Have I really not written anything since January?

Oooooops, I haven’t updated this blog for a while, have I? Since January in fact. I recently received that comment on this very blog! It was very well timed… the day I received it I had just been mentioning how guilty I felt that I hadn’t updated my blog for a loooong time and how  I just needed to find the time from somewhere to write. Well….I got the time and the motivation that I needed and here I am!

So, in reference to whether I really really haven’t written anything  since January the answer is both yes and no. I really haven’t written this blog since January but that’s because I have been super super busy writing and doing all these other bits and bobs!

– I had to finish my last placement in A&E and with District Nurses – after spending endless hours writing patient notes, care plans, referrals, handovers, discharges etc.. my motivation to write blogs goes walkies! That’s understandable isn’t it? I know that my intention when I started writing this blog was to update it weekly, or more frequently than that.. I can’t really remember to be honest but I must have been deluded,  just cannot manage that at the moment.  I hope that if nothing else, my blog is an online record of all the opportunities that are available to student nurses if they are able and willing to grab them with both hands…and well.. I’m sort of too busy doing that to have the time to write about it all!! I really didn’t expect that the world of nursing would be so flipping exciting and full of wonder! I want to make the most of it all whilst I still can.

Anyway, back to my list of things I have been writing and doing!

– Writing a 3000 word assignment whilst also in placement – imagine all of the above, plus having to muster the energy to also research, read and read and read and critically appraise (contrast and compare) evidence and write an essay. Sounds like hard work, doesn’t it? It was, it was tedious and it took over my life for a good few months.

– In addition…I have also been writing approximately 25 x 1000 word reflective essays for my portfolio – this is in addition both to placement and to my assignment! That is a loooooot of words! It hurts my brain writing reflections…having to be open and honest and self-aware of your own feelings and behaviours is a lot more difficult than you would think! Ignorance is bliss as they say but alas, not in nursing! For good reason too.

– Writing, reviewing, modifying and re-writing my first ever journal article! Watch out world! Author Ruthie has landed! I originally submitted my article in November last year, and it has been updated every time I had feedback for reviewers, sub-editors and editors which equates to around 10 re-writes in total. Frankly, it looks nothing like the original article now but I hope someone enjoys it nonetheless. I am so super proud and cannot wait to be able to reference myself in an article – because I am sad like that 🙂

– Writing notes, reading, watching videos and revising for my one ginormous exam of the year. “That’s all you have?” I hear you say! Yes, that was all I had…one single exam that covered 18 hrs per week x 9 months of work, on any part of the human anatomy and physiology, on anything on major chronic and acute conditions out there. Easy peasy lemon squeazy. No? Exam was actually ok, although I did have a few head scratching moments but it wouldn’t be an exam if it wasn’t a little challenging!  Will find out in the next week or so if I did enough to pass!

– Oh yeah, there is the small matter of attending uni full time too! And also working, I have two part time jobs…which reminds me! I work so so so so hard that guess what? I am the best super hardest worker at my uni:

So you know….sorry that I haven’t written my blog in a while. I have been a little preoccupied! I will try my hardest to do better.

Sometimes I wonder how I will cope doing all this when I qualify – working full time, shifts, having a life, sleeping, eating (though incredibly I always find the time to eat, several times a day, every day- my weight is testament to that!). But then I realise that when I qualify I won’t be working full time, studying, volunteering, writing journal articles and working another 2 part time jobs at the same time. Having a full time job may actually be a little easier – plus I’m sure the pay will soften the blow somewhat 🙂

Chat soon! I promise 🙂

 

Final update of 2013 resolutions!

