I did my degree at Glasgow Caledonian University. I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I’ve been on my final placement for the the last twelve weeks, but from this week I’ll be taking up my first paid placement as a qualified nurse.
Newly qualified student nurses have been asked to volunteer to take up places early because of Coronavirus, to help the relieve the pressure the NHS is under.
It’s voluntary, so if you don’t feel ready, you’re not pushed into anything, but 99% of the final year nursing students have agreed to do it.
I feel more than ready, and I think as newly qualified nurses, we are going to get the best learning experience at a time like this. I think you learn more in these kind of situations because you have to step up and be more involved.
It wouldn’t worry me to work directly with Covid-19 patients as long as I had the correct safety equipment. This is what you sign up to be a nurse or any kind of medic for, to care for people when they need it most, and hopefully to get them back on their feet.
When I was growing up I either wanted to be a hairdresser or a nurse, so I tried both and absolutely loved nursing. I like being able to help other people, especially when they’re vulnerable, I’ve always been like that, making sure people are okay. I looked after my big brother when we were young, because he has Asperger syndrome.
I want to nurse in learning disabilities, whether it’s community or residential that’s what I want to do, and what my course has focused on.
I’m looking forward to that regardless of what’s happening now and I’ll be where I’m needed until that time. No one could have known the pandemic was going to happen, but you do sign up for challenges along the way in a job like this, and this is just one of them.
