Sharla Cook

I decided to study at the University of Northampton as I felt it would be convenient for my home life to fit in with my university life. Also, I was impressed with the new campus – it has great facilities, especially for students studying health courses.

I decided to do a foundation degree in Nursing prior to completing a bachelor’s degree, as it was my first experience of university – it opened my eyes to how I could potentially progress after the course.

The aspect of the course I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to interact with many other students studying nursing – from first years to third years. Also, I found that the academic team providing support to student nursing associates was very helpful when it came to any need or preference that I might have.

As a nursing student, I completed many placements – most of them were within the Northampton region. My role as a nursing associate was to be an advocate for all the patients I met and to follow the Trust values, as well as to complete certain proficiencies set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. I also had the responsibility to be punctual, kind, caring, and dedicated to learning and advancing my skills.

These placements were a great benefit as I got the chance to expand on the teaching provided by my lecturers, as well as my own self-study. Like any work environment, I was able to use the skills I learnt on my course to see how the theoretical side was implemented according to each clinical setting.

Each student on the degree course has an online document which we’re required to fill out over the two years of study, to demonstrate the ability and skills that a student nursing associate should have by the time they graduate. This document was used in every placement so we could become confident when qualifying as registrants – having the opportunity to see lots of different nursing wards enabled me to become competent in either becoming a registrant after graduating or progressing to my next degree (I chose the latter option). Additional benefits of the placements were that I was able to experience how nursing works in multiple settings, which taught me how to act as a nursing student and the responsibilities of starting a job as a qualified nursing associate. I’ve learnt how to empathise – putting myself in other people’s shoes to care for them in the ways they need. Without this course, I wouldn’t be as aware of empathy and how much it benefits patient care.

The placements will help me to gain employment after graduating as there are many wards that now know me personally due to having worked within them. Alongside this, the placements taught me lots of skills that I’ll need on a day-to-day basis within the profession, so I qualified with knowledge and experience that I didn’t have prior to completing them.

If you’re about to start a placement, the first tip I would offer is to introduce yourself to your setting before you begin, as this shows the ability to be proactive. Next, be willing to get stuck in as it broadens your knowledge and helps you to learn new skills. Always have the mindset of wanting to learn – if you learn something new every day, you know you’re getting as much from the placement as possible. Finally, placements can be scary and overwhelming, so remember the staff members you’re working with were once students, and they will want to help you learn and grow.

Alongside my studies I was a student representative for my course cohort in the second year. This opportunity made me more confident in my communication and interaction with others, which was a helpful skill to obtain and plays a vital part in my life now.

I’m now studying a bachelor’s degree at the University of Northampton, which is a massive step for me. Once I complete it, I may do a master’s or just dive into my career and see where it takes me.

The advice I’d give to undergraduates interested in this career path would be to believe in yourself. There will be ups and downs, but when you’re waiting for your name to be called at your graduation ceremony, that’s the moment when your dedication to finishing your degree shines through and all your hard work will have paid off. The only thing that’s important once you start something, is to aim to finish it.

The whole UON experience has boosted my confidence and helped me to become the person I am today. It’s been the best decision I’ve made so far.