Entering the latter part of 2013 so I just wanted to do another check in and update my New Year’s resolutions. I already achieved many of them earlier on in the year but I think it’s nice to keep going back over them. Makes me really appreciate how much has happened but also how much there is still to do! So, here we go:

1. To survive 6 weeks of nursing placement  – Completed! I survived my first, second and third nursing placement and lived to tell the tale. I have to say that I miss placement when I’m at uni…but also miss uni when I’m in placement! Haha! And I miss my holidays always.
2. To toughen up a bit. I’m going to mark this as completed. Not because I think I have now toughened but because I have now realised that I don’t particularly want to. I just want to do what I do, be who I am and be happy with it.
3. To keep on top of my uni work so that I am not rushing towards deadlines. Done! Keep it up!
4. To pass my first year of my nursing degree. Passed with flying colours! I just need to continue to work super hard for the next year!
5. To raise enough sponsorship to do my skydive for the Together Trust – Completed..now I have to think of the next big challenge! Fire walking? Will anyone sponsor me please?
6. To be an awesome bridesmaid x2 – I have one bridesmaid duty down and another to go. I love being a bridesmaid! It’s such an awesome job.
7. To learn to park my car properly. Well….no… but I’m becoming less worried about all the bumps and scratches on my car. Ooopsie.
8. To get a small part time job – Yes! I have 2 part time jobs now. Both flexible. both rewarding.
9. To start buying myself flowers again and restart yoga and/or zumba – I got bored of yoga and zumba but I do remember to treat myself…even if it’s not flowers.
10.  To be strong and stay positive no matter what and not let anyone make me feel otherwise – This will always always be in progress! I can try and be positive…but sometimes, people do influence how I feel. I think that’s human nature.

It feels a little strange reading these resolutions. I’m not really sure what frame of mind I was in when I wrote them but I sound like I was a little down… don’t I? I can’t think of any specific events around that time which would have made me feel like that other than maybe a general ugh-I’m-getting-older-and-another-year-is-passing sort of thing…but…my list has kept me focused both in my nursing and in my personal life. I think I am finally learning to look after myself as well as others! Woohooo! This has given me little boost. I like ticking things off a to-do list!

Second year!

Remember me? Ok, ok, ok! So…everyone who said I would never be able to keep up with weekly blog posts were absolutely correct. I tried my best but frankly I’ve been enjoying myself a little too much to worry about writing about it all  but I promise that I will get back to it and give updates as and when I can!

Hey, guess what? I’m now a SECOND year student nurse! Can you believe it? I remember this time last year panicking about what pens I should take, whether I would ever understand A&P,  if I would make any friends etc… and well…now I really don’t care about pens and think myself lucky if I come home from uni/placement with my pen still in my pocket; I did pretty (very) well in my A&P exam and thoroughly enjoyed it and I’ve met some lovely lovely people! 

I cannot believe how much I have done and achieved in the last 12 months. I understand that the first year of a nursing course is somewhat “easy” in comparison to the subsequent 2 years and I also understand that I may not have as many opportunities going forwards as I’ve had in the last few months so for that, I am grateful and proud that I took advantage of every single chance that I had to learn, improve and succeed!

Of course, since this is my blog and it is generally all about me and my journey as a student nurse I want to list everything that I’ve done in my first year. Clearly, the aim is to blow my own trumpet but I also want others to see just how much is possible and just how amazing and fulfilling it can be. So, in the last 12 months:

– I started this blog!

– Started a 3 year adult nursing degree as a mature (but fresh and young looking <wink wink>) student with no previous health related work or educational experience and from a non-traditional nursing background.

– Elected as course representative and attended every single training session, meeting and conference available to me. Through this I gained skills in time management, advocacy and evidence-based representation. I also become to know the Student Union Officers who often provided support and advice.

– I completed the university’s 10 week writing project which really helped me ease back into academic writing.

