CAREERS STUDENT LIFE
‘I know this is my life now’ Kimberley Gill points out the landmarks along her route in nursing education that told her she was going the right way As I enter my third year as a mental health nursing student, I look back over the past two years with some astonishment that I have come this far. In many ways, they have been the best and the worst years of my life. I passed my A levels with unexpectedly high grades and was accepted into all the universities I applied for, but then failed to get into the branch of nursing that I originally wanted. I was offered the mental health nursing branch instead. My first placement on an adult male treatment and assessment ward was an eye-opener for an 18 year old. Facing patients who were full of anger and aggression, I learned how to duck someone trying to take a swing at me and another taking a shot with a Pot Noodle. Seeing eight healthcare staff restraining a man to administer an injection was unforgettable. But so too was the man who died while holding my hand, and my first attempt at resuscitation when a patient stopped breathing in front of me. This was an education I had not anticipated. The highlight of that first placement was a staff nurse telling me: ‘You are the most enthusiastic student nurse I have ever met. We set you obstacle after obstacle
Learning from experience Intend to enjoy the student experience. Enter into the spirit of caring. Discover and capitalise on your personal learning style. Strive to be non-judgemental. 66 october 1 :: vol 29 no 5 :: 2014
spoke for all of us when she read her poem, and her presentation went viral (see resources). It made me think that the poor image of nursing presented in the media is unfair. How can such big-hearted people as Molly be crushed before we even start our careers? I have non-nursing student friends and they mock me, telling me this is no proper degree. But I remember the day I held the dying man’s hand and the patient who thanked me. I know this is my life now.
Overcoming doubts
I did get rather queasy when watching a lumbar puncture to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid and extract it. The patient was crying out in pain, so I went over and sat by her head, told her she was doing really well and said the procedure was nearly over. But feeling dizzy scared me, because it made me think: ‘What if I am not cut out for this job? What if I am no good?’ However, the next time I did not feel dizzy – so maybe I am cut out for nursing after all. My family’s peripatetic army life taught me how to communicate with people of all backgrounds and cultures. Faced with patients who do drugs or drink, I know their story will always involve a reason for their behaviour. A nurse’s job is to help them. I have met many inspiring nurses who have made me think: ‘If I am half as good as they are, I will be happy’ NS
and you still work hard. Even on a night shift, you are still enthusiastic. You will go far.’ I knew from the outset that the theory learning would be difficult. I found that I learn better from practical experience but the book learning must be done and it will pay off. I passed my first year with 2:1 grades, which means I must maintain my standards this year.
Public image
Dealing with family illness, as I have, helps you become much more sympathetic towards patients and their relatives. Knowing how it feels to be a scared relative, wondering what will be the outcome of illness, brought home to me how important communication skills and compassion are for nurses. My first attendance at RCN Congress in 2013 was another unforgettable experience. My fellow student Molly Case
Kimberley Gill is a nursing student at the University of Nottingham RESOURCES Molly Case addresses RCN Congress www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOCda6OiYpg Student Life online rcnpublishing.com/page/ns/ students/student-life
NURSING STANDARD
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
‘I know this is my life now’ Kimberley Gill points out the landmarks along her route in nursing education that told her she was going the right way As I enter my third year as a mental health nursing student, I look back over the past two years with some astonishment that I have come this far. In many ways, they have been the best and the worst years of my life. I passed my A levels with unexpectedly high grades and was accepted into all the universities I applied for, but then failed to get into the branch of nursing that I originally wanted. I was offered the mental health nursing branch instead. My first placement on an adult male treatment and assessment ward was an eye-opener for an 18 year old. Facing patients who were full of anger and aggression, I learned how to duck someone trying to take a swing at me and another taking a shot with a Pot Noodle. Seeing eight healthcare staff restraining a man to administer an injection was unforgettable. But so too was the man who died while holding my hand, and my first attempt at resuscitation when a patient stopped breathing in front of me. This was an education I had not anticipated. The highlight of that first placement was a staff nurse telling me: ‘You are the most enthusiastic student nurse I have ever met. We set you obstacle after obstacle
Learning from experience Intend to enjoy the student experience. Enter into the spirit of caring. Discover and capitalise on your personal learning style. Strive to be non-judgemental. 66 october 1 :: vol 29 no 5 :: 2014
spoke for all of us when she read her poem, and her presentation went viral (see resources). It made me think that the poor image of nursing presented in the media is unfair. How can such big-hearted people as Molly be crushed before we even start our careers? I have non-nursing student friends and they mock me, telling me this is no proper degree. But I remember the day I held the dying man’s hand and the patient who thanked me. I know this is my life now.
Overcoming doubts
I did get rather queasy when watching a lumbar puncture to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid and extract it. The patient was crying out in pain, so I went over and sat by her head, told her she was doing really well and said the procedure was nearly over. But feeling dizzy scared me, because it made me think: ‘What if I am not cut out for this job? What if I am no good?’ However, the next time I did not feel dizzy – so maybe I am cut out for nursing after all. My family’s peripatetic army life taught me how to communicate with people of all backgrounds and cultures. Faced with patients who do drugs or drink, I know their story will always involve a reason for their behaviour. A nurse’s job is to help them. I have met many inspiring nurses who have made me think: ‘If I am half as good as they are, I will be happy’ NS
and you still work hard. Even on a night shift, you are still enthusiastic. You will go far.’ I knew from the outset that the theory learning would be difficult. I found that I learn better from practical experience but the book learning must be done and it will pay off. I passed my first year with 2:1 grades, which means I must maintain my standards this year.
Public image
Dealing with family illness, as I have, helps you become much more sympathetic towards patients and their relatives. Knowing how it feels to be a scared relative, wondering what will be the outcome of illness, brought home to me how important communication skills and compassion are for nurses. My first attendance at RCN Congress in 2013 was another unforgettable experience. My fellow student Molly Case
Kimberley Gill is a nursing student at the University of Nottingham RESOURCES Molly Case addresses RCN Congress www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOCda6OiYpg Student Life online rcnpublishing.com/page/ns/ students/student-life
NURSING STANDARD
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
