A New Year is quickly creeping upon us with only one more day to go and Christmas has been and gone - perfect time to reflect on 2015.

January:

I began my first placement as a student nurse. I can't believe how far I have come in such a short space of time. I remember so clearly stepping foot onto that ward and feeling absolutely petrified. I had no idea what I was doing - I'd never even washed or looked after a patient before. Another two placements later and I'm looking after a bay of four patients and I'm responsible for their care. I never thought in a million years I'd be ready to look after one patient on my own let alone four.

If you want to read more about my placement in January click here

April-May:

 

This time in the year was very up and down with lots of mixed emotions for me. I went back to university for a couple of months and started my new modules. I had a lot of work thrown at me at once. I had two assignments to complete, a biology and maths exam, e-learning and preparation for practice. I was feeling so stressed and overwhelmed because I hadn't revised for my maths or biology exam and they're the two subjects I find the toughest. 

I was feeling very low as I felt very unattractive and my health wasn't at its best. I began working out 5 days a week and completely changing my diet to lose weight. I was admitted into hospital in May due to a severe kidney infection and I was feeling so poorly which meant I was neglecting my university work and fitness which was making me more stressed. I was in this vicious cycle that I was struggling to get out of. - Read more here.

I broke this viscous cycle by getting myself a personal trainer to motivate me with my fitness. I began to enjoy going to the gym and I would go with my friend Coral which made it more fun. 

I got myself a new diary to organise myself and I began getting on top of all of the work I needed to do. Once I was able to do this, I was able to go out with my friends and socialise more which made me a lot happier.

June - August:

I began my second placement in June which I absolutely loved. I was working with the Holbeach Community Nurses team and I learnt so much. I think this was the placement when I started to feel like I'm a nurse and I'm capable of finishing this degree. I got on with the team so well and I was genuinely sad to be leaving. This placement has definitely sparked my interest into being a community nurse - something about going into patients homes and helping them makes being a nurse so much more special.

This placement finished in August and I had finally completed my first year as a student nurse! I couldn't believe how quickly time swept by. I remember starting university and thinking 'What the hell have I got myself into?' but all the hard work, mental breakdowns and stressing paid off because I finished the year with an overall FIRST! (who'd have thought it ay?).



 On my sisters birthday in June, I met someone who I'm currently still dating. It was weird how the whole thing started but I was 100% in the mind frame where I was not interested in meeting someone. I really just wanted to focus on myself and my degree and I frankly couldn't be bothered with meeting someone new. I didn't want to have to guess what their motives were or if they were being truthful or just playing a game but then came along Lee. I decided in my head that I'm not going to take this seriously and whatever happens happens and I stuck to that for quite awhile but I suppose the more and more we saw each other the closer we became. Now we are pretty inseparable and I feel like I have known him for years - it's like hanging out with my best friend all the time.

We've done some pretty wonderful things together like going to Kew Gardens and exploring the West End of London, spending the evening at Winter Wonderland and slobbing out on Boxing Day. We're currently in Chester - ready to spend New Years Eve together and we're planning a holiday in June to Italy. We have also had countless amounts of dates at Frankie and Bennies and it's now become some kind of tradition.

September - October: 
 
A start of a new academic year... which I wasn't too excited about. My modules are boring and difficult, I have a presentation that I've got to be assessed on (I couldn't think of anything worse) and I was going to be treated like a second year nurse when I still felt like I knew nothing.

However, I was excited about moving into my new house because anything is better than student accommodation. I spent quite a lot of time decorating my room and making it very homely. I began eating better, continuing to be organised and I still went to the gym. I saw Lee at weekends and we occasionally went on fun adventures like going to Primrose Hill and Little Venice. University felt a lot different this year and I still can't figure out why.

November - December:
 

I started my first placement as a second year nurse and I was bricking it. I was placed on an male geriatrics ward and I had to move to nursing accommodation just so I could attend my placement. I was so stressed about this because I had to find £760 out of thin air and I would be living on my own. Luckily my dad was able to help me out until I can get the money reimbursed but the unlucky side was that I really struggled with this placement - it challenged me in every possible way.

My associate mentor took a massive disliking to me (so it seemed) and my mentor went off sick for four weeks. I was dreading for my associate mentor to mark and assess me because I really felt like she hated me. I had many moments were I thought I couldn't do it - I wasn't smart or capable enough to be a nurse. I just wanted to quit because I felt so lost. After loads of encouraging words from my mum and countless amounts of phone calls crying down the phone I plucked up the courage from somewhere and I persevered. I can now say that it was the best choice I made and although it was hard, it paid off in the end. Another nurse who I really liked became my mentor and I managed to get all my Essential Skill's Clusters signed off and I achieved Level 3 in all of my competencies. Probably to whoever is reading that doesn't seem much but it means I've achieved everything I need to in order to complete my second year. Although this placement was very challenging for me it was also a massive learning curve.

 

I finished placement on the 20/12 and I was able to go home for Christmas which was something I was really looking forward to. I lazed around for days to make up for all of the 13 hour shifts I completed and I have been eating ridiculously bad. I just kept using the excuse that it is Christmas so it's what you're supposed to do.

I caught up with a few of my closest friends and went for a couple of drinks which was so nice considering I hadn't actually met up with one of my friends since October. I spent Christmas Eve snuggled up watching Christmas films with family and playing games. When it came to Christmas day I wasn't expecting to get much because I hadn't asked for anything apart from some money to help towards some driving lessons. I was so surprised by how much I got and how much thought my family put into getting me presents. I felt so guilty because I didn't get my family much for Christmas due to being very poor and trying to save money and they went to so much effort for me. I ended up crying when opening my presents - standard.

I spent boxing day with Lee as stated before where we became sofa sloths for a day and I've recently spent a couple of days at my dads in Luton to have a second Christmas with him. We did a few cheeky shots and water bombs and played silly challenges like the Jelly Bean challenge. For those of you that don't know what it is it's where you have to suck up the jelly beans using a straw and separate all the colours into pots in the quickest possible time.









I'm now currently in Chester with Lee as he had to travel here for work. I was left today to explore Chester and I had a fab time. I explored the city walls and visited the roman gardens, the roman amphitheatre, the eastgate clock, the cathedral and Grosvenor museum and park. Although the weather was shitty I had a great day and learnt a lot. I also came across the Central Perks coffee shop from friends so I obviously had to go in and have peek. It was so surreal - I actually felt like I was in Friends and the best part was that they were playing nonstop Friends episodes. If only they have one in Lincoln. I definitely recommend visiting Chester if you're into history and sight seeing or even if you love shopping.

It's New Years Eve tomorrow and I can finally say that I'm ready to begin another year and tackle anymore challenges that I shall face because I'm sure they'll be many.

Looking back it's easy to say this year has been a rollarcoaster ride (sorry for the cringy cliche) and there has been a lot of tears but I've come out stronger. I read my New Year post about all of the things I wanted to achieve this year and I haven't done too bad. I began exercising and eating better, I achieved a more positive outlook on life and I bought myself a guitar. The only thing I failed to do was go to Rome. Let's hope this year will be just as fulfilling.