Recap

Guess who’s back with a brand new track (/post?)

So as promised heres a lil recap about my first and second year at City.

FIRST YEAR

• One Nursing Exam
• One Biology Multiple Choice Exam
• One Concept/Skill Essay
• One Communication Essay
• One Social Essay
• One Life-course Essay
• OSCE Exam
• 6 weeks of Nursery/Health visiting placement
• 6 weeks of Ward placement

Don’t freak out! It looks like a lot more than it is…you won’t be given all the work in one big load, it gets separated in to the different terms. In First term I had 2 essays and 2 written exams, Second term 2 essays and the OSCE (practical) exam. I had two 6 weeks placement that made up my final term. It might look like a daunting list of work to undertake, but it flies by, and the essays are actually a good way to consolidate the stuff you have learnt throughout each term.

 

SECOND YEAR

• One Biology Exam
• One Acute Care Essay
• One Long Term Care Essay
• One Optional Module Essay
• One OSCE Exam
• 1 X 5 week placement
• 3 X 4 week placements
• 1 X Elective Placement

Okay so once again don’t panic! This gets broken down in to each term like in first year, the difference with this year is that placement was before Christmas break (whereas first year I didn’t go on placement until the end of the academic year). I set myself deadlines for each piece of work throughout the year as we were given the assignments, to ensure that I gave myself plenty of time and didn’t stress myself out too much. It’s important to not let yourself get overwhelmed in 2nd year, it can be tricky to balance between coursework and placement, but once you get your feet firmly on the ground its all good!!

There is a jump in the way that coursework is marked, and I found it really hard to get to grips with the critical discussion element of my first coursework, so ended up being pretty disappointed with my first mark of second year…thankfully I spoke to my lecturer who went through my work with me and helped me to improve my technique hugely (by about 20% in the next assignment actually). One thing that is really important and something that lots of people forget, is to ASK YOUR LECTURER! if you are unsure of anything or just need some help, ask them, they are all so happy to help and and have a wealth of knowledge thats a goldmine!

I started my final year at the beginning of September and am currently having lectures on Leadership and Management in Healthcare, along with lectures and seminar to help with our dissertation. In third year I went straight in to practice after the summer holiday. When I first started my course I never thought I would feel confident enough to be able to go straight in to practice with no theory block beforehand, the idea petrified me, but this year I was just excited to start and get back on the wards. Already I’m stressing about my dissertation and getting it completed on time, but thankfully my dissertation supervisor is fab, and I know she will push me to get my work done and help me get it to the highest possible standard!!

anyway, I should pop on and carry on with my literature searching…

ciao for now