Reflecting on my first term back at Kingston Uni

Coming back in September, we started very intensely. Our cohort had two weeks of lectures, long days and dense content (no more introduction weeks🥺😢). 
I wasn’t very enthusiastic on coming back intensely, especially since I just came back from a long summer holiday trip with my family, but I tried to look at the bright side of how it’s nice to see my friends and classmates again.

Then came simulation week: one whole week of training on practical skills and clinical scenarios to prepare us for the hospital placements.
I actually enjoyed this week a lot. It felt like stepping into the real world of nursing again, that’s when I realised I was actually back.

Then, off we went for seven straight weeks of hospital placement. 
This is where the term really tested me. My placement was incredible, with so many learning opportunities. But it was also overwhelming. Long shifts, unpredictable days, emotional moments, and constant learning on the go. It was very rewarding whilst being extremely challenging.

Now I’m in my second week back to lectures after placement and I’m struggling a bit with the transition. My attendance timing slipped and I feel slightly unmotivated. I realised that I felt like this because we didn’t have a break inbetween placement and our return to uni. 

But the mindset that I’m working on right now is to push myself forward until the end of the term because Christmas break is coming and I can properly rest then (instead of procrastinating and resting now) Because exams are also coming, I don’t want to rush my revision process and do everything on the last week. Upon reflection, I have set up a studying plan during my Christmas break 🎄, while also having realistic breaks and time to rest 😴.

The best advice I could give myself and others is to slowly ease into a routine that fits you and keep reflecting on what went right and what needs to change. 

How has your term been going so far?