Why I Chose To Study Children's Nursing

If you’ve ever been unsure on which route to take within Nursing, Student Nurse, Alexandria, describes how she made her decision, with some other considerations for an aspiring Nurse.

Topics covered in this article

Introduction

Picking The Right A-levels

They Don’t Necessarily Have To Be Nursing Related

I Wanted To Do A Job That Helped People

Why I Decided To Specify In Children’s Nursing

If You’re Not Sure, Get Some Work Experience

Experience And Enthusiasm Can Be More Important Than Subjects

Introduction

Today's video is probably a video I should have made a while back when I started this channel, but you know, never too late.

So today's video is going to be about why I chose to study Children's Nursing.

I'm going to break her down a little bit into why I chose to study Nursing specifically, and then how I chose my niche.

If you go into my background, like my educational background, which I've mentioned in a few of my other videos, I'm an academic, I'm a nerd.

I've always really been into writing subjects.

I loved English, I loved languages.

So, that's all the way from when I was in primary school.

And then when I did my GCSE's, I did the best in my writing subjects.

Picking The Right A-levels

I was still good at science and maths, but I enjoyed the writing subjects the most.

And then when I went into sixth form, or even before sixth form, I was trying to figure out in year 11, what I wanted to do, biology was my favourite science.

And I was interested in caring for people and doing a job that involves working with people.

But then at the same time, I still loved to write.

I decided to pick biology as an A-level.

I haven't spoken about that on this channel at all, but I did choose biology as my fourth A-level, because I considered doing midwifery and form midwifery, you have to study biology.

So I had that there, just in case in sixth form, I decided I wanted to apply to do midwifery.

But my three main subjects that I really, really wanted to do were politics, English literature, and Spanish.

And those were the three subjects that I did.

As I said, biology was my fourth A-level, but when I decided later on that I wanted to do Nursing and that you didn't need biology, I dropped it at the end of year 12th, because it was just not for me.

I ended up doing three A-levels and an EPQ.

They Don’t Necessarily Have To Be Nursing Related

As you can tell my subjects, minus once I got rid of the biology were not Nursing related at all, even my EPQ was not related to Nursing at all.

You're probably thinking "How did this girl go into a Nursing degree? How did she end up doing this today?".

I don't really know.

When I was in sixth form, I considered doing so many things.

Obviously, I had Midwifery at the back of my mind, but I was also interested in carrying on with Spanish, carrying on with English.

I thought about going into law.

I thought about doing so much.

And then I thought that I didn't want to spend my whole educational career, just reading books.

And going into a degree where after I graduate, there wasn't really a job waiting for me.

And I didn't really know what the purpose of the job would be if say I'd done an English literature degree.

That's not saying anything is wrong with doing a degree like English literature, because it's an amazing subject.

But for me, I just felt like I wanted to do a degree where I could easily create a career out of it.

So obviously I had that midwifery in the back of my mind.

And then I thought, "Oh, why don't I look into Nursing?".

I think because I have a couple of Nurses on both sides of my family. I know how it works and what it was like.

I just thought, "Well, okay, this is similar to midwifery".

In my mind, I was thinking, "I don't want to do biology A-level anymore”.

I had that in my head, and I wasn't doing very well in it either. I wanted to focus my energy into the subjects that I enjoyed the most and the subjects that I knew I would do well in, which were the other three.

I just thought to myself, Nursing is something that I knew with my other three subjects I could definitely get the grades to get into it, because I study hard.

I like to study.

As I said, I'm a nerd.

I was determined to do well in my A-levels, which luckily, I did.

I Wanted To Do A Job That Helped People

I wanted to do a job that helped people.

I've always wanted to, no matter what the field was, I've always wanted to have a job that was morally satisfying.

Something that helped people.

A lot of people that know that I do Nursing have told me this, that I'm quite suited to the role.

I thought, "If people are telling me I'd be good at this, why don't I just look into it?".

I did a lot of research.

I looked at a load of different universities, and the courses, and I just thought that the course seems so interesting.

And I love the way that it's half clinical, half in university.

