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Now Ye're Talking - to a mature student nurse

  • 08-08-2018 11:11am
    #1
    Boards.ie Employee Posts: 12,597 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Boards.ie Community Manager


    Our next guest is a student nurse who is going into her third year of study at the moment. She'd like to offer some insight into her study, her chosen profession and also hopes to answer any questions people have regarding student nurses.


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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭mittimitti


    Have you ever been to coppers


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    mittimitti wrote: »
    Have you ever been to coppers
    Never, when I hear about it I feel like I'm missing out though!


  • Registered Users Posts: 118 ✭✭mittimitti


    On the more serious side

    Nursing from what I understand is a hard course and when you finish and get a job you work crap long hours doing a hard job for little reward

    What made you choose it


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,066 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Best of luck OP, I have 2 in the family and many more in the extended family. On the plus side, it's a passport to the world.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,112 ✭✭✭StripedBoxers


    What type of nursing are you doing? Will you go on to specialise in a particular area (if you're not already)? What do you love about nursing that made you decide to do it?


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  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    mittimitti wrote: »
    On the more serious side

    Nursing from what I understand is a hard course and when you finish and get a job you work crap long hours doing a hard job for little reward

    What made you choose it
    To be honest I kinda fell into it. I was on the dole for a few years and decided to train as a healthcare assistant. I got a job in a nursing home for a while and did agency work in a hospital and I loved it. For the 1st time in my life I felt like it was the right fit for me but at the same time I wanted more, more responsibility, more duties and to be able to help my patients more. So I chanced my arm at the mature students aptitude test and got accepted. I have been loving it so far but it's tough going managing a family and work and the course but I love every minute.


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    Water John wrote: »
    Best of luck OP, I have 2 in the family and many more in the extended family. On the plus side, it's a passport to the world.
    Thank you very much!


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    What type of nursing are you doing? Will you go on to specialise in a particular area (if you're not already)? What do you love about nursing that made you decide to do it?
    General nursing. I would like to specialise in cardiac care or oncology as they are 2 diseases that are prominent in my family and I have an interest in.

    I just love helping people and looking after people. Like I come out of placement tired but satisfied knowing that I've helped brighten someone's day or helped them on the way to be well or just to be there for someone else. That is what I love.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,596 ✭✭✭Hitman3000


    Never, when I hear about it I feel like I'm missing out though!


    Believe me you're not.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 386 ✭✭aroundthehouse


    Are there many guys studying with you? if so do they get a hard time for being called a nurse and are they looked down on by doctors etc?
    Also how do you deal with things when the outcome is not good for the patient?

    thanks and hope all goes well for you


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  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 11,920 Mod ✭✭✭✭miamee


    How many years until you are fully qualified? Do you have to do work placement as well as study at the same time or do you do blocks of work placement? Is that something you have to source yourself or is it organised by the college? A family member trained to be a school teacher and had to find their own place for work experience but I suppose there are a lot more schools than hospitals out there :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,223 ✭✭✭Canyon86


    Hi
    Really respect the work ye do 
    Would you see yourself moving abroad to further your career after graduation?
    Would you recommend private health insurance?


  • Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 21,502 Mod ✭✭✭✭Agent Smith


    Do you have a bedside locker?
    Whats in your bedside locker?


    Whats the funniest thing you've seen in your training?


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    Are there many guys studying with you? if so do they get a hard time for being called a nurse and are they looked down on by doctors etc?
    Also how do you deal with things when the outcome is not good for the patient?

    thanks and hope all goes well for you

    There are a few guys in my year. Apparently according to the lectures, more lads are doing it each year which is great imo. They never get a hard time afaik but sometimes they might be called Dr. instead of nurse. As for doctors looking down on them, surprisingly very few doctors I've met through my placements have looked down on nurses in general but as for the lads in particular I don't know.

    As for not good outcomes, you just gotta give the best care as possible especially if they are end of life. You don't want their last moments to be undignified or for their family to think you don't care about them. I found it hard to deal with it at the beginning especially since I developed a bond with my first end of life patient but my attitude is as soon as the uniform is off I don't think about what happened with placement unless I'm doing a reflection or working on competencies for placement.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,010 ✭✭✭TheRiverman


    I think the title of the Thread is misleading here,it should be Now Ye're Talking-to a mature student nurse.I'm sure it's a different scenario for you balancing family life with study,placements etc,than for a twenty/twenty one year old with no big family commitments starting third year.Best of luck to you.


