Student nurse blog: A tough decision, and a move into paediatric nursing

I am currently in between branches, after changing from adult nursing to child nursing at Kingston University.

It was a difficult couple of months trying to organise the move. Firstly I had to decide that it would be the right decision. Secondly, I had to convince the university that it would be the right decision. I felt like I was going through torment waiting for lecturers and mentors to make a decision.

This was all happening only a month before I was about to start my second placement on day surgery. I wasn’t looking forward to starting at all, and with all the anxiety and worry about the move I also fell behind in my work and revision. My mentors were fantastic, and after a few different interviews I was eventually allowed to make the switch.

When my granddad was ill, he spent over six months in hospital on a medical ward. I watched in awe at how the nurses and healthcare assistants cared for him and it inspired me; a few years later I realised that nursing would be the career for me.

So why did I later realise that adult nursing didn’t feel quite right? After one semester, one placement and achieving very good grades, I have a few ideas why and I have tried to be completely honest with myself when asking myself these questions.

With plenty of experience with children, I feel as though working as a paediatric nurse will be more rewarding and a greater challenge.

While waiting to start my new semester I decided to work as a bank healthcare assistant on adult wards, where I can give my upmost care to adults and I always think of my granddad when working, and treat them all as though they are my own family.

To know that I am working towards one of the most exciting careers motivates me to work hard and achieve the best I possibly can. Now very excited about my future, I would urge anyone who wishes to change branch to speak with their mentors or lecturers, they are there to help you with any worries you have. You have to be 100% sure you are in the right branch.

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