the same patient should be treated and shows examples of appropriate and professional behaviour. See if you can spot the differences!

That was a lot of waffling, wasn’t it? Sorry!

Isn’t it amazing how quickly we adapt to change and to new people and places and similarly how quickly we are affected by change? I guess that nurses need to be particularly good at being flexible and adaptable. It is all part of the experience…right?

Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.

– Arnold Bennett

Be Careful What You Wish For

You may recall my ‘Lesson Number 1’ post. If you really don’t remember and.or you don’t fancy reading back, it was all about how I felt when I found out about my first student nurse placement, how disappointed I originally was and how I got myself out of that mindset and  ended up looking forward to it. It was quite the topsy turvy journey!

I am really proud of how I put things into perspective. People may laugh at the fact that I was disappointed in the first place, and that I expressed my disappointment pretty intensely for a day or so but that is nothing to be ashamed of. If nothing else, I am definitely honest and self aware. I took the time to think about it and reflect on it.

Why focus on the negative? In the 2 weeks after I found out about my placement  I spent one day sulking and the rest working really hard to understand the way  I felt and also to understand my placement (in between class, completing assignments, volunteering etc..) I have actually spent a lot of time reading around my placement area and doing a lot of research. In fact, I read an entire 260 page book in one day because I was so interested and curious and determined to really put my all into it.

Here comes the twist….when I originally found out about my placement I expected to get something different and I wished for something different….but I grew to really really look forward to the placement that I got and well…my placement has now changed with less than 2 weeks to go….and it has changed to a placement area which completely matches my very initial expectations. I didn’t ask for it to be changed. The saying ‘be careful what you wish for’ has never been truer.

So how do I feel about the ‘last minute’ change? Excited and also a little disappointed… yes… again… there’s no pleasing some people is there? 😉 I got what I wanted after all, didn’t I? Well, not really, I’m disappointed because I haven’t been given the chance to prove to myself that I could do my original placement with the open mindedness that I hoped for, but having said that, I really do not see all my preparation as wasted time and I think my new placement area will be completely brilliant too. Even if the commute is a little longer!

In the last 2 weeks I have gone through more self discovery and acceptance than most could hope for. Credit where credit is due! One of my friends – who reads this blog – sent me a lovely message:

‘I think the change is inconsequential now. The hard work was accepting the position you found yourself in. The change in the placement means nothing since you’ve already made the placement journey of accepting the ‘hard’ placement’- Friend

Don’t I have amazing friends? I am so lucky to have people looking out for me who support me in person, and even via this blog and from afar!

I feel ready to go having now received my brand new shiny uniform (sorry – no public pictures of my uniform allowed) and agreed my  first shift for my new placement (which starts at 7.15am! Eeeek!). I’m terrified, excited, nervous and hopeful. I hope I don’t do or say anything stupid…but I have done stupid things before and I’m sure I will do them again! So long as I don’t rip my uniform pants within 10 minutes of stepping onto my placement, I think I will be ok!

 

Reading week

It has been a while hasn’t it?

When I started writing this blog I had intended for it to be written a few times per week but I think it is clear that maybe that was a little ambitious! I think once per week is more realistic. Believe it or not, it takes me around two hours to write a post. Not because I don’t know what to write necessarily but because I have too much to say and I have to make sense of it all first and then I have to summarise it! It takes me a long time to do that….

This week has been reading week (otherwise known as half term) for first year student nurses, although as the name suggests, the week is intended for studying and reading and not relaxing. Not really sure how to feel about that. I am definitely very glad for the break. The thing is, we only get 5 weeks holiday during each year of our degree – unlike almost every other degree student who gets about 22 weeks holiday every year….so…how is it that one of our 5 weeks of annual leave is designed for study? That really means we only get 4 weeks of holiday every year then…right? Having said that, since I haven’t really done as much studying as I should have I probably shouldn’t moan about it too much 🙂 We’ve worked very very hard the last 7 weeks….or at least I have….and we deserve time out before we start our placements in 2 weeks. The countdown commences!

