Why I'm a Student Nurse

You may be thinking did you read that title correctly but yes this is going to be a post about being a student nurse. If you have just stumbled across my blog or have come from my YouTube Channel you are most likely unaware that I am a student nurse and this may be of no interest to you - which is fine you can scroll down and enjoy my beauty/fashion related posts ;) But I did state from the beginning that I wanted this blog to be a kind of documentation of my life experience as well as my hobbies (beauty/fashion). Therefore, I couldn't leave out a topic that is such a huge part of my life and who I am.

So I am currently a 1st year student taking an honours degree course in General Nursing. I even wish I had begun this blog back in September when I first started the course just to look back and see how far I've come or to reminisce about my first day which now seems like another life ago. I'll start this off with why I wanted to become a nurse in the first place. This is the point where most people will say 'to help people' and I am no exception. It bothers me when people who ask nurses this question find it 'cheesy' or false when they hear the expected answer. Of course that's why all (or 99%) of nurses choose this profession - I mean think about it really, it's not for the glamour or the sociable hours (sense the sarcasm) and it is certainly not for the (disgracefully low) salary. When I think of why I shouldn't be a nurse I can think of a million and one reasons - the long hours, the emotional turmoil, the blood/poo/urine/general bodily fluids that will inevitably end up all over me at some stage, the responsibility, the pressure, the appalling salary and I'm sure you can think of a few more off the top of your head. Let's face it, it may be one of the least glamorous jobs there is. However, when I think of reasons why I should be a nurse there is one that stands out - to have a job so meaningful it makes me feel like I have a true purpose in this world. This clearly overrides all the blood, guts and sh*te (excuse my language!) by a long shot. This is the career I was searching for all along and didn't even know until two years ago.

 I had finished school and didn't know where I was going with my life. I thought maybe I should teach English because I was good at it at school but it never excited me. I also thought maybe I should volunteer abroad building houses or feeding the poor. I can see now I was searching for meaning, for something to be proud of and to contribute myself in some way.Then one faithful night I watched my first episode of One Born Every Minute and was immediately hooked. That lead me to other shows such as 24 hours in A&E and any hospital/health-related show I could feast my eyes on. Firstly, I couldn't believe the calm demeanour of all the healthcare staff while I was sitting on the edge of my seat holding my breath in anticipation of the outcomes. I wanted to be like them. I wanted to know what it felt like to save a life, or at least to contribute to another person's life in a positive way - and to have this as a career? I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it sooner. Long story short - for me, being a nurse (or training to be one) gives my life meaning. I can sleep well at night knowing I will be getting up the next day to help another person in some way - big or small.

Next week I am embarking on my first long placement in a hospital (5 weeks- just thinking about it makes me nervous!) and I have decided to do a weekly update of how I'm finding each week and my experience throughout placement. So if you're interested in hearing about the trials and tribulations of being a student nurse then make sure to check back next week for that.

If you've made it to the end of this incredibly long, rambly post (essay more like!) well done! :) And thank you for reading! - I like to think I'm not just talking to myself?

Love Kensey xo