2014 Comes to an End.......

Lot's to catch up on.....have not posted in so long as the first semester of the 3rd year has been what I can only describe as INSANE!! I honestly think the semester was designed to either make you or break you! Thankfully, I'm still standing and marching onwards! :)

So, a quick recap of what has been going on since September........

• Assessment - Presentation. I did this on the role of the Health Visitor. I feel it went really well and the time I spent with the Health visitors on placement really helped me to put together a thorough presentation. I actually enjoyed presenting much more than I thought I would.
• Assessment - 3000 word essay on Using Evidence and Making Decisions. Didn't really enjoy writing this essay....really enjoyed the taught content however, found it really difficult to pull all the information together in a way that fitted the marking criteria for the essay! 
• Safe Medicate - 100% First time!! Fabulous! :)
• OSCE - Practical Medication exam. Drugs I was tested on: Nitrofurantoin, Paracetamol, Bisocodyl and Sodium Valporate. Didn't go too badly but I totally forget to talk about the cautionary labels for Bisocodyl!! Resit in February!! Nevermind.....I now know these drugs inside out! :)

Results due in at the end of January......Hopefully the only resit I will have will be the OSCE! :)

So on to placement. Have just spent the past 10 weeks in the Emergency Department. Absolutely loved every minute. Was totally exhausting but I learned so much that the 12 hour shifts whizzed by! A few highlights include:

• Taking part in CPR.
• Mastering the art of chin thrusts to maintain an open airway.
• Triage of patients in Majors - Learning to ask the right questions!!
• Lots of time spent in Resus - invaluable experience of gaining confidence in recognising  a deteriorating patient.
• Great mentor.....she had loads of time for me and enthusiasm.....makes such a difference to a placement!

Back to the current day.....Enjoying the Christmas holidays with my lovely family! I know this time is precious....next year I am sure I will be working over the festive season so adjustments will need to be made! 

Plan for the next few weeks ahead.......knuckle down to my dissertation. 12 weeks till the deadline!! Arghhhhh! Only in uni one day a week so going to have to be strict with myself and treat every day as a working day so I'm not scrabbling around towards the deadline trying to finish this 10000 word essay! ;-)

Anyway, as I bring this post to an end (It's New Years Eve....time to play some games with the kiddie-winks!).....I would like to wish everyone a fabulous New Year!! 2015....the year I (hopefully!) qualify as a Staff Nurse!! :):):):):)

First day of the last year.....

So today we had an introduction to the year and the modules we will be doing this year. All in all it's a majorly busy year but it seems like it is going to fly by! 2 placements left to do....can't wait to be a third year student nurse on the ward! I'm excited to progress and experience exactly what it's going to be like to be a staff nurse! 

It seems like group dynamics have changed quite a bit at uni, people appear so much calmer and more focused....like the realisation that this is it has hit....not much longer left in the security bubble of being a student! 

So, 7 weeks at uni ahead, in that time we have a presentation, Essay, Safe medicate and an OSCE to do then it's back on placement for about 9 weeks. 

Time is going to have to be well managed to fit everything in, but I'm ready and excited to crack on! 

Arrggghhhh....3rd year is sounding crazy already!......

Module guides have been made available for the first semester of the last year! Eeeek! So between September and December we have an assignment, a presentation, a medicines OSCE and Safe Medicate exam to tackle....on top of placement an a dissertation! All sounds a little overwhelming but I know once I get stuck in it'll all come together....hopefully!

Am going to spend the next 4 weeks cracking on with my dissertation.....if I'm honest I'm actually quite eager to get stuck in!

After a lovely week with my hubby and kids in Tunisia I'm feeling refreshed and relaxed.....looking forward to booking another holiday for next July.....and by then I will hopefully be qualified!! Yay! :)

3rd year just around the corner.....

Just had 3rd year timetable emailed to us.....going to be busy busy!

I'm not going to lie though....I'm a little excited and have already filled in my diary! :)

Summer......

The summer hols have arrived! :) Already feel at a loss to do with all this spare time but I'm determined to enjoy it! Spent the afternoon in the garden with a book! :)

Finishing placement this week was bitter sweet. I will miss the routine, staff and patients but I feel so worn out that I know I'm ready for a bit of a break! This 2nd year of the course has been really full on....assignments and work load have been hard going alongside busy placements! Placement stepped up a notch this year and having extra responsibility is exhausting! But I survived and I feel academically and practically prepared for the 3rd and final year of this journey :)

Night out with the uni girls tomorrow....long overdue and I'm looking forward to catching up :)

Feeling good......

