What our students say
Jodian Barrett, children's nursing student - on her experience of learning clinical skills
“I chose to pursue a career in children's nursing as I have a younger brother with prada willi syndrome - where he suffers from constant hunger no matter how much he eats, and severe eczema. He’s been in hospital a lot and I liked the way the nurses interacted with my brother and with me.
“I've found the training thoroughly enjoyable. It’s one of the best decisions I've made.”
Diary: Tuesday 13 May, learning clinical skills
“Today we're doing nursing skills. I’ve been really looking forward to this. Skills are a really important part of the course as they help you understand, practice and realise the importance of set procedures.
“The Faculty's skills labs let you practice the skills you need when you go out on placements. They have fully working electric hospital beds as well as a few of the older manual ones; they also have moving and handling equipment such as sliding sheets.
“The first session, in the morning, was on care of a patient with a catheter. A catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel, allowing drainage or injection of fluids or access by surgical instruments. In the first hour we learnt about the theory behind catheterisation and why it may be necessary.
“Following a 15-minute break we practiced how to clean the areas around the catheter and how to inflate them. We finished on time and were able to have an hour’s lunch before going back for another two-hour session on hospital basic life support. This was an exciting, fun session that helped us to practice and improve our general basic life support skills. We were also able to see some of the equipment used for life support within the hospital environment. After a full day of skills practice I went back home to relax and unwind and catch up on my notes from these skills sessions.”
Take a 360° tour of a clinical skills laboratory at our Kingston Hill campus
Adult nursing
- Rose McGuire, graduate
- Claire Smitheram, graduate
- Sophie Wismer, first year student
- Cassia Lim, third year student (video)
Children's nursing
- Jodian Barrett, third year student
- Jodian Barrett, third year student (video)
- Beverley Haffenden, second year student (video)