Student nurses

0

How do you manage/have managed being a full time student, being on placements, completing assignments on time, etc…?

Is it possible to still have a part time job alongside these for some extra £££?

Reply 1

alisha.i1

4

Original post by 5t0

How do you manage/have managed being a full time student, being on placements, completing assignments on time, etc…?
Is it possible to still have a part time job alongside these for some extra £££?

Hi, I just finished my nursing degree. All these things like placement and assignments/essays can be really stressful but prioritise what is important at what time.
When you get an assignment plan straight away it will then not cause you to stress as you know you have made a start way in advance.
With placement it take I would say 2/3 weeks to get used to the area then once you know you are confident in your placement and know what you are doing then try to incorporate your assignment work in or when you do have days off from placement do your assignments.
I would tell my placement area my assessor/supervisor that I have an assignment due and would show then and they would let me complete some when it wasn’t busy or i would ask to change my shift for example tell them in advance that I have to work on my assignment so I want to do a short day like that I am getting hours in and doing my work rather then taking a full day of for my assignment and trying to cram everything in. Some placements are very understanding so always ask. Always leave time for yourself to do something like going for a walk or spending time with family and friends because it definitely helps when you are overwhelmed with work. So plan as it will ease the stress.
I would say about part time jobs doing just weekends would be good and working when you are at university is fine, as you just have lectures and you mostly will not be in for the full week, but sometimes it can get challenging when you are on placement so I would say to cut down hours when you are working.
I hope with was helpful feel free to ask me any questions I’ll be more than happy to answer then.

Reply 2

username6218172

OP

0

7

Original post by alisha.i1

Hi, I just finished my nursing degree. All these things like placement and assignments/essays can be really stressful but prioritise what is important at what time.
When you get an assignment plan straight away it will then not cause you to stress as you know you have made a start way in advance.
With placement it take I would say 2/3 weeks to get used to the area then once you know you are confident in your placement and know what you are doing then try to incorporate your assignment work in or when you do have days off from placement do your assignments.
I would tell my placement area my assessor/supervisor that I have an assignment due and would show then and they would let me complete some when it wasn’t busy or i would ask to change my shift for example tell them in advance that I have to work on my assignment so I want to do a short day like that I am getting hours in and doing my work rather then taking a full day of for my assignment and trying to cram everything in. Some placements are very understanding so always ask. Always leave time for yourself to do something like going for a walk or spending time with family and friends because it definitely helps when you are overwhelmed with work. So plan as it will ease the stress.
I would say about part time jobs doing just weekends would be good and working when you are at university is fine, as you just have lectures and you mostly will not be in for the full week, but sometimes it can get challenging when you are on placement so I would say to cut down hours when you are working.
I hope with was helpful feel free to ask me any questions I’ll be more than happy to answer then.

Hi Alisha, thank you so much! This was so helpful and calmed my stress down a lot more hehe
Congratulations on completing your degree!! I hope your next journey goes really well and smooth!💗

Another question I have now since you are qualified to answer this for completing the degree is: what mistakes would you say is so common for first year students to make in this course? Or what mistakes did you realise after second and third year that you made whilst in first year that you would advice us to have caution over it? Thank you so so much💗

Reply 3

alisha.i1

4

Original post by 5t0

Hi Alisha, thank you so much! This was so helpful and calmed my stress down a lot more hehe
Congratulations on completing your degree!! I hope your next journey goes really well and smooth!💗
Another question I have now since you are qualified to answer this for completing the degree is: what mistakes would you say is so common for first year students to make in this course? Or what mistakes did you realise after second and third year that you made whilst in first year that you would advice us to have caution over it? Thank you so so much💗