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    miamee wrote: »
    How many years until you are fully qualified? Do you have to do work placement as well as study at the same time or do you do blocks of work placement? Is that something you have to source yourself or is it organised by the college? A family member trained to be a school teacher and had to find their own place for work experience but I suppose there are a lot more schools than hospitals out there :)

    I'm just starting 3rd year, so this year and next(so I guess thats 2 years :D). Placement is in seperate blocks coompared to college, however sometimes they are timetabled during semesters(for example, 1 semester had a 4 week block of placement in between 2 months - which meant that we had assignments and group projects to try and coordinate meetings for, despite the group members studying different specialties and being in completely different locations(or counties!) along with trying to do placement work and study).

    Placement is sourced for us which is kind of a double edged sword, on one hand it takes a lot of pressure off us while on the other, depending on your specialty you could end up anywhere. I know one girl had to stop breastfeeding her newborn because she had to travel across the country for a placement. On top of this, if for whatever reason you need to change placement, then it has to be a 1:1 swap and very difficult to do. We may also need to repeat placements during the summer if you're sick, too ill to complete competencies etc.


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    Canyon86 wrote: »
    Hi
    Really respect the work ye do 
    Would you see yourself moving abroad to further your career after graduation?
    Would you recommend private health insurance?

    Would love to move abroad but I'm too settled here to be honest. I know the majority of my class is going as soon as they can and tbh I don't blame them. I just hope to get a permanent position here and try to further my career here.

    As for private health insurance, I personally would get it. I remember a patient was awaiting a scan for something urgent. Soonest available appointment was 5 weeks on the public system. My preceptor(nurse who I work with), actually said to go to the nearest private hospital and pay for the scan because they would be seen that day if not within the week.


  • Registered Users Posts: 16,060 ✭✭✭✭iamwhoiam


    Best of luck from a retired nurse . Its hard work , tough on the body but so rewarding and satisfying . My top tip , always wear good supportive shoes !


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    Do you have a bedside locker?
    Whats in your bedside locker?


    Whats the funniest thing you've seen in your training?

    No bedside locker, I have my floor though:D
    I usually have my phone and the latest book I'm reading.

    As for funny things in training, on my first placement I was lead to believe I had to take blood pressure using a manual machine(think of the ones you have to pump by hand in a gps office), so when a nurse asked me to use an electronic monitor I told her it was outside of my "scope of practice". She looked at me oddly and left me alone. It was only at lunchtime when I was talking to the rest of my classmates that I found out that I was meant to do them. I was mortified.

    (That doesn't sound funny, but it's all I got :P )


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    I think the title of the Thread is misleading here,it should be Now Ye're Talking-to a mature student nurse.I'm sure it's a different scenario for you balancing family life with study,placements etc,than for a twenty/twenty one year old with no big family commitments starting third year.Best of luck to you.

    That's on me I forgot to mention I was a mature student :o
    It can be difficult at times but I have supportive family and a supportive partner which helps. I also have a healthy social life with the "yung wans" :pac:


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  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    iamwhoiam wrote: »
    Best of luck from a retired nurse . Its hard work , tough on the body but so rewarding and satisfying . My top tip , always wear good supportive shoes !

    Thank you very much!


  • Registered Users Posts: 16,191 ✭✭✭✭Galwayguy35


    Do you prefer working days or nights?


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭Nokia6230i


    Have you noticed different bedside manners with nurses?

    Was getting my bloods done and because I donate platelets I've no fear of needles into my arm; it's only an initial prick and after that it's all over; they can drive the needle up or down once the skin's broken.
    The Nurse in my GP Surgery would've been aware of this but nonetheless we got onto discussing a footballer who plays golf in south-east too and our experiences (all good) of him in different scenarios.
    All the while doing this, all of maybe 5 minutes, she'd 3 Vials of blood taken from me.

    It was only afterwards I thought about it, of how nonchalantly it was done and that had I had any anxiety the distraction technique of a common cause or topic would've dealt with this.

