Advice from Child Nursing student, Sarah Gyamfi
Nursing - Child - BSc (Hons)
Hi my name is Sarah and I am a second-year student on the BSc (Hons) Child Nursing course here at Birmingham City University (BCU).
Preparing to start is really exciting, but can be overwhelming too. Below I have shared my advice and tips for you, to make your transition to uni life as smooth as possible and hopefully ease any anxieties you might have.
The best discovery I have made since starting University
Before starting my first year I wish I knew about the support available particularly for my course regarding assignments, as there is more support than I thought there would be. The course requires a lot a of independent work, however is also vital to seek help when you need it and I found that BCU staff are always ready to assist their students and student services are great for all generic questions.
My favourite thing about BCU
There is a huge amount of opportunities to get involved in such as workshops to advance your IT skills, paid and volunteering work. There are also lots of activities and sports teams you can join in with. Everyone here is always really friendly and helpful which helped me to settle in very quickly.
What I love about the City
Not exaggerating, but I love everything about Birmingham. Compared to my home town, chances of being bored are very low, as you have so many activities to choose from. Although it’s a big city, everything is within walking distance and public transport is very regular.
My tips for new students starting the course
Buy a diary and be organised from the start. Try not to let things pile up on you and just get involved in uni life as much as possible right from the beginning. If you find you're doing too much you can always reduce your activities after.
Also - don’t forget to treat yourself! Nursing can be very hectic and overwhelming at times so it important to take time off and do something that does not involve nursing. Go out with friends, watch a movie, have fun!
Things that surprised me about the course that I didn’t know before starting
Placement is very hands-on right from the start, however you are not always expected to know everything – it’s a journey! I knew I would enjoy working with children, but when I started placement I was surprised how satisfying it was, even after a 13 hour shift. Honestly placement for me is the best part of my course, because you get to put into practice what you have learnt.
My uni essentials
1. Laptop, makes life a lot easier as you won’t always have the time to go to uni to do your work; also, essential to watch your shows and movies
2. Phone. Literally everything I need is on this device
3. If you don’t live at home I suggest you get railcard to get cheaper tickets, but in general get your hands on any student discount offers
Don't worry if you haven't had a lot of health care experience before, I hadn't before I started but I was taught everything I needed to know before my first placement. Ask questions if you're unsure as everyone is starting the course from a different background and have had different experiences.
I hope you have found this helpful. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email the programme team and they will do their best to help.
Hope to see you around soon.