Tonight I have sat here and done nothing but reflect on my journey and how it has gone thus far. I started reading all my threads on Student Nurse. I started from my very first one that I posted back in July 2011, and I'm not afraid to say, those memories made it an emotional read! I remember when I first introduced myself and talked about being accepted onto the Access course and how excited I was to be starting. I remember posting about things such as my personal statement and seeking advice, wondering whether I should have applied to more than one university, and ranting about things that, in hindsight, didn't really matter. I remember posting about getting my invite to interview and feeling so low at how terrible I thought it went, and then feeling elation when I saw those two words 'conditional offer'. I remember how relieved I felt when my Access course was over, going over to the university with my fellow Access students to get our grades verified and treating our personal tutor to a thank you meal. I remember how relaxed I felt after finishing, but then how quickly things became manic as I prepared myself for university. I got extremely excited when the time drew closer to start uni and everything I had worked for was starting to become real. I remember feeling the excitement and the anticipation when we got started with our academic work, and then feeling really good about myself after each day on placement... I was just full of nothing but enthusiasm for everything I did.
Then, my concentration started to lapse, my motivation and dedication began to dwindle, my passion for what I did slowly ebbed away, and my mind began to wonder. Then, while on placement, standing in the radiology department observing a patient having an X-Ray and an ultrasound, I thought to myself 'How fascinating, maybe I should of done that.' Contemplating such a thing was enough to tell me, a career in nursing isn't what I really wanted. I am merely paraphrasing my thoughts and feelings here, it was much more than that but it's hard to explain, let's just say, I trust my instincts. I left university and the world of nursing, and today, 5 months after I left it all behind, I don't regret what I did. Nursing is a great profession, the role that they carry out day after day is nothing short of extraordinary, and without the experiences I had along the way, I would never have considered trying to enter a new profession that is of greater interest to me. Leaving wasn't easy, but I take solace in the fact that I left nursing to chase a dream I never thought I had, and not because I hated it or I couldn't be bothered with it or anything such as that. I did it because I inadvertently found something that interested me more, a career that holds the prospect of me moving into a role that will allow me to delve deep into the human anatomy and to see it, explore it and interpret it. Some of you must think I'm mad, but I have a genuine love for anatomy and physiology and to be able to go on a learn more about it, to have the knowledge to interpret an image and report on it sounds perfect to me. I know there is a lot of hard work involved, and a few years being qualified until I can do postgraduate study, but I will get there.
Right, I'm glad I've got that out of my system. I'm fed up of people asking me why I left university as though I made a rash decision. I know why I left and it was with full intention of going back to study something else, I'm merely side stepping into another health profession. Again, just to emphasise that I do not, in any way shape or form, dislike nursing or disliked my course. I have great respect for nurses, especially now I understand, more than most who have a pop at them, what they do on a daily basis, the tough times they go through, the long hours they put in, and am amazed at the fact that many put their role as nurse before their own family at times, just to help others. Extraordinary. So before you bad mouth a nurse - think twice!
Update on my current situation:
Things have been moving along quite nicely, although I have spent the
last few months looking for a job. I recently found a vacancy on NHS
Jobs for a Theatre Support Worker role and jumped at it. Four weeks
after applying and accepting I wouldn't hear anything, I got an email
inviting me to interview. Today I got the details telling me it is on
12th July. The only thing is, there is a test in the morning. They said
it is a 'general test' which I'm taking to mean basic maths and english.
If I have been successful in the test I will be invited back to have a
formal interview that afternoon. I'm a little nervous, but I'm sure I'll
be fine. I really want this job, some people have wondered whether
becoming an ODP is something I am interested in, and the answer to that
is no. It would be interesting to see how they work, but ultimately I
want to become a radiographer. This job would suit me right now because I
love the hospital environment and it will see me through until I return
to university.
Speaking of which, UCAS Entry for 2014
is now open and I have pretty much completed my application and all I
need to do now is put some finishing touches to my personal statement,
and contact my former college tutor to ask if they are happy to be my
referee as I am now applying as an independent person and not through
the college like last time. Ideally I would like to have it sent off by
the end of August then it will over and done with and hopefully I will
get an interview this side of Christmas, that's the theory anyway, haha!
Last year we applied around October/November and didn't get an
interview until the following February.