It has been quite a productive week. I read an entire book on dementia and how to cope with it. I finished a formative essay due next week – which I loved writing because well…I love writing!! Just because it’s an essay it doesn’t make it any less interesting for me. It was only 1000 words so it was quite hard to keep things short….some of my blogs posts are that length!  I also went to writing class at university even though I was “on holiday” and I finished my writing class homework. Oh! and I also drafted a little PowerPoint presentation…and took some books out of my local library! Not much reading going on but the intention was there and I think that is half of the battle!

I may have also kept a little busy with nights out – but who can say ‘no’ to tapas and to Halloween parties and catching up with friends? Not me!

Talking about Halloween and scary sights, I am feeling a little sorry for myself today because I had my vaccinations yesterday and as a consequence (or as a coincidence) I’m not feeling, or looking, very well today and I have a dead and tingly arm. I would probably make a good zombie today! But, silver lining, I now have occupational health clearance and I have been deemed fit for nursing practice so there is no stopping me!

Isn’t that exciting? There is so many amazing things happening that I can’t really believe my luck! Is it luck? Whatever it is, I can’t believe it! I have my trip to Disneyland Paris for New Year’s Eve to look forward to, as well as my skydive in March 2013 (cough cough please sponsor me!), the next 3 years of being a student nurse and of course my future career as a registered nurse! Happy days!

 

 

Lesson Number 1

Keep everything in perspective. Always remember why I want to be a nurse. Don’t be fooled by stereotypes.

Last week we finally found out about our placements and where will be spending the first few weeks of our student nursing practice. I can hold my hands up and say that I was a little very disappointed with my placement at first…and then I got upset. So I’ve really been trying hard to figure out what it was that I was disappointed about and why I got upset. I’m not sure I have it 100% figured out but if nothing else, I’ve learnt that irrespective of how I think I will act in a situation, I can never guarantee or predict the exact reaction – so if in doubt, I should do and say nothing, hold my breath, count to a million, go home, and think about it for a day or 2 or even a week. Gain a little perspective. Learn from it. Move on.

Oh, before I start rambling, I have to tell you that at no point can I mention where my placement is, this is to ensure confidentiality so apologies in advance if the below makes no sense!

Having turned my brain inside out trying to figure this out, and barely sleeping for a couple of nights in the process, I have come to the conclusion that my (initial) disappointment came down to one thing – preconceptions.

I have spent the last 5 weeks going through every possible stereotype, misconception and judgement that people, including nurses, have and make about others. I have been appalled by examples of inappropriate, misguided and ignorant behaviour and comments. I have done an immense amount of reading, listening and research on what not to do in order to avoid such situations. So, what happened? That all went out of the window, that’s what happened. As soon as I got told about my placement, I immediately reverted to stereotypes. Not helped in the least by comments from others such as “never mind” and “you have my sympathies” as well as “haha”.

Some practice areas are considered to be sexier and more exciting than others. It is totally subjective of course, what I find exciting (bungee jumps, roller coasters, skydives, watching Road Cops, pink things, snow globes) will be another person’s worst nightmare…but it appears that on a scale of sexiness,  my practice area would be almost at the bottom of the pile for some, if not, most people.

I felt a little ashamed for allowing my ego to take priority over the need of vulnerable people to be looked after. I was also completely mortified that for a few hours I got so wrapped up in myself and in my sulking that I couldn’t see past the stereotype or past my (obviously irrational) expectations. I was also a little hurt from some of the comments other people made.What if someone made “never mind” and “haha” comments in reference to your family member? Or to a dear friend?

That’s why I got upset. Lesson number 1 learnt. Keep everything in perspective. Always remember why I want to be a nurse. Don’t be fooled by stereotypes.

I know why I want to be a nurse, and I know that irrespective of who and what and why, I know that absolutely everyone deserves someone to care for them. I think once I realised what I was doing, a wave of guilt just completely took over me. That’s not the type of person I want to be.

But…. I’m not going to beat myself up about feeling disappointed at first because it is all about the learning and at least I realised what was happening, and at least I am big enough and bold enough to stick my hands up and admit that I made a mistake. I hope people reading this are able to look at themselves in the same way. The biggest mistake I could ever make is to expect there are no more mistakes waiting to happen. I know I’m going to make some more and when I do, I will continue to reflect on it, learn from it and move on.

