DC215 - General Nursing, Newbie advice

Fyr.Fytr

Well this morning i accecpted my no 1choice of general nursing in dcu.

Just wanted to ask any current or past students is there any things essential for a new student to know? Any other pieces of advice or helpful tips much appreciated,

Thaks

tnkrbell

You crazy person!
I'm heading into my final year of nursing in DCU.All I can say to you is that it is a tough course and you will see and experience quite a lot.Just a few things I'll tell you

Monitoring Attendance Yes its just like being back at school but instead you swipe into lectures with your student card.Each module has an attendance record for it which is based on the number of hours per module.Basically you need to keep your attendance for each module above 80% which means that miss one one hour lecture and your attendance can be down to 90% then miss a two hour lecture and you can then end up with 75% which means that you have to beg (slight exaggeration) for the module co-ordinator to correct your assignment or else get extra work to do to up your attendance.(These percentages are just to give you an example and are not accurate)This is something students moan about as it means people who don't want to be in the lecture are forced to go then sit there and talk through the lecture.There is also spot checks down randomly so if you swipe and leave you will be pulled up in front of the programme head

Placementhave 6 weeks in total in first year.2 weeks in semester one in which you perfect the art of standing with your hands in your pockets and 4 weeks at the end of semester 2.Don't worry in semester 2 there will be 3rd and 4th years out at the same time so don't be afraid to ask them for help.You also still have assignments etc to do while on placement

UniformOrder a spare tunic (50e but worth it) and don't get a small size cause you only get one uniform allowance for the 4 years of college.Also comfortable shoes are a must and if your a Beaumont student on your first day don't wear Dubarry's as you'll be told to get rid of the white and if your shoes are open top you'll be told to buy proper ones

Lecutres/LecturersThere is some really boring lecturers and some great ones and you'll pick up on this really quickly!Some lecturers are great if something is bothering you and some really will stick up for the students.Also print out lecture notes before lectures as there is plenty to write in during lectures that lecturers will leave out

Know it may seem like I just picked on the bad bits but there is good bits too!You'll enjoy the course it may be tough but it's definitely rewarding!Make loads of friends as these will be with you for 4 years and maybe even after!!
If you've any other questions fire them off here or else PM me

sunnyjim

Ah, that'll be no probs to our man fyr.fytr.

Someday soon he'll be answering every 999 call in the city

Oh, does this mean you are hitting the big smoke with ye old GR?

mehfesto2

tnkrbell wrote: »

UniformOrder a spare tunic (50e but worth it) and don't get a small size cause you only get one uniform allowance for the 4 years of college.Also comfortable shoes are a must and if your a Beaumont student on your first day don't wear Dubarry's as you'll be told to get rid of the white and if your shoes are open top you'll be told to buy proper ones

Lecutres/LecturersThere is some really boring lecturers and some great ones and you'll pick up on this really quickly!Some lecturers are great if something is bothering you and some really will stick up for the students.Also print out lecture notes before lectures as there is plenty to write in during lectures that lecturers will leave out

Some sound advice there.

I dropped out after three years. Mad I know, but it's not what I wanted to do.

The placements were the most enjoyable part by a country mile. It's something you have to really want to do. The dropout numbers are quite high -especially in first year, becuase it's a lot tougher than people expect. But I dont mean to scare you off! If you want to do it, go for it. Some people are born into that job.

There's a lot of written work in the course and it's still finding it's feet (placement and course work overlapped at the worst possible time for my year), but it seems to have gotten better for the newer students.

It's a big class, and it's very impersonal with regards to the lecturers as a result. Dont expect to be having chats with the lecturer without appointment!

I hope you enjoy it! Oh and if you have a choice between Blanch hospital and Beaumont, here's the pros and cons of both:

Blanch has a FAR more interesting A&E, a newer building that's much more pleasnat and well equipped than most other hospitals in the country. However it deals with less types of medical care than Beaumont, Vincents and the Mater. It's a VERY friendly environment to work in and becuase it's medium-sized, you'll become part of the family soon enough.

Beaumont will allow you to see more things, specialised surgery wards and it's own paediatric unit. Though Blanch offers a placement in Crumlin (quite a trek and involves a 5am rise daily!). It's a bigger and busier hospital, but I think all will agree it's far more strict and unnecessarily so in some cases.

