magichands

hi spring. I know exactly how you feel mate. i am a mature student and before starting i was a senior manager for a very large company and hadnt had any experience in anatomy or physiology and it must of been at least 7 years since i ever sat down and even studied. but i am finding it ok and i am 6 months into the course. just be pro-active in your approach to your learning and try and find out what is likely to be in it and just work your hardest. also ultilis your teachers, i am sure they wouldnt mind getting togeather with you and helping you with the bits you dont understand. most teachers i have ever had experience with will do anything to help you achieve your goal, however they wont do it for you and you mst be pro-active. Never say never. i had to sell my house and car and move back into my parents to be able to afford to do adult nursing at university. so if you want it bad enough you will get it and even surprise yourself with how well you will do. all the very best mate, fingers crossed. mat

hello. I have been away from the site for a while but i am also a student nurse in adult branch who is male at the university of the west of england.. I am in my first year and just finished all my exams and coursework etc and i am chuffed as i have got 75% plus in everything so far. all the hard work is paying off so far. :) :) the placements are going really well also and i am enjoying everything so far. this has been the best decision in my life, i used to be a senior manager in an insurance firm and i cannot see how i did it for so long. well good luck gents and take care mathew

Hello everyone. I am mature male student studying at the university of the west of england for the degree in nursing. I have just finished my first placement on a short stay medical/surgery ward at frenchay hospital. That was my very first experience of working in a health setting and i loved every minute of it. I decided to work as a health care assistant during my studies for the obvious money and extra experience seeing loads of different wards gives you. it also has allowed me to do extra studies during the breaks for example venous puncture and ecg etc paid for by the hospital before i do it at university.. although they are not recognised by the university it certainly gives me the edge by having the experience allready. So i would highly recommend it to any other student out there. How does everyone cope with dealing with dementia patients? To be honest i have never encountered patients with dementia before and they dont teach that until second year, so some advice would be great.. hope you are all well. take care mathew

Hello everyone. I hope you are all very well. So my degree starts in just under ten days, and to be totally honest with you all I am very nervous and anxious. I am currently the systems manager for the whole of the UK for a large global company, and yesterday I had to do a presentation to the minister of parliament for pension reform and that was less nerve racking then what I am experiencing now. I was wondering is there anyone out there experiencing what I am going through now or previously and what they did to help calm yourself. I am generally a very confident person but this is a whole different ball game and I am frankly quite scared. Is there anyone going to the university of the west of England for the September 2006 intake, if so would be great to hear from you. If not it would be great to hear from anyone with advice.

Hello everyone. I hope you are all very well. So my degree starts in just under ten days, and to be totally honest with you all I am very nervous and anxious. I am currently the systems manager for the whole of the UK for a large global company, and yesterday I had to do a presentation to the minister of parliament for pension reform and that was less nerve racking then what I am experiencing now. I was wondering is there anyone out there experiencing what I am going through now or previously and what they did to help calm yourself. I am generally a very confident person but this is a whole different ball game and I am frankly quite scared. Is there anyone going to the university of the west of England for the September 2006 intake, if so would be great to hear from you. If not it would be great to hear from anyone with advice. .

Hello all. I am little concerned and dis-heartened by what i have been reading so far about the NHS. I have made the big decision to leave my job as System manger for the whole of the UK for a very large company to start a degree in Adult nursing. I appreciate that my course doesnt finish for another three years or so, yet i allready feel worried that i wont get work. This is something i have wanted for a while and being a bloke it wasnt the easiest of decisions to make yet i have made it and taken the stigma that comes with it in my stride. yet all i hear is negative feeling towards the NHS, i know it is in a shambles and everyone is stretched to breaking point and it really needs to be sorted. But doesnt anyone enjoy what they do within the UK?? I am nervous about starting this course allready and it is a big jump from my current life, but it is what i want. However am i starting something only to find making these sacrifices and changes only to come out the end with a degree and no work to apply my new skills. Just a little assurance would be appreciated that there maybe light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sorry if i'm sounding like a moaning mertal but i think it is nerves and anxiety, as my course starts in under 7 days.

Hello all. I am starting university in september woohoo cant wait, I know i have to do shift work as part of my training and future carreer. however i am also an extremely keen runner and currently running about 12 miles a day five days a week. So for the runners out there when is it best to do my run, before or after my shift? Also i am 6'2 and weigh about 16 stone, I follow quite a stringent diet plan so is breaks / lunch fixed or are they fluid when times are not busy. Also do you eat a large meal before your shift. Sorry to ask but i have been training for years to get into good shape and wondered what you all do???

Hello all. I am starting university in september woohoo cant wait, I know i have to do shift work as part of my training and future carreer. however i am also an extremely keen runner and currently running about 12 miles a day five days a week. So for the runners out there when is it best to do my run, before or after my shift? Also i am 6'2 and weigh about 16 stone, I follow quite a stringent diet plan so is breaks / lunch fixed or are they fluid when times are not busy. Also do you eat a large meal before your shift. Sorry to ask but i have been training for years to get into good shape and wondered what you all do???

Hello all. I know this is a student question but I think it is more relevant here on the United kingdom thread. I am a new student to be on the 18th of september which i am exstatic about. I will be 27 when i start the Bsc (hons) Adult Nursing course at the univeristy of the West of England, however I cannot find any difinitive information about how much funding i am likely to receive until i have started the course and given up the day job. Is anyone here currently studying who is about my age getting at the moment. I know it changes due to personal circumstances but a ball park figure would be great. Also with the funding you do receive do you find you need to work to cover you financial short comings, and is this really a good thing especially with the studying and placement work commitments Please someone reply as i am getting closer to the start date and getting anxious and nervous and excited all at the same time. graciously yours mathew

Hello all. My name is Mathew and I have just accepted a place on a degree for adult nursing. I have always wanted to be a nurse and I am finally taking the plunge and giving up my job of looking after the company systems across the UK and two departments. I am not worried about working in an environment of predominately women or having the stigma which I have already experienced of going to be a nurse who happens to be male. However I was wondering is there good way to address this stigma which people clearly have towards blokes as nurses, and whether anyone has a quick fire solution to it? Also as I haven't experienced ward or actual nursing work yet, what sort of reaction can I expect from colleagues and patients alike? It would be great to hear from you. Magichands

Hello all I have come to a sobering realisation that maybe my emails have become the equivalent of Ronnie Corbets armchair monologues from that bastion of 70s British comedy. The two Ronnies. Not that I am currently dressed in a harlequin - motif sweater, nor knee high - to a traffic cone, nor prone to referring to my drinking habits as "suspect" its just given the chance to ramble - I tend to take my time getting to the point. Now where was I. Ah, yes. How are you? I am new to this site and thought i ask a few questions as i have just accepted to study a Degree in Adult nursing at the univeristy of the west of england. I have been a great admire of nurses for a long time and i should of in hindsight taken the course after completeing my first degree in biochemistry, but i managed to get myself a good job and i got used to money. I have been trying to find some information as to what i should expect from the course? I am very interested in ICU and theatre nursing so if any of you lovely people have any advice please shout!! Do you have any tips for success? Ok i think that might be enough to start with, but it would be great to hear from you all. take care Magichands