You must never feel badly about making mistakes,” explained Reason quietly, “as long as you take the trouble to learn from them. For you often learn more by being wrong for the right reasons than you do by being right for the wrong reasons.”
-Norton Juster

So, sexy or not, my practice area is definitely the most prominent type of care provided both in the public and private sector, and that ultimately means that most of us, if not all of us, including me and you, will require the type of care provided in this setting. As a few of my fellow student nurses have also kindly pointed out, this means that I will have an immense amount of exposure to many different areas of care and as a result, I will hopefully be super prepared for my clinical skills exams. I’m not disappointed any more. I am excited to be given the chance and I am going to make the most of it. I’m going to be the greatest student nurse I can be and hit the ground running (slowly… without going beyond my level of knowledge…obviously) with every ounce of enthusiasm that I have. And if they weren’t good enough reasons to look forward to placement on its own merit, I’m sure the 30 second commute will do it 🙂

Diving Into It

Yes! I have done it! I have booked my skydive! How incredibly exciting! I’m jumping for The Together Trust on the 3rd March 2013. If you have read my previous blogs, you will have seen that I have volunteered for the Together Trust on a couple of occasions, and I have had such a good time with them that I thought, why not? I may be a little mad, everyone who knows me knows how much I love rollercoasters and what’s more, it’s not like I haven’t jumped out of things before…here’s a little video of me doing my bungee jump!

I really believe in everything The Together Trust stands for and I want to help them continue the amazing work that they do. What better way to support them than by doing something I would absolutely love to do anyway and at the same time raise pennies!

Government spending cuts have resulted in £millions of charity funding being withdrawn. At a time of economic challenges and austerity it is becoming increasingly difficult for some charities to survive. Please help The Together Trust survive.

Everyone does deserve an equal chance in life, irrespective of emotional, mental or physical ability. How many opportunities have you had? How lucky do you feel to have had the support and resources to develop and grow? I know I’m incredibly grateful for every opportunity I have ever received and I would not want for anyone to be disadvantaged because of a disability. If you didn’t already know, I’m partly deaf but I have never ever ever ever let it become an obstacle. I’m very open about it because I think it is important for disabilities to be understood and for people to see that it really doesn’t have to be incredibly limiting. How many people watched the Paralympics and wondered what disability a paralympian had because he or she looked perfectly able? How could such incredible sportspeople continue to inspire generations without charities such as The Together Trust to support, encourage and empower them and their families and carers?

If anyone reading this has a spare fiver that they would like to donate, I have a lovely text option – Text TRPM55 £5 to 70070 to sponsor me! Or if you have any other amount you would kindly like donate please get in touch and I will gratefully accept it through my justgiving.com page.

“We are all different, there is no such thing as a standard or run-of-the-mill human being, but we share the same human spirit. What is important is that we have the ability to create… This creativity can take many forms, from physical achievement to theoretical physics… However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.” 

~ Stephen Hawking at London Paralympics 2012 Opening Ceremony

Has it been that long?

It has been nearly 10 days since I last wrote a post – sorry!

I am really enjoying my nursing course and everything that comes with being at university…the people, the lifestyle, the socialising…everything!  It is so much better than I ever thought it would be and definitely soooo much better than what I remember from my first time at university. Everything has superseded my expectations. I have fully submerged myself into as many things and aspects of student and university life as possible – that doesn’t mean that I am out all night every night. What I mean is, I am fully committed to making the most out of the next 3 years…that is, both academically, clinically (when the time comes) and socially.

For example, as if my course didn’t give sufficient opportunity to keep busy with homework and background and additional reading, I have also joined a writing class. I’m not sure if it comes across that I love writing but I really do! I have done ever since I was little. I remember writing a story once at primary school about the Eiffel Tower needing blanket to keep warm…it was part of an international project at school and I won a prize – I think I won a set of books, which I’m sure my mum still has! I probably don’t need to go to a writing class, but I don’t think anyone should ever take for granted to opportunity to learn and improve. We are so lucky to have these options available to us, and for free, who wouldn’t want to grab them with both hands?

