Things Every Aspiring Student Nurse Should Know
Nursing is one of the few professions that allows you to make such a positive difference to people’s lives and one that can take anywhere in the world; however it is also one that is misunderstood and undervalued. Here is some info that every prospective nurse should know.
1. Nursing is academic
Nursing requires a huge amount of skill and intellect. You’ll need to have a proper understanding of the theoretical to be able to calculate drug doses, monitor side effects, provide psychological support and much more. You’ll find that coursesare evenly split between theoretical and practical content. In your first year you’ll cover modules on human biology, psychology, and patient health. All second year students are required to specialise and turn in a dissertation. The great thing is that you don't have to have been a straight A student at school as you’ll have access to a large support network of mentors, tutors and other student nurses to help you get through some of the more challenging topics.
2. Nursing is physical
Nursing is a physically demanding job. You’ll work 12-hour shifts, up on your feet the majority of the time. You can expect early starts and late finishes as part of the job. You’ll find yourself moving very heavy patients, bending, lifting and kneeling. But in comparison to sitting at the same desk, staring at the same wall for 7.5 hours every day, then hardwire yourself into your phone as you commute home during peak rush hour, it's much more rewarding.
3. Nursing can be emotionally challenging
You need to be prepared for blood, guts and poo. You’ll have to be able to deal with handling really sick people, both children and adults. You’ll need to support anxious parents and distraught cancer patients. But there’s truth in the saying that the most gruelling jobs are the most rewarding. There is genuinely no feeling like when a patient thanks you for helping them through some of the most vulnerable, scary hours of their life.
4. Books are your friends
You will need books and we recommend that every nurse should invest in a medical dictionary, a drug calculations book and a study skills book as you will find yourself referring back to them very frequently.
5. The learning never stops
The learning doesn’t stop once you finish your degree. Constant advancements in medicine and technology means you're always learning and that’s what makes it so exciting. There’s always plenty of scope for career development and progression, too. You have options to move into different departments, train to be a medical assistant, or work your way up into a management position. There’s so much opportunity to be had.
6. You’ll make friends for life
This is because only the other nurses that you work with will truly understand the ups and downs that come with the profession, leading to many friendships lasting a lifetime.
