Well and truly into the 2nd year......

A week and a half into the 2nd year and we have already, pretty much had all the lectures/seminars for one of the modules, Research Methods and Analysis! It's all been rather heavy, but I have enjoyed it! Just need to keep everything fresh in my mind for the next couple of months as we are assessed by a multiple choice exam and that's not taking place till the end of December!
Next week we move onto a Health and Illness module and Partnerships 2. These modules seem a lot more nursery based.....especially partnerships as we will be going to our main campus to work alongside students of all areas...i.e social workers, physiotherapists, mental health nurses.....should be very interesting although I must admit I'm a little nervous.
On the home front all is good. Kids all settled back into school and college. My youngest is enjoying secondary school much more than I thought he would....so I can relax! Hubby is still as supportive as ever and scored some brownie points this week as he bought me a Dolce Gusto coffee machine! :)
Will post again when we find out our placement areas.....exciting!! :)

Last weekend of the summer.....

Have had all these weeks off and now all of a sudden we have been unindated with work to do before next week! I think this Research and Analysis module is going to be full on!! We have been given lectures to watch online before we go back for the seminars, along with having to critique 4 articles. Critiquing these articles would have been a lot easier following the taught content. I've had a good go at using all the relevent CASP tools, but not sure if I'm on the right track or not!

I have also now completed all the paperwork necessary for my portfolio...all up to date and ready to take to my Academic Advisor meeting in a couple of weeks. Have set some SMART targets for the up-coming year...want to get cracking now!

As a family, we have had a fab summer, the kids have enjoyed long lay ins and some late nights...we have all enjoyed eating together and spending some time together with no other commitments but as of Monday I shall be a busy bee again....time to get back to using our family weekly planner! It was a god send last year!

Already making a start on the 2nd Year....

Getting myself as organized as possible for the next year. We already have the pre-reading lists for two of the modules we will be doing in semester 1. Have also received timetables and the assignment question for one of the modules too. This particular assignment question has five different scenarios from which we can chose to base our essay on (3000 words!!). As I am really interested in coronary care, I think I am going to base my essay on the Cardiac Journey scenario.
On the family front....Hubby is off for 2 weeks now, so we have planned lots of nice days out with the kids next week. Really looking forward to some fun times with them. My youngest two are away with my mum and dad for a few days at the mo, so the house is a little quiet! Perfect opportunity to start the pre-reading....if I could just complete the level on CandyCrush which I'm stuck on first!! Hehe!

Summer Hols...

So...we are now a couple of weeks into the summer holidays...and I must admit I am actually missing uni and being on placement! Not really sure what to do with my self now that I have all this free time on my hands!!
Last week a few of us had an end of year celebration...we went to the Races and it was Retro Racing Day at Newbury...so a good excuse for us all to dress up and have a bit of fun! We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I'm pretty sure we'll all be going racing again!! :)
Today I have organised my timetable and bits and bobs ready for September, as of tomorrow all the children will be home for the Summer hols so I thought it best to get sorted now before the peace ends! However, I am looking forward to some proper family time (hubby has 2 weeks off in August too!) over the next month or so...lots of days out...lie ins and fun! :)

Year 1....Done! :)

Not had much time to update recently...but I am happy to say I have now finished and passed my first year! All hours and competencies signed off and achieved a B+ (Exam and Cardiovascular practical) and an A (MCQ and Essay) for my final 2 assignments! Very happy and very proud of myself! :)
Am actually already missing being on the ward...and it's only been 6 days! It took a few weeks to find my feet during my last placement, but I really enjoyed it and felt very much as part of the team there. I will miss working with some of the lovely members of the nursing team.
We have a day in uni tomorrow to do our HLS and Moving and Handling for year 2.... then the summer begins! :) A few of us are having a little end of year celebration next week....we're off to the races for the day! Should be a great day! :)
Looking forward to the second year....apparently it's going to be "challenging".... But I'm ready! :)

7 weeks till the end of my 1st year....

So only 7 weeks left until the end of the 1st year! Back on placement today. Had a pretty good shift...helped lots of lovely patients get washed and dressed....made 9 beds...all with lovely corners!....Carried out the lunchtime drug round under supervision and updated some care plans and diary entries on the hospital computer system. The staff nurse and n/a i was working with today were fab and loved the fact that we worked together so well as a team! :) Here's hoping tomorrows shift is as good! :)
Anyway....last week our cohort went to our big campus for our Science exam. I was a little overwhelmed at the size of the place compared to our small campus! However all in all it was a good experience. The exam didn't go too badly....some of the questions I answered with a complete guess as it doesn't seem like we covered all the content that the exam was based on! And I read a lot...and still words and terms appeared in the test paper that I have never heard of!! (I have since looked them up!) Just hoping that I did well enough to pass....fingers crossed!! We don't get our results until the 10th June, so I don't think I will book a shift for that day just in case I want to spend the day hiding away! Worse case scenario is that I will have to resit the exam, which wouldn't be a total disaster because at least now I know what I need to revise!!
Oh yeah...and just to add, I got 99% on my drug medication exam...I was happy with that and hopefully am on target for getting 100% at the end of the 3rd year! :)

Mad panic......