I was about to write that life is too short to not give anything and everything a try, but Billy Connolly once made a good point of saying that life is actually the longest thing anyone will ever do. Which, when you think about it, is actually a lot more accurate!  So worded differently, I think most of us are lucky enough to have plenty of time to do anything and everything we want to do, but time does go quickly, so we should take the opportunity when it arrives. A bit like Jim Carrey in the ‘Yes Man’ – it’s a fascinating film! It’s amazing how many doors can open and how many new and exciting opportunities can land on your lap when you are open-minded and willing to try new things! For the first time in my life, I had a crisp sandwich and went to a pub quiz last week. This may all seem trivial stuff to most people, and some may wonder where I have been all this time…but you know..I’ve been doing other stuff, like travelling the world and working and going for sophisticated meals instead! But I actually really enjoyed the crisp sandwich and have eaten one nearly every day since (which is probably not so good for my health!) and I discovered I’m actually not too bad with general knowledge. Though it has to be said that I don’t have a clue about anything to do with shipping or haulage. Not my forte. But I gave it a go! And that’s what counts.

Talking about little things that count, you may remember in my last post I talked about the Together Trust who I volunteered for. I  went back again this weekend and this time we actually packed people’s shopping! Supermarket Superheroes it’s called. I was amazed for a number of reasons:

1. Supermarkets apparently go through around 10,000 plastic bags every day. I’m sure I have at least 100 in my cupboards. What a waste of resources! Biodegradable or not there are many more environmentally friendly ways to pack the shopping. I think all supermarkets should charge for bags, and from now on, I promise to always carry bags with me to the supermarket. Obviously if I make an impromtu purchase I may have to get a bag, but then, I should have to pay for it!
2. People will always stop and talk to you if they feel safe and you are friendly, courteous and smiley. I know because every single person I said hello to during fundraising stopped and talked to me and were all incredibly nice (and generous) in return. I should remember this when I’m on placement. Patients are not likely to feel safe initially, but it is important to keep communicating. The likelihood is that the patient will eventually feel sufficient secure to open up.
3. Packing shopping for 3 hours is very tiring!
4. Till staff are amazingly thoughtful – they are like grocery nurses! They ask customers how they are, have they had a nice weekend, do they need any bags, do they want a separate bag for their cooked chicken/ raw fish/ fresh fruit, have they checked their eggs are not cracked, do they not want to swap their brown bananas for newer ones, do they need more bags,they congratulate customers how much of a bargain/gorgeous/useful/delicious their purchases are and so on. So…in geeky student nurse terms…what the till staff are doing is assessing the customers needs, planning the safekeeping of their shopping (and giving them responsibility to check it for themselves), evaluating the customers response and then empowering their decision making. Isn’t that amazing? The nursing process can be applied anywhere!

They warned us at uni that over the next 3 years we would change dramatically. I hope I do change. Not the the point where I’m unrecognisable but definitely change for the better into a great person, not just a good person. Everything we learn at uni, I try to apply to every day life, such as the nursing process above.

Something we have also discussed in class, which I have mentioned previously, is treating people like humans, or individuals, whichever way it’s easier to understand. I watched a film called ‘Wit’, with Emma Thompson acting as a terminally-ill cancer patient. It is a heart breaking but incredibly touching film from the perspective of the patient. Definitely not one to watch if feeling a little low but so worth watching – with tissues – if you are curious on what compassionate, humanised care vs. dehumanised and at times cruel and undignified care looks like. Interestingly enough, it shows the doctor and nurse relationship with the patient and it is narrated from the patient’s point of view which is at times funny, bitter, sarcastic, sad, angry etc… but always utterly heartfelt. If any student nurses out there do not watch any of the other films I have mentioned throughout my blog, please watch this. Don’t forget the tissues!

If anyone had any doubts or concerns with regards to me leaving full time employment to do nursing, let me assure you that not only have I most definitely made the right decision, but that there is nothing more that I want than to be a great person and nurse.

Parting thought: