Student Nurse Blog Week 15

November 1st 2004

Well, it’s nearly that time of year. And out short time back in uni is almost over. Monday we had a session on case studies, similar to the case study we are doing for our assignment (A+P/F3). In the afternoon we had an A+P session on the eye - but not given by our normal A+P lecturer!

On Tuesday we had an A+P session in the morning on the nervous system and then in the afternoon we had our first pharmacology session. However, this session was more like the session we had on drug administration (which was one of our clinical care days during our placement time), so we actually finished the session early. However, we have been given some directed study to do.

Today we were supposed to have had PBL preparation in the morning and PBL presentation in the afternoon. However, I skived the whole day!!. It isn’t a problem because the group I’m in split into three groups. One is talking about the tests and diagnosis of epilepsy, one is talking about the treatment and medication for epilepsy and then the group I’m in are supposed to be talking about the psychosocial affects of epilepsy. However, my small group decided that we would do an improvised presentation and didn’t really plan much (that really didn’t impress me). So I thought if they were going to do that they wouldn’t miss me and I could do more important things (further study, etc.) in the library. Anyway, I have already given loads of presentation, written lesson plans and done planned and improvised teaching in my previous careers, so it’s not as if i need the practice. And this PBL session is formative (which means it’s not marked or assessed).

So, I have spent the whole day working on my portfolio and doing study in the hospital library.
Tomorrow we get our first essays back, plus our provisional results, so we know roughly how we have done. That is good, as our next assignments (the case study) have to be in in just under two months time!! Matt




Well everyone, yesterday we received our first assignments back! We had a lecture in the morning on English Law and then we had to collect our first essays!! The grades were only provisional, as copies of the essays have been sent out to external examiners who then check the quality of the marking.

I got a B!! Although I was hoping for an A-, or perhaps a B+, but a B for the first essay still isn’t bad. I am now just hoping that I get at least a minimum of a B- for every other essay/assignment I do. If that happens then when I get to year three, semester three, I can opt for the degree level qualification as opposed to the diploma level that we are currently taking. The uni gives us this option, so long as we have demonstrated through the course that we are academically capable.

Normally I wouldn’t mind if I qualified with a diploma or a degree, but as soon as possible after qualifying I want to move abroad to travel, live and work as a nurse (working in emergency medicine) to see how other countries operate their health systems.

Yesterday afternoon we had a session on child protection - a very delicate subject.

Today we have a study day, so I have been researching for my next assignment (a case study) and also I am going to look up ’Advanced Vascular Necrosis’. All I know is it is advanced death of veins/arteries. One of my best friends phoned me last night. He has been to see a specialist and has been diagnosed with Advanced Vascular Necrosis of the capillaries in both hips. As a student nurse he thought i may know something about it - I have explained that I don’t really know much, but would pass on to him any information I found on the subject (so long as he didn’t use it to replace the advice of the medical and nursing professionals dealing with his treatment and care).

If anyone has any clinical experience of Advanced Vascular Necrosis I would be happy for more information and advice on the management and treatment of the condition, especially on the impact on social, psychological and other lifestyle factors.

On Monday we are back at our clinical practice placements, where we will stay until the 19th December when we break up for our Christmas Holidays!!

I have plenty of shifts over Christmas back in the Endoscopy department of the district general hospital where I used to work prior to moving up here for my training. It will allow me to earn money of Christmas to fund all that drinking!!!

Til the next time Matt

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