From work placements to studying by the sea: a week in the life of a student nurse
Despite the rain pouring down around the campus, staff and students stood under umbrellas with beaming smiles upon their faces. I was at an open day for prospective students at the University of Portsmouth.
Ignoring the torrents, the enthusiastic student ambassadors showing me and my dad around were cheerful and positive, offering a sense of warmth that made me feel immediately welcomed into their community. And I decided there and then that this was where I wanted to study nursing. I’ve always known I wanted to be a nurse – caring is embedded in my nature, I find it satisfying to help others.
Initially it was a big change moving from my home in the Bath countryside to the coastal city of Portsmouth. But I have since settled in really well and have loved living five minutes from the beach. I frequently go there for a coffee, a walk or a run – even though it’s busy, it still somehow feels peaceful there. After completing a science foundation year, I began a three-year adult nursing degree – the course is engaging, with a good mix of practical and academic sessions and I’m now in my final year. Four years on from that auspicious open day, here’s a typical week in my life.
Monday
I get the free university bus to campus and arrive early to grab a coffee with my friends before our first lecture at 9am. It’s a busy day with back-to-back lectures and seminars. One of my favourite sessions is clinical supervision. Student nurses meet in small groups and reflect on the placement we have just finished, including the difficult experiences. If someone has witnessed a distressing incident for the first time, such as a cardiac arrest, it really helps to talk about it.
The course is a mixture of placements and campus-based activities
Tuesday
I get up at 6am and start with a trip to the gym. I used to be a night owl but now I like to get up early and be productive. I have a few meetings, so I head to campus, where I can go to the library in between each one. My first is with the careers and employability service, where they help me improve my CV and supporting statement for job applications. I’m applying for a 16-month rotation at a hospital in Bath. I’ve loved every one of my placements from hospice to A&E so far, so I’m hoping a rotation will help me figure out which area of nursing to go into.
My next meeting is with my academic support tutors, who help me develop my academic writing skills. Later, I head back home to make dinner with my housemate. We’ve been watching Fool Me Once on Netflix, so we get comfortable on the sofa and spend the evening relaxing.
Wednesday
I used to play for one of the university’s netball teams and was on the committee, so Wednesdays consisted of matches, followed by the famous Purple Wednesdays – the university’s big social night at Popworld nightclub. But I stopped playing this academic year, so I could focus on studying. So now, Wednesdays involve lectures and seminars, with a focus on consolidating knowledge for our final-year assignments.
‘I have loved living five minutes from the beach,’ says Quick
Thursday
As it’s my day of independent study, I head to my favourite coffee shop, Offbeet, in Southsea, to work on an assignment. After ordering my regular skinny latte, I sit in a corner under a large lamp, taking in the peaceful ambience. This is one reason I love Portsmouth; you’re never short of great independent cafes and shops.
In the early evening, I go home to relax. I live near Eastney beach and one of my favourite ways to unwind after a busy day is to walk along the promenade during sunset, listening to the waves crashing and watching the colours of the setting sun reflect on the sea.
Friday
Today is a full-on morning of lectures. Afterwards, some of my course friends and I head to a coffee shop to collaborate on ideas for an end-of-year assignment.
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In the afternoon, I go to my new placement – which I’m starting next week – in Chichester. I like meeting my new placement teams, as it gives me an opportunity to introduce myself, arrange shifts and discuss my learning objectives. This will be my first placement with a nursing speciality, so I’m really looking forward to embracing the experience.
Saturday
I have a lie-in – Saturday is the one day of the week I can do this. Then my housemate and I wander along the seafront and grab a coffee. It’s a good start to the day – it’s refreshingly cold and windy. Afterwards, we head to the supermarket to pick up ingredients to make a spaghetti bolognese, as we have some friends coming over for dinner and a games night.
Sunday
Most Sundays are what I like to call “ladmin” (life admin) days, an opportunity to catch up on washing, meal prepping, university work, emails and so on. Some Sundays I do shifts as a healthcare assistant at the hospital where I have my placements. I like to go back and work on wards where I’ve had a placement as it’s so nice to see everyone again. It’s also an opportunity to keep on top of my clinical skills and remain competent in different settings within a hospital.
Once I graduate, I’m planning on moving back to Bath to get a job. I’ve built a life in Portsmouth and will be sad to leave it behind, but I’ll be taking so much with me – precious memories, new skills and lots of friendships.
To find out more about studying at the University of Portsmouth, visit port.ac.uk/study/open-days