Page 18 - QNIS Newsletter 2019

www qnis org uk Academic Prizes Students who excelled in in Community Nursing are honoured In 2018 we awarded prizes at every university in in in in in Scotland offering community nursing training We want to to encourage students to to strive for excellence and feel positive about a a a a a a a career in the community Universities are asked to nominate outstanding students with each winner - - in in in in both undergraduate and and and postgraduate categories - - given a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a certificate and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small cash prize to celebrate their achievement They were also offered the the opportunity to to attend our our awards dinner as our our guest and to to write a a a a a a blog on their experience of community nursing Below we hear from Undergraduate QNIS Prizewinner Catherine White who is in in in her her third year at at at the the University of Glasgow Being awarded the QNIS Academic Prize was was a a a a a a a a a a a a massive shock and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a huge honour It was was especially poignant for me me as as as as prior to commencing my my my degree my my my family and and myself had benefited from community nursing care Nursing as a a a a a a a a a a a profession is is is radically changing and and I I have no idea what our NHS will be like when I I qualify This is is is exciting and and also terrifying I I I have come a a a a a a a a a a very long way from 1st year I I I remember being so scared of of placements having a a a a a a a a a a a a a limited limited idea of of what I’d encounter and limited limited experience in in in in clinical scenarios One of of my my most embarrassing moments was was on the first first day of of my my first first community placement I I I was was was so so nervous completely and and utterly terrified I I I I I I thought I I I I I I was was was so so organised yet when I I I I I I arrived and and was was getting changed I I I I I realised I I I I I had accidentally grabbed a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a navy navy pillow case from the ironing pile instead of my my navy navy uniform trousers that that were sitting next to to it it Luckily my my mentors mentors found this hilarious That taught me me me me straight away that that I didn’t need to to to to be scared my mentors mentors wanted to to to to guide me me me me even through stupid mistakes like this one Being awarded the QNIS academic academic prize gave me a a a a a a a a a surge of self-belief I I have never been very confident confident in in in my academic academic work and to be be be be recognised made me feel more confident confident in in my own ability than ever before Community nursing has taught me so much more than I I can summarise in in in in this piece I I have loved and felt privileged by the experience of being welcomed into patients’ homes During my community placements patients have helped me me understand their their their perspective of how their their their varying conditions affect their their their lives This is is an an an insight I I could never learn from a a a a a a a a book and I value it immensely Making a a a a a a a a positive difference big or small in in in in a a a a a a a a patient’s life has been the the thing I’ve loved the the most about nursing As humans we we are are so much much more than physical beings we we have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mind and and emotions that need just as as much much care as as our organs and and systems do The many dimensions of of health were emphasised to us from the very start of of our nurse training Being on on placements has has has emphasised how vital this is is is to me me Simple things that make a a a a a a a a a patient smile and feel cared for can have a a a a a a a positive effect on their health Finally a a a a a a a a a massive lesson I’ve learnt is is is that there is is is support all all all around you on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a nursing course which is is is especially useful at at at exam time! As nurses we are already compassionate people and this doesn’t just extend to to our our patients but to to our our friends as as well I am very excited about the the many opportunities in in in all areas of of nursing to gain further education and and become Advanced Nurse Nurse Practitioners and and Nurse Nurse Specialists Some of of of my class have already found a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a specific area of of of nursing they’re passionate about and want to progress in in in in Many of of us including me me still don’t know what area we are are are drawn to to to but are are are extremely keen to to to find it it it The increased independence responsibility and leadership as as as well as as as the ability to to explore a a a a a a a a a a specific nursing area is very enticing Roll of Honour Undergraduate Grace Boyd Claire Chalmers Sophie Cormack Amy Early Caitlin Henderson Erin Murphy Morgan Myles Dean Pearson Chelsea Timmons Catherine White Postgraduate Clare Marie Bates Angela Di Mambro Alison McIver Bethan Murdoch Temitayo Odewusi Clare O’Neill Meghan Tuohy Elaine Wood 17 QNIS Newsletter & Review of 2018