Help please......

[dandysmom]

Originally Posted by Erin

This is what I have to include in it -

Why I have chosen the course
Interests in the course
career plans for when the course is completed
job/work expierance/voluntary work and skills learnt
social/sports/leisure interests
future plans
current employment

this is what i have so far but am totally stuck on it now -

I grew up helping my mother care for my sister who has a sever learning disability. From a young age I have always liked to help people wherever possible. Whilst at school I completed work experience in a day centre for adults with learning disabilities, I enjoyed my placement immensely so during school holidays I worked there as a volunteer. I also worked as a volunteer escorting service users to and from a club on a Monday night.
From the age of 16 to 18 I worked at a restaurant, during my time here I worked as a kitchen assistant, waitress, cleaner and barmaid. Working here was excellent for my confidence interpersonal skills as it involved talking to people I was not familiar with.
After leaving school I worked for 4 years as a Travel Advisor, whilst I enjoyed my time here and learnt how to interact well with people, I was desperate to get into a caring roll. For the last 2 years I have worked as a health care assistant in a NHS forensics unit. Working here along with qualified members of staff has given me good insight into the nursing profession and increased my motivation to become a qualified nurse. Working in a forensics unit has taught me to deal with difficult and sometimes dangerous situations in a calm manner.




where do i go from here?

Told ya. Erin! Lots of very good suggestions! I'm the proofreader type: have highlighted two typos; you may already have caught them...

[Kazz]

Yah...off to do 15 laps round any circuit I can find because I am so very very pleased you have decided to do that..... Yahhhhhh

[Erin]

Kazz,im pleased too,trying not to get my hopes up to much at the moment,have to get past the application stage first,then the interview stage which im told is not easy,but ill put everything I have into it,I really want this

[Mags]

Good luck Erin, you certainly have the right attitude for it..

[Kazz]

I think they will rip your arm off min you not sure how much good you'll be then seriously though I am pleased and think you will do great really great.

Confidence - you are the best and they almost need to explain to you why they want you

[Grete]

It's been a long time since I went through the app process but with the interview, just be yourself and enthusiastic about what it is you want to do. They will snap you up

Just one thing to note that is probably a downer tho, I don't mean it to be but it's a mistake I naively made.

Don't go into it because you want to care for people, to feel you can make a difference to them personally, you won't have time.

Go into it because you want to be part of the process of getting people well and back to their daily lives, to eventually expand your medical knowledge and for some time, feel out of your depth and unsupported but just grit your teeth and do it.

Just don't do it because you want to care for people.

[dandysmom]

Wise words from Grete. Never looked at it that way but it makes a lot of sense.......

[Erin]

ok guys here is my completed personal statement,feel free to add anything if you think it needs to be in there.

Grete I take on board what you have said and value your opinion but in my opinion being part of the process of helping people get well IS caring for maybe I have misunderstood what you were saying.Im aware of how difficult the job is going to be,I basically working the role now but in a much more stressfull and dangerous envioroment,and do you know what,the busier the better,and we are a very busy unit but we still find the time to help,care for and yes make a difference to all our lads,some of which are only with us for a few short hours


From a young age I have always had an interest in gaining experience in caring for people.During my childhood I helped my mother care for and suport my eldest sister, who has severe learning disabilities and epilepsy.
During this time I met many healthcare professionals whose roles I was very interested in. Although no longer living at home I still continue to support my sister whenever she needs me.

Whilst at school I completed 1 weeks work experience at a day care centre fpr adults with learning disabilities. I enjoyed my placement immensley so I chose to work there as a volunteer during the the school holidays and Monday evenings during term time.

Between the ages of 16 and 18 I work at a restaurant as a Waitress and Barmaid. Working there was excellent for my confidence and interperonal skills as it involved talking with people who I was unfamiliar with.
After leaving school I worked for 4 years as a Travel Advisor. This role also improved my interaction skills but my dream was also to get into te caring profesion. I enjoyed the experience of working there and excelled in the role.

For the past 2 years I have worked as a Health Care Assistant in an NHS Forensics Unit. Working here alongside qualified mymbers of staff has given me good insight into the nursing profession and increased my motivation to become a qualified nurse. Working in a Forensics Unit has taught me to deal with difficult and somtimes dangerous situations in a calm manner. During my time here I have attended many courses including First Aid, CPR, Health and Safety, Manual Handling, Food Hygiene, MAPA Restraint techniques, Infection Control and Defensible Documentation. The forensics Unit has 23 beds housing adult males with varying disabilities ranging fom head injuries to senile dementia, all with challenging behaviour.

During my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, taking long walks with my dogs, Pilates and I also enjoy literature and going to the theatre.

I have chosen to apply for Nursing Dip/HE/BSc (Hons) because of the diversity of choice and peronal satisfaction it offers you. After completing the course successfully I aim to gain employment in the area I have found to be the most fulfilling during my training.

[Elaine]

Looks good to me Erin, all the very best of luck for your future chum xxx

[Grete]

Originally Posted by Erin

Grete I take on board what you have said and value your opinion but in my opinion being part of the process of helping people get well IS caring for
maybe I have misunderstood what you were saying.Im aware of how difficult the job is going to be,I basically working the role now but in a much more stressfull and dangerous envioroment,and do you know what,the busier the better,and we are a very busy unit but we still find the time to help,care for and yes make a difference to all our lads,some of which are only with us for a few short hours

It's actually been really hard to respond to this, I've been mulling it over for a couple of days.

I'm sorry if it seemed I was implying you weren't prepared or aware of what you were getting into, I don't think that at all - I think you will be an asset and I can see now that you are going into it with the right attitude.

Just to explain where I was coming from - my experience of nursing training was not a good one. I went into it with way too much naivety and in retrospect I was more suited to a caring role than a nursing one. We didn't have time to give comfort or even a two minute chat with a patient who was emotionally distressed. I even got reprimanded for trying. What I saw along the way disillusioned me and the stress of working on the wards as well as doing the college work took it's toll and caused my dysthymia to flare up and I ended up severely ill.

I dunno, I think I was trying to say to you what I wished someone had been able to say to me.

Anyway, I am sorry, I was just trying to help.