'Don’t miss out on your complete student package'

Over the past year while I have been editor of Nursing Times, I’ve had the privilege to meet many nurses. Several have told me they made a decision to go into nursing as children, but a few took up the career later in life. One nurse I interviewed recently told me he had been a bank manager, earning mega bucks and driving a BMW. It sounds like a cliché, he said, but the decision to move into nursing made him instantly much richer.

I am not suggesting there won’t be tough times - dealing with illness, death, anxious relatives, difficult patients, financial constraints, targets, long hours and lack of staff - will be physically and mentally exhausting. But you’ll also find much to celebrate - helping patients do everyday things and playing a part in their recovery are some of the greatest gifts you will ever give.

Last week, we launched Studentnursingtimes.net. This online package has been designed by us with students and lecturers to provide you with 24/7 practical, emotional and educational support. It offers advice on organising your finances, looking after yourself during shift work, getting the most out of your placement, handling the relationship with your mentor as well as a whole raft of study skills and tips. On top of this, you’ll be able to access our archive of over 4,000 double-blind, peer-reviewed clinical articles, and trust me, that will be invaluable when you’re researching your essays or revising for your exams. You’ll also get five free online learning units of your choice.

If you are a student, mentoring one, teaching one or just know one, log onto Studentnursingtimes.net. At £8.50 per quarter for a year’s subscription, that’s less than 70p a week, it’s a student essential.

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