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

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!