The first placement of my nursing career was a community placement and from the moment I arrived, I knew this was where my heart was and the path I would pursue. My mentor gave me the opportunity to work in various settings within the community including health visiting, district nursing and anticipatory care. I loved hearing from people about their personal stories and how they manage their conditions or cope with being a first time mother. It is such a dynamic and varied area where I was able to work autonomously within the community while knowing I had the support of the team.
I loved every minute of it.
I had a conversation with my personal tutor regarding my placements and how much I loved being within a community setting and before I knew it, I had an email to say I had won an award for showing most promise in community nursing. I was so overwhelmed and honoured that my personal tutor thought so highly of me. My friends and family were so proud of me when I told them; they know that community nursing is what I want to do and winning this award has just re-affirmed that this is where I belong.
I don’t know if the start of my career will begin with community nursing but I will take all my experiences, embrace the challenges that nursing brings with it and hopefully one day have my dream job working within the community.
Kara Mackie
University of Dundee
QNIS Undergraduate Prize-winner