Hi, I’m glad you found my reply reassuring, I don’t think these are mistakes I seen as a first year but when out on your first placement you will be used to do a lottttt of personal care but remember that is the base line of nursing is personal care ( changing, cleaning, feeding patients, taking them to the toilet, washing them and a lot more) it is a part of a nurses job to complete personal care task but remember you are there to get your knowledge on nursing so definitely don’t be shy when your on placement to ask them to show you how to administer medicines as this is vital to learn in your nursing degree, every learning opportunity you get on placement take it even if you are confident in it keeping doing it.
As there are proficiencies that you need to get signed off in your first year that does involve medication administration, wound care, and loads more of practical nursing skills. If you are asked to for example to help a HCA with changing a patient and you know that it is medication rounds, let the HCA know that by saying “I am going to carry out my medication rounds I will get someone to come help you” or “once I have completed my medication rounds I will help you”. It is about knowing that you are there to learn how to be a nurse but being professional and helping out others when you can.
I hope that was helpful, feel free to ask me any other questions I will be more than happy to answer them.
Thanks 💓

Reply 4

ccandices

Original post by 5t0

How do you manage/have managed being a full time student, being on placements, completing assignments on time, etc…?
Is it possible to still have a part time job alongside these for some extra £££?

Hi!

I am an Adult Nursing student, about to finish my first year in University.

To be as honest as possible, it is quite daunting looking at all of the things such as assignments, placements, lectures that you will have to balance amongst all of your other hobbies and interests. It is hard! But overtime you do get used to the routine.

Regarding if it is still possible to have a part time job alongside, it is! However, it depends on the kind of job you will look for. The easiest and best job to go for would have to be a zero-hours contract position, to ensure you can choose your shifts, and therefore plan your work around your uni, rather than the other way round.
The best job out there currently for Student Nurses would be becoming a Bank HCA at your local trusts hospitals. It allows you to choose what shifts you want to work, whenever, and it's decent money!

Managing being a fulltime student depends on the university you go to. I am unsure of what other universities are like, however I'm currently attending De Montfort University who had adopted a block-teaching learning method, meaning that we are never at university if we have placement, and we learn one topic at a time, having our assignment at the end of each topic before we move on to the next. This helps us to not have overlapping assignments, which releases a lot of stress, as I know a few people who have had 3 assignemnts due in the same month, whilst on placement.

My best advice to give you is don't push yourself over the edge. Take time and care with your work, quality is always over quantity. Focus on yourself and your mental health, as it matters! Try to not leave assignments till last minute (I'm still to learn this one...) as the stress on the last few days when it's due, trying to type up a 3,000 word essay.. not recommended.

With placement, spend the first few days working with the HCA's if you're on a ward. This will allow you to get used to the area, get to know the patients you will be caring for, and know where all the important storage will be kept, such as spare towels, clothes, commodes, the sluice, pads, and the treatment room. They're amazing to learn from, the HCA's! This will help you get an idea of where things are so you can begin to become slightly more independent in that aspect.
Then you can begin working more closely with the nurses, at first just asking them questions, following them on drug rounds and understanding the specific things they need to check before giving out medications to patients...
If you do have an assignment due on the time you are on placement, just let them know you have an upcoming assignemnt due, most of the time they'll be understanding and let you focus on that in the break room or something.

I really do wish you luck in starting! It's been a great experience for me so far, obviously it has it's up's and down's at times, but focus on the positives and you'll do amazing <3

Original post by 5t0

How do you manage/have managed being a full time student, being on placements, completing assignments on time, etc…?
Is it possible to still have a part time job alongside these for some extra £££?

Hey,

As well as the amazing advice that you have already been given, i would check to see if the university where you will be starting offer work for students.

For example, at Canterbury Christ Church University we offer flexible work for our students which fits around their studies, and they can pick up work where they can/want. Some of this work consists of being a student ambassador where you will work on open days representing your course, speaking to visitors, and assisting the academics. There is also many other roles available for students. Working as a student ambassador is particularly useful for healthcare students as it can be harder to hold down a part time job due to placements.

Many universities offer this, so it would be worth checking if yours does.

I hope this helps and good luck starting your course! :thumbsup:

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