Practice MCQ's online are not filling me with great hope.....back to the books! :/

May bank holiday....

Bank holiday and the sun has been shining! Have enjoyed a weekend spent with family....Saturday we celebrated my nephews first birthday party....on Sunday we decorated my daughters bedroom and today we had a family day in the garden, eating and drinking and enjoying some quality time together! :)
The next 2 weeks are going to consist of revision and exams with a weekend away with hubby and kids thrown in for good measure! ;-)
Have been practicing Safe Medicate (maths - for medication calculations)... And I have been getting 100% in the practice assessments so hopefully Thursdays exam won't be too bad! :)
Will let you know how I get on! :)

Last lecture of the 1st year done....

No more lectures or seminars until September! Next week we have a Safe Medicate exam...not too worried about this one....i actually quite like maths...and it helps that it is only a formative exam.... we don't have the summative until the 3rd year...when we need to get 100% to qualify! :) (still want to achieve the best i can this time though!) The week after next we have our big science exam so have been busy revising...have found lots of useful revision videos on YouTube! They are surprisingly helpful and the info seems to stick in my mind! :) I think I am definitely a visual learner! ;-) We will be travelling to our main campus all together on a coach...should be a giggle! :)
Once the exam is over its back to placement....7 weeks on the ward and then that is it....1st year over!! Eeeeek! Starting to believe all the people that said the time passes in the blink of an eye whilst doing this degree!! :)
Looking forward to getting back on the ward....have a day booked to shadow the Alcohol Liasion Team which should be really good....also going to attend a substance misuse day.....its great being able to experience all these different areas! :)
Anyway....the sun is shining....nowhere to be tomorrow so going to spend the day in the garden revising! Brilliant! :):)

So much to do....

So much going on at the moment. Am revising for an exam...which includes the topics...Cardiovascular system, Gastrointestinal, Respiratory system, Renal system, Skeletal,...the list is endless!!
I am also writing an asignment on the physiology of sleep...am slowly getting there but not happy with how it flows at the moment!
However...time is whizzing by on this course....I try not to think too far ahead though!
I am looking forward to catching up with some uni friends this week for a study session...it really helps when you do some group study...and we get to have lunch in the pub at the same time!

Easter Hols....

2 weeks off and lots to do! An essay on the physiology of sleep and an exam to revise for! Its nice to have some time to get stuck into studying!
Not back on placement till the middle of May.....so enjoying some quality time with the hubby and kids! :)
After all the negative news this week about Nurses, I have been feeling a little deflated....its hard not to take all the negative views personally! :( However....i have come to the conclusion that i can only speak for myself....i work hard....i am caring and compassionate.....so i'm just going to show that you can not tar all nurses with the same brush!
Anyway...have a lovely Easter all! :) xx

1st Semester passed...bring on Semester 2!......

Really pleased to say that for my first 2 uni assignments I recieved a B+ and  B! Am relieved that I am on the right track! :) After reading my feedback, I now know that for future assignments I need to read more broadly...a criticism I can take on the chin! :)
Anyway...start back at uni this week...am looking forward to seeing all my uni friends for a few weeks before heading back out on placement mid February.
I'm excited to find out where my next placement will be. I think this time it'll be a medical ward as my last placement was surgical! :)
Off to meet a friend from the access course this evening...am going to pass on a few interview tips as she has an interview at our uni in a few weeks :) I remember being so nervous but actually ended up enjoying every minute! Cant believe how quickly the time has gone since my interview!
Time may be flying but I am having the time of my life! So pleased I took the plunge and started on this career path...I'm very lucky! :)

Nearing the end of my first placement...

Life as a student nurse, wife and mother of 3 has been really busy for the last few months! I only have 3 shifts left to do of my introductory placement and i must say i am going to miss being on the ward once i'm back at uni!
I have spent the last 8 weeks on a fab ward which specialises in urology. I have learned so much and being part of such a brilliant team has confirmed all the more that i have chosen the right career path!
All the staff nurses and my mentors have been very supportive of my learning and given me lots of opportunities to experience lots of different things.I hope this will give me confidence when i start my next placement in a few weeks :)
However....the next step is getting assignment results next week....i need to pass to progress...so keep everything crossed for me! :)