– As well as study full time, I started part-time work as a Widening Participation Outreach Ambassador, encouraging young people to aim towards higher education. I know how much I enjoy learning, and if I can do it, anyone should be able to do it! We have now been nominated for an award http://www.staff.mmu.ac.uk/manmetlife/news/view/schools-outreach-up-for-times-award

– As well as study full time, and starting one part-time job, I successfully started a second part-time job as a Care Support Worker for the National Health Service. Now… unlike some people, and the current government, I do not believe that care and compassion can be learnt and I therefore strongly disagree with the idea that all future student nurses will need a year of experience in a hospital as a support worker or health care assistant as a pre-requisite to starting a nursing degree. I think there are many many ways to nurse and focusing on clinical pre-requisites is naive and unsustainable. Anyway…the reason why I want to work as a support worker in addition to being a student nurse is because I want to learn what both roles are and how they interact together so that I can improve my nursing practice. And the money is good. I also don’t want to forget the roots of nursing and irrespective what field I ultimately go into, I always want to remember essential care. Since my placements focus on learning new clinical skills I figured that I should make some time to also focus on personal care etc.. And I’m not sure if I have mentioned it…but the money is good…and any student nurse will know that any pennies that can be earnt are extremely welcome!

– As well as studying full time and working two part-time jobs, I also started volunteering for a charity which I really believe in, called The Together Trust. Last year I raised around £600 for the charity by doing my skydive. I also attended and fundraised at other charity events which I thoroughly enjoyed! I am so looking forward to all upcoming events. It’s going to be a great year.

– I attended the Student Nursing Times Awards  and was elated to have been present when my university won the Best Pre-Reg Nursing Education Provider of the Year award. I hope we can hold on to the award this year.

– I entered an essay competition for the College of Medicine and became the first ever student nurse to have been awarded a prize. I came joint third. http://www.collegeofmedicine.org.uk/sites/default/files/ruth_perez-merino.pdf

– I entered an essay competition for the Student Health Association and was awarded first prize.This led the university’s public health department to get in touch with me about potentially sitting on the panel for a new Healthy University initiative. http://www.healthyuniversities.ac.uk/

– I became a Student Quality Ambassador and set off on the road to improve the quality of care provided in the NHS by working with other health care students and professionals across the North West to share best practices and fresh ideas. I’m still pretty new at this!

– I began writing a blog for the Student Nursing Times though that has taken a huge back seat and I really need to get back on it this year!

– Went on holiday to Spain to see my family. Although I spent the whole time feeling sorry for myself with flu.

– Completed my Dementia Friends Champion training. I can now deliver short informationsessions on Dementia to support make our communities dementia-friendly! I just need to get someone to lend me a venue and then I will get cracking with the sessions.

– Passed all my nursing placements with flying colours – even though I had a tough time with my first placement. But I super duper enjoyed all subsequent placements and feel much more confident than I was…although in all honesty I’m petrified of the jump in responsibility. I’ll get there!  If anyone is interested, I had placements in: a medical ward, surgical ward, surgical assessment unit and district nursing. I was also able to spend time with: dietitians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, health visitors and I attended workshops in : palliative care, communication skills and genetics! Pretty cool stuff eh?

– Passed all my assignment/exams with an average 1st degree classification. Now, I’m not insinuating I will be able to maintain this going forwards or that it makes me better than anyone else but it makes ME feel better to know that I CAN do this and that I’m doing it well. Just to clarify for anyone that may have any doubts, just because I’m academic it does not mean that I’m not down to Earth…I will clean bottoms, wipe sick, hold hands and be kind until the end of my days and if appropriate laugh about it if I know it will make someone more comfortable or otherwise cry. It does not mean that I do not want to be hands on when I qualify. Do you know what my results mean? It means I work damn hard, use every opportunity and all the support I can to do the best I can. I’m proud to do well…sorry…. I guess I will continue to work by my own standards in every way and will let everyone else work by their own.

– Went on holiday to America. I was a bridesmaid to a lovely gorgeous bride!

Now…I’m a little bit keen and probably a bit mad to have crammed so much but…if all my hard work and success wasn’t already proof enough that I made the right decision to shift gear and change careers, I wonder if this is?

– After ALL of the above, I was nominated for the University’s Ede & Ravenscroft Prize for Academic Excellence award and was one of 2 students (out of 30,000) to have won. http://www.hpsc.mmu.ac.uk/news/item.php?key=33

How do I keep this going for second year? …I’m not sure I can! I may fail something or I may pass everything. That’s a lot of pressure for me to worry about. I will just try my best. It’s all I can do.