Obviously, it's a bit different right now because of coronavirus.

But I just really liked that aspect of it, both getting that physical experience and then doing the academic side, which was a bit of what I wanted.

And it was different from me, just constantly writing essays like I was doing in sixth form.

I wanted to try something new, but also be able to have that academic side of writing assignments at university.

So I did my research. I spoke to a couple of teachers, because with biology, obviously at the end of year 12, I didn't do very well.

I thought, "You know what, let me ask some teachers".

And I was really scared because I thought, "Will they not want to take me because I don't study anything that's related to science?".

But I spoke to some really nice teachers at my sixth form.

And they told me that it was fine.

The universities that I wanted to apply to didn't require biology.

I was so, so happy.

And I thought, This is good.

I can carry on with what I'm already studying, but I can still apply to Nursing and be successful.

Why I Decided To Specify In Children’s Nursing

That was the story behind how I chose to do Nursing, which is very random, I know.

But how I chose to do Children's Nursing specifically was a bit different.

I've always loved kids.

I've always thought that working with kids would be amazing and I've never really wanted to work with adults.

I don't really know why.

There's nothing wrong with it.

I know that Adult Nursing as the bigger field, but I just was never really drawn to it.

But initially, before choosing Children's Nursing, I actually wanted to do Mental Health Nursing.

But then, when I was at the end of year 12, I did work experience in a neonatal unit.

I got to observe a lot of inpatient staff and outpatient staff.

And it was just so interesting.

And I liked that whole vibe of working with a patient and their family, so that really drew me more to Children's Nursing.

If You’re not Sure, Get Some Work Experience

So I think if you're not sure which field of Nursing you want to go into, definitely get some work experience.

I know it's hard right now, but if you can, please do, because it can really change your mind on which field you want to go into.

And that's so important that you make the right decision.

So yeah, that was the big factor in why I wanted to do Children's Nursing.

And then when I actually got onto the course and I went to my first placement, I realized like, yep, this is definitely the right decision for me.

Even though I was passionate about mental health, I still am passionate about mental health.

But it still does feed into any field of Nursing you're working in, because obviously you're not just delivering physical care, it's holistic care.

You've got to deal with physical health, mental health, all of that stuff. It goes into every field of Nursing, though I am still learning about that mental health aspect of caring for someone without doing a Mental Health Nursing degree.

But yeah, going on placement, I just felt like working in paediatric wards was such a brighter environment.

You've got children's artwork everywhere.

You've got toys everywhere.

Children generally are much more positive in hospitals, even though families don't want to be in a hospital environment.

They don't want to be there with their child.

They're obviously going to be quite anxious, quite worried, but children are generally quite positive.

Even if they know they're not very well.

They've still got really high spirits, which is just so lovely.

And being able to be involved in the care of a patient and their family and to have them show their gratitude towards you once they come out of hospital, it's just the best feeling.

And I think any healthcare profession is just the most satisfying thing ever knowing that you've helped someone and that you've delivered the best care that you possibly can.

Experience And Enthusiasm Can Be More Important Than Subjects

So I think that's why I was so drawn to Nursing and to Children's Nursing, specifically.

And I could not be happier with my choice.

I'm at the end of my first year, as I've mentioned before.

I'm loving it.

And I just think it is the most amazing degree, the most amazing career that I'm very excited to go into.

But I hope that my story is enough persuasion for people who aren't sure.

I get a lot of people messaging me, who aren't sure about what they're doing, or are worried that because they don't study science at school that they won't get in.

It's not true.

Get your experience, show your enthusiasm for the subject and you will be totally fine.

It is the most amazing thing to study.

If you've got your place, and you're about to start your Nursing course soon, then I hope that this has made you a bit excited for how rewarding Nursing is, and excited to start your program, because it is amazing.

And there will be some ups and downs, but you're guaranteed a job at the end and you're helping people.

So that's all that matters.

And that is why I chose to study Children's Nursing.

Let me know in the comments your thoughts on picking your speciality and what I've said about mine - let's chat there!

Oh, and please Like this article to let me know you enjoyed it - thank you!