01/06/2006, 03:27 PM
I found this nursing personal statement with some useful general info at http://people.brunel.ac.uk/~mastmmg/ssguide/back1.htm:
Quote:Nursing is such a diverse, challenging and worthwhile career that I really feel it is the right course for me. It is a vocation for people who are practical, conscientious, reliable and who find it easy quickly to establish good, trusting relationships with new people. I have these skills and a genuine desire to help people when they need it most. The role of the nurse is changing in the NHS, with more opportunities for nurses to take greater responsibility for patient care and to become specialists in areas such as intensive care, cancer treatment and other specialties. In studying for a degree in nursing I hope that I will be able to make the most of these opportunities as my career develops. The greater use of Information Technology as the National Programme for IT is implemented in the NHS will have a great impact on the way that patient information is recorded and used by nurses. It will be important that nurses in the NHS are confident in the use of IT and I believe that my A level in Information Technology will help me in this area.
When I was first considering nursing as a career I thought that I would prefer paediatric nursing and arranged for work experience of paediatrics in two hospitals. My first week of work experience took place at St Mary’s hospital in Paddington, where I particularly enjoyed my time in the paediatric A and E department. I spent my second week at Leicester Royal Infirmary where I helped on various paediatric wards and in outpatient clinics. My work experience helped me to decide that nursing is for me because I was able to see how doctors and nurses work together as a team and what a huge contribution the nurse makes, not only to the care of the patient but also to the patient’s family. I have had recent experience of adult nursing when my father became seriously ill earlier this year and spent four months in hospital. The nursing staff helped me and my family through this time with care and professionalism and I would like to do the same for other people. I have now decided to focus on adult nursing because I feel that there may be wider opportunities for me in this area of nursing and because it is more distressing when young children are ill.
At school I achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award, by helping with Beavers for six months, taking a photography course and developing my sailing skills. In my spare time I continue to enjoy sailing and I have achieved RYA certificates 1 and 2 and the Seamanship qualification in sailing. I like to go snowboarding once a year with friends and family. I enjoy doing voluntary work within my church, leading the junior choir, and helping at Sunday school, the holiday club and the crèche.
I have had a number of part time and full time jobs. As a Saturday girl I ran the Photo Lab in my local ** store for nearly two years, and was a door hostess at ** for over six months. This summer I spent seven weeks away from home working for the holiday company ** as a Group Leader, responsible for young children, working in a team and communicating effectively with other members of staff, parents and children.
At the moment I am taking a gap year so that I can travel and enjoy new experiences before settling down and starting university. I am working full time at ** as a sales assistant, and in the evenings I also work in a pub, to save money so that I can visit Africa, Australia, New Zealand and America.
I have chosen nursing as a career because I know from personal experience how important it is that patients receive good care when they are at their most vulnerable. I want to feel that I have helped someone to regain their health, independence and dignity – whether it is after cancer treatment or a broken bone. I hope that my degree in nursing will be the beginning of a lifelong career that will really make a difference.