I'll be starting an Access to HE course in September, and shortly afterwards making my UCAS applications for a child nursing place. In addition to the entry requirements on the university websites I know that having some work or voluntary experience is beneficial. Will having completed a St John's paediatric first aid course be a helpful addition? It's something I'll have to pay for myself, but I'm thinking of doing one anyway as I'm currently looking for voluntary work with different children's organisations and I feel it would be useful for those applications anyway. Just wondering if it will have an added benefit to helping with my uni applications.
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SmilingWombat
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- 06-02-2018 12:52
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claireestelle
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- 06-02-2018 12:55
(Original post by SmilingWombat)
I'll be starting an Access to HE course in September, and shortly afterwards making my UCAS applications for a child nursing place. In addition to the entry requirements on the university websites I know that having some work or voluntary experience is beneficial. Will having completed a St John's paediatric first aid course be a helpful addition? It's something I'll have to pay for myself, but I'm thinking of doing one anyway as I'm currently looking for voluntary work with different children's organisations and I feel it would be useful for those applications anyway. Just wondering if it will have an added benefit to helping with my uni applications. -
SmilingWombat
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- 06-02-2018 13:03
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- 06-02-2018 14:40
(Original post by SmilingWombat)
I'll be starting an Access to HE course in September, and shortly afterwards making my UCAS applications for a child nursing place. In addition to the entry requirements on the university websites I know that having some work or voluntary experience is beneficial. Will having completed a St John's paediatric first aid course be a helpful addition? It's something I'll have to pay for myself, but I'm thinking of doing one anyway as I'm currently looking for voluntary work with different children's organisations and I feel it would be useful for those applications anyway. Just wondering if it will have an added benefit to helping with my uni applications. -
Bethaaaaany
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- 06-02-2018 14:50
Hi, I'm a student children's nurse. It would be a nice thing to write on your personal statement at least, but in terms of interviews they mostly want to hear about your caring experience/any experiences with children - having a paeds first aid certificate would show you've got an interest in the area, however isn't really showing the qualities you have that will make you a good nurse - like compassion, patience etc. So definitely do it if it's going to help you secure voluntary experience but the voluntary experience is the most important thing. Good luck! Any ideas of which universities you want to apply to yet?
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- 06-02-2018 15:44
(Original post by Bethaaaaany)
Hi, I'm a student children's nurse. It would be a nice thing to write on your personal statement at least, but in terms of interviews they mostly want to hear about your caring experience/any experiences with children - having a paeds first aid certificate would show you've got an interest in the area, however isn't really showing the qualities you have that will make you a good nurse - like compassion, patience etc. So definitely do it if it's going to help you secure voluntary experience but the voluntary experience is the most important thing. Good luck! Any ideas of which universities you want to apply to yet? -
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- 06-02-2018 16:06
(Original post by SmilingWombat)
Thank you for this feedback, I really appreciate it. I've decided to sign up to the first aid course anyway as I feel it will be helpful for me if I'm doing voluntary work with children, and gaining any knowledge is never a waste of time. I'll be applying to Surrey University and Brighton University. How are you enjoying the degree, has there been any aspect of it that you hadn't expected which suprised you about studying child nursing?
What surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed and took to the placement side of things - I was really concerned I would struggle, especially as a 18 year old school leaver straight from A Levels, as I've always been more academic but the practical/placement stuff has been my favourite so far. I've just finished a 10 week placement in A&E and I'm not in placement again until May and miss it already! It's a lovely course flow. We were taught as a big group with all branches of nursing/paramedics/midwives etc. for our first year in small seminar groups and it was brilliant because it was such a huge range of abilities, skill sets and so many different ages and types of people. This year we have 2 child specific modules and 2 general so we have best of both worlds and I'm enjoying that a lot. The really special thing about Surrey also is that our opportunities for learning via simulation are massive - in first year we had a whole day per week that we spent in the simulation lab of the nursing school. That was invaluable to gain all the skills we needed for placement.
I couldn't sing the university's praises any more basically! -
SmilingWombat
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- 06-02-2018 16:21
(Original post by Bethaaaaany)
Brilliant, that sounds like a really good plan. Oh that's funny - I'm a second year at Surrey! I absolutely love it. It's a hard old slog, we're permanently knackered but we are supported by the most wonderful small team of children's nursing tutors who are excellent in both an academic and pastoral setting. I've been unwell with mental health difficulties (not related to nursing, I'll reassure you!) since the start of my second year and I could not have asked for more kindness or better support from the child nursing team.
What surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed and took to the placement side of things - I was really concerned I would struggle, especially as a 18 year old school leaver straight from A Levels, as I've always been more academic but the practical/placement stuff has been my favourite so far. I've just finished a 10 week placement in A&E and I'm not in placement again until May and miss it already! It's a lovely course flow. We were taught as a big group with all branches of nursing/paramedics/midwives etc. for our first year in small seminar groups and it was brilliant because it was such a huge range of abilities, skill sets and so many different ages and types of people. This year we have 2 child specific modules and 2 general so we have best of both worlds and I'm enjoying that a lot. The really special thing about Surrey also is that our opportunities for learning via simulation are massive - in first year we had a whole day per week that we spent in the simulation lab of the nursing school. That was invaluable to gain all the skills we needed for placement.
I couldn't sing the university's praises any more basically!
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