A newfound respect for nursing I'd say has been an almost universal feeling throughout the pandemic. Nurses all over the world set an unimaginable standard of resilience throughout the community, despite being outnumbered, lacking resources, and being outright overworked. The time has come, we're stepping back into practice to learn and adapt, as nursing changes before us, to see what we're capable of.

A rough few months, to say the least. Studies put on hold, placements cancelled, not knowing what's happening... now we're 2nd years (still not knowing what's happening)! Excited going back to practical placements (feeling like a student nurse again), but also emotions from changing guidelines, essays due, online learning and everything else that comes with it.

I want be a voice of the cohort. Asking the questions to the staff of UWS, getting the answers straight from the horses mouth, after months of bits and bobs from different people, it growing arms and legs through the rumour mill (as it does). I want to be someone that you can feel free to message if you have any concerns you might not feel comfortable asking staff themselves, keeping your name out of it, or if you want to just have a bit of a rant and it stay between us (we all need to let off some steam now and again).

2020 has been hard, I think a lot of things could've been dealt with better in the output of information from staff (sorry I know you're all still adapting to the changes), and I want to make sure that people are held accountable and I want to be able to ask the right people the right questions that YOU want the answers to. Online learning is absolutely not the same, we're lacking resources, and not everyone is as confident with technology. We're lacking that social support that comes with being on campus. I want to make sure that measures are taken to ensure that, by the time it comes to get our blues, that we are prepared, and I think that some changes have to be made to support that.

Of course, uni comes with its stresses of course, but we're meant to enjoy these years as well! We don't have that long before we're the staff nurses, so you want to have the smoothest cruise of a uni experience that you can, and I want to be part of that journey and help in any way I can!

As an active admin on the UWS 2019 cohort facebook group, I'm easy to find, and my inbox is always open if you want to drop me a message.

Thank you!

Louise 

BSc Mental Health Nursing (2nd Year)

2019 Cohort