I'm currently sat on my sofa in my family home, with the Christmas tree to my left and the warm fire to my right. I've spent all day browsing YouTube and watching TV; catching up on the luxuries I have missed whilst working 14 hour shifts, unpaid, in the busiest children's hospital in England. I know what some of you might be wondering. But why do you complain? Your course fee's are paid for so you must be happy working unpaid without your £9000 a year debt? Wrong! Your course isn't hard, all you do is put plasters on people? Wrong! You don't need to know anything to be a nurse! Wrong!
Allow me to tell you what my life has really been like for the past year and a half.
As well as unpaid work; the practical aspect of the course worth 50%, we also have to attend lectures, sit exams and write essays like other students, worth the other 50% of our final mark. We have a specific number of hours to fulfill for each placement. Last summer, we had to fill a quota of around 350 hours and this winter I have just completed 172 whilst attending university theory days and meeting assignment deadlines. If we're ill, we have to extend the deadline to complete the hours. We have to meet them all. If you can't? well, they get carried over to your next placement, there is no way you're getting out of this one! Bonfire night? forget that! You're working. Halloween? again, it's not gonna happen. As a student, you miss out on a lot of the best social nights. But I can't complain. When i qualify, I can forget about Christmas and new years too. At least for now, I still have some time to see family and friends. I do still get to do fun things! I go out with my friends and make videos when I can, I just have to pick and choose and make ALOT of sacrifices. On my days off i'm exhausted, and I spend all my spare time with my legs elevated trying to reduce the swelling that 12 hours on my feet has caused. I can't even remember what 8 hours sleep feel like; I wake up at 6am and get home at 9pm most days.
I don't even know where to start when describing what it's like to work on a ward. There is no amount of documentaries that can prepare you for it. How on earth do you learn to comfort a crying mother? How do you reason with a screaming, kicking 2 year old? How do you cheer up a 5 year old who has to eat through a tube and is in so much pain, they can't even walk to the toilet? It's all things you learn through experience and time.
In my days off, i'm in the library, or sat at my desk, coffee in hand. Last year, we had a drug calculations exam; something you're tested on everyday on a ward. How much Oxybutinin can I give my patient? Is that dose of Oromorph correct? What are the side effects? How do I know they're not allergic? What do I do if they have a reaction? How does it work? What does it do? You need to know. Children are curious little beings.
I also had to complete an Anatomy and Physiology exam as well as exams in Pharmacology and nursing knowledge & research. In the modules that I didn't have exams, I had essays. I cannot think of anything worse than essays. I will not miss those when i'm qualified.
But it hasn't been all bad. I've been privileged enough to work with school nurses in the safeguarding sector. I've also worked on a general ward, elective treatment ward, burns ward & theaters. I've seen some amazing things. In my time studying, I have met some amazing people from all walks of life. I feel blessed to be a part of a child's experience in hospital, and i'm amazed by their strength and courage.They let nothing faze them and they teach me that my small problems really don't matter. I love learning about how different people live their lives; their cultures and lifestyle so different from my own.
I'm not sure if this is what I want to do with the rest of my life. I enjoy it whilst i'm young, but who knows where i'll be in years to come. For now, i'm enjoying Christmas at home, revising for my Pathology and Pharmacology exams in January as well as writing an essay. Then after that? 4 months in a respite care home for severely ill children!
I don't know if this has helped anyone to understand what nursing is like. I suppose you won't really understand unless you do it yourself. I just wanted to get it out here so those of you wondering why I don't upload as often, can understand why. Are any of you guys nurses? student nurses? or working in health care or medicine? I would love to know!
I love you guys loads & thankyou so much for reading!
Until next time,
Natalie Estelle