A....B+.....B+......happy happy! Good end to the 2nd year! :) Feeling much more confident about going into the 3rd year now! :)

But before then I only have 5 shifts left on placement and then a long summer to enjoy! :) 

Feeling proud! :)

Nearing the end of the final placement of year 2.......

For the last 5 weeks I have been in placement on a ward which specialises in rehabilitation. I have found this placement to be really great for consolidating everything I have learned over the last 2 years. I have had all my competences signed off and recieved some really positive feedback.

Next week I will be managing my own bay of 4 patients for the whole week! I'm a little nervous but I know it's going to be a great experience and will give me a taster of what is going to be expected of me during my final 2 placements in the 3rd year.

Results day on Monday and I'm on an early shift so will have to pop out on my break to find out how I have done! Will then be able to relax (hopefully!) and enjoy the last week as a 2nd year! Eeeek! :)

Anyway...on a personal note....have lots to look forward to. One of my best nursey friends is getting married in 4 weeks and we are soon going to be enjoying her vintage hen day/night on a narrow boat! :) I'm sure it's going to be a fab day and just what we all need to recharge our batteries! :)

In 6 weeks we are off on our family holiday to Tunisia! :) We can not wait! :) Lots to smile about and a great reminder that hard work has great rewards!! :)

Will post again after results on Monday and let you know how I've done! Fingers crossed for me please peeps! :) xx

Nearing the end of the 2nd year......

Again, it has been a long while since I last posted! Just highlights how busy I am all the time! Since January, I'm pleased to say I passed all last semesters modules and have since completed 3 further modules....however still have to wait till June for the results! :) I am now on my final placement of the 2nd year. My last placement was on a unit that specialised in End of Life Care. I found the experience really valuable, and enjoyed every shift. I learned lots about end of life drugs, and was privileged to meet so many amazing and inspiring patients! My time there will always be remembered fondly. However, it has to be said that I don't think I could work in an environment which only specialises in EOL care long term, as it really takes it's toll emotionally. I found it very difficult to shake off the sadness at the end of the day :( I am presently on placement on a rehabilitation unit, which I am loving. It's very busy, and I'm now being given so many more responsibilities but I'm enjoying the challenge, and it's great to see people re-gain their independence and go home! :)

Family life is good at the mo....kids and hubby all happy and well :) I've said this before, but time is whizzing by.... Next stop....3rd year!!! :)

2nd Year, 2nd Semester.....

Cannot believe I have not posted since September! Been mega busy but thought it was time for a little update.
Since September, I have had 2 assignments to complete and a Research Analysis exam. The assignments were ok....very fluffy though as one was reflective and the other was discussing nursing assessment for a particular scenario...however even though this sounds straight forward, I found it to be very subjective! Results on 22nd January, so fingers crossed....I will be happy with a pass! ;-) The exam was horrendous! I was not expecting it to be as hard as it turned out to be, and I was absolutely freezing in the exam hall which didn't help one little bit! :/ Again, hoping and praying I did enough to pass as I really don't fancy a resit for that module!
On a very positive note, at the end of December I finished my time on an amazing placement! All I can really say in here is that it was community based and I loved and enjoyed every minute! Very different to the other placements I have been on, a much more relaxed pace, but I feel like this gave me the opportunity to learn more. The team I was with were fab....I am missing them and the daily routine and hope to head back there at some point.....hopefully post qualifying! ;-)
Uni isn't such a nice place to be at the moment, seems to be lots of stressed people and unnecessary nastiness :( I think this is what they call the 2nd year blues and most people in our cohort seem to be affected by it! Hoping things settle down again soon.....in the mean time I am going to crack on and get in with it....only 16 months to go! :)
On a personal note, my family and I had an excellent Christmas, was sad to see hubby and kids go back to work and school.....so, so , so appreciate our time all together! But all is well in the household and we are looking forward to whatever 2014 has in store for us! :)
Anyway, will post again once results are in and I know where I'm heading to for my next placement! :) Keep everything crossed for me! ;-) xx