I remember when I was a child the one thing I wished was that I had the same colour eyes (Fun fact: one’s blue and the other is green!). I’ve wished I was a little smarter and even a little shorter sometimes, but one thing I wish now is that I’d have just one answer for why I became a student nurse. It’s the age-old question that mentors will love asking you, it’s just I can never give a simple answer!
#HelloMyNameIsChlӧe and my second year so far has had its fair share of gratifying shifts and those where I’ve had to be a little more resilient. For most of my life all I want to do is care for people and somehow make a difference, no matter how big or small. However sometimes after a bad shift I find myself asking: “Why nursing?”
During my first placement, there were many times I thought about this. I was sat with another nurse who was questioning why I wanted to come into this profession. At the time I was under a lot of stress from exam revision; I remember going home and feeling so drained. However, this also reminded me that for every rough shift there are so many better shifts that will remind you of why you became a student nurse.
I am currently on placement in NICU and I’m loving it! I was helping a parent feed their baby via an NG tube and as I handed the syringe to the parent to hold, they said “Wow, it’s like my baby is drinking the milk. It’s so beautiful to watch!” I loved this comment because to this parent, being able to help feed their baby was such a special moment. It made me remember that it’s such a privilege to be a student nurse – to help make a difference in people’s care. No matter how small or simple it might seem, every moment or smile you give to a patient and their family matters.
There are many things I love about nursing: I love the people I meet, the skills I learn, the chance to watch surgery and comfort people before as well as after, the ability to help mums on NICU, and the chance to develop my knowledge about conditions and diseases. While the hours are long and I complain now and then, we all have our reasons for being student nurses, and our reasons for pushing through no matter how many obstacles we face…
I’m about to finish my first placement of my second year and in about a year’s time qualify (Fingers crossed). I hope I can never answer fully why I want to be a nurse, because there are so many reasons – I would be here all day. I don’t think it should be an easy question to answer because every shift gives me a new reason and reminds me of why I love my course so much
Author: Chloe Thomas, Year 2 Student
Disclaimer: This blog contains personal opinions of students only and does not necessarily represent the views of the Children’s Nursing team, School of Health Sciences or the University of Surrey.
If you’re interested in writing a blog post for us – whether it’s a one-off about something in Nursing you’re passionate on, or as a regular contributor, please email Tia Dolphin (td00227@surrey.ac.uk) or Chloe Thomas (ct00633@surrey.ac.uk) – we’d love to hear from you!