    Mind you I was in WRH/UHW (unsure what correct title is but the name probably depends on if you knew Marathon as Snickers or vice versa) getting some eye-work done and no amount of the nurses holding the hand, trying to discuss anything from issues in common to us, where we're all from etc. to Kilkenny/Waterford political border wranglings could make me comfortable about getting a needle into my fricking eye lid (one slip and it was into the eye-ball!; such that instead of getting second one done on same day, in same sitting I bailed on 'em.


  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    Do you prefer working days or nights?

    Not allowed do nights yet(I think its not until we do our internship). I know that some colleges allow the option and personally I'd prefer the option to choose but our college flat out refuses to let us do it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭Nokia6230i


    Do you prefer working days or nights?

    And, on top of this, much like with Drs., Jnr. or otherwise like Consultants (the holy grail?), should the INMO be pushing to reduce hours from 12 hour shifts to 10 or 8 etc.

    The thought of getting treatment from a medic on their feet, often going without food or toilet breaks or a sit down due to being understaffed/overworked and being asked to do all this for a minimum of 12 hours is scary.

    We hear far too often of Drs. & Nurses doing ridiculous shifts of twice and three times this which, for them alone is scary when you consider they've to drive home in some cases much less treat patients; once fatigue kicks in it's not safe but if you put your hand up you're putting your livelihood in danger potentially?

    I'd go with GP or Dr. Surgery rather than a hospital if I was a Nurse if at all possible; guaranteed hours and no overtime demands and you get to know your patients.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,941 ✭✭✭✭Purple Mountain


    Do ye get training on 'customer service' as it were ie. bed side manner/how to deal with terminal patients etc.?

    To thine own self be true



  • Company Representative Posts: 26 Verified rep I'm a student nurse, AMA


    Nokia6230i wrote: »
    Have you noticed different bedside manners with nurses?

    Was getting my bloods done and because I donate platelets I've no fear of needles into my arm; it's only an initial prick and after that it's all over; they can drive the needle up or down once the skin's broken.
    The Nurse in my GP Surgery would've been aware of this but nonetheless we got onto discussing a footballer who plays golf in south-east too and our experiences (all good) of him in different scenarios.
    All the while doing this, all of maybe 5 minutes, she'd 3 Vials of blood taken from me.

    It was only afterwards I thought about it, of how nonchalantly it was done and that had I had any anxiety the distraction technique of a common cause or topic would've dealt with this.

    Mind you I was in WRH/UHW (unsure what correct title is but the name probably depends on if you knew Marathon as Snickers or vice versa) getting some eye-work done and no amount of the nurses holding the hand, trying to discuss anything from issues in common to us, where we're all from etc. to Kilkenny/Waterford political border wranglings could make me comfortable about getting a needle into my fricking eye lid (one slip and it was into the eye-ball!; such that instead of getting second one done on same day, in same sitting I bailed on 'em.

    Yes I have noticed different bedside manners. Some nurses I've worked with are the stereotypical "battle axes"(but are really softies underneath), some who are so nice that they'd give you the shirt off your back and others who imo shouldn't be allowed to work with the public. I've also noticed that the manner changes patient to patient, depending on their age, job, stage of illness etc. For example, one time my preceptor was looking after a nurse and she was very blunt, clinical and straightforward but then had a completely different manner when she was dealing with another patient afterwards. I've even noticed my manner changes depending on the patient I'm with. I find that that distraction technique does work wonders though, even just something as basic as chatting about the weather helps a lot.

    To be fair if I had to get a needle in my eye, I'd have been bricking it myself. Even the thought of it makes me shudder.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭Nokia6230i



    To be fair if I had to get a needle in my eye, I'd have been bricking it myself. Even the thought of it makes me shudder.

    Am now on a (the?) waiting list to get other eye done; I won't be contacting my TD to get me pushed up the list (does that still happen?) on this one.

    Let there be no rush at all.


  • Site Banned Posts: 1,413 ✭✭✭DONTMATTER


    What’s it called when a hospital runs out of maternity nurses?


    A mid-wife crisis!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,920 ✭✭✭TG1


    Just popped in to say best of luck. I had to spend a few weeks on a ward a couple of years ago, and the students nurses kept me sane, they were the best craic, made me laugh for three weeks through a broken pelvis which was sone achievement!!

    I was on a ward with a couple of old battle axes who were downright rude to them though, and was always astonished at how they remained professional and polite at all times with them. Is that something you learn, or do you think you just have to have it in you?


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