I chose blanch and everyone else who did were glad they did for lots of reasons.

Fyr.Fytr

sunnyjim wrote: »

Ah, that'll be no probs to our man fyr.fytr.

Someday soon he'll be answering every 999 call in the city

Oh, does this mean you are hitting the big smoke with ye old GR?

Yea have interview for GR in september!

tnkrbell wrote: »

You crazy person!
I'm heading into my final year of nursing in DCU.All I can say to you is that it is a tough course and you will see and experience quite a lot.Just a few things I'll tell you

Monitoring Attendance Yes its just like being back at school but instead you swipe into lectures with your student card.Each module has an attendance record for it which is based on the number of hours per module.Basically you need to keep your attendance for each module above 80% which means that miss one one hour lecture and your attendance can be down to 90% then miss a two hour lecture and you can then end up with 75% which means that you have to beg (slight exaggeration) for the module co-ordinator to correct your assignment or else get extra work to do to up your attendance.(These percentages are just to give you an example and are not accurate)This is something students moan about as it means people who don't want to be in the lecture are forced to go then sit there and talk through the lecture.There is also spot checks down randomly so if you swipe and leave you will be pulled up in front of the programme head

Placementhave 6 weeks in total in first year.2 weeks in semester one in which you perfect the art of standing with your hands in your pockets and 4 weeks at the end of semester 2.Don't worry in semester 2 there will be 3rd and 4th years out at the same time so don't be afraid to ask them for help.You also still have assignments etc to do while on placement

UniformOrder a spare tunic (50e but worth it) and don't get a small size cause you only get one uniform allowance for the 4 years of college.Also comfortable shoes are a must and if your a Beaumont student on your first day don't wear Dubarry's as you'll be told to get rid of the white and if your shoes are open top you'll be told to buy proper ones

Lecutres/LecturersThere is some really boring lecturers and some great ones and you'll pick up on this really quickly!Some lecturers are great if something is bothering you and some really will stick up for the students.Also print out lecture notes before lectures as there is plenty to write in during lectures that lecturers will leave out

Know it may seem like I just picked on the bad bits but there is good bits too!You'll enjoy the course it may be tough but it's definitely rewarding!Make loads of friends as these will be with you for 4 years and maybe even after!!
If you've any other questions fire them off here or else PM me

Cheers a girl i do vol. ambulance work with has just qualified and told me pretty much the same.

dont worry you wont catch me dead in a pair of dubes, what would suitable shoes be like black school shoes or trainers or what?


Everyone cheers for your responeses cant wait, really looking forward to the challange, the craic and the whole range of skills you learn

tnkrbell

Fyr.Fytr wrote: »

Yea have interview for GR in september!

Cheers a girl i do vol. ambulance work with has just qualified and told me pretty much the same.

dont worry you wont catch me dead in a pair of dubes, what would suitable shoes be like black school shoes or trainers or what?


Everyone cheers for your responeses cant wait, really looking forward to the challange, the craic and the whole range of skills you learn

Black school shoes are perfect just make sure they're comfortable

I'd recommend to try and get Beaumont as your hospital.Paeds is split between Beaumont and Crumlin so it doesn't matter what hospital you are linked to.Beaumont is a busy hospital and you see a lot and gain a lot of experience.Girls who are in Blanch said that A&E can be really quiet some days and theatre is very limited in what you see.Beaumont you've the special centres in Neuro and Kidney transplant, plenty of surgical wards, 12 theatres when you do theatre placement and a&e is always busy!And also Beaumont is closer to DCU if you are living on campus

hobnob101

I have some very important advice for you!

When you are out on your first placement learn to breath through your mouth rather than your nose. That helps when you are dealing with bedpans or other soiled stuff like sheets.... or people for that matter. I will never forget nearly getting sick at first... but it gets to be normal!

There is a nursing forum at http://www.jackiebrownmedical.ie/forum

It's a really rewarding career even if you have to put up with the HSE BS. It's about the people and making someone a little more comfortable than they would have been without you.

Fyr.Fytr

I know beaumount is busy, trying to get handover in the place can be a nightmare, patient lieing on stretcher going "wow its busy in here" 2nh quite quiet they havnt even put pateints in resus yet" lol

Oh im well trained in mouth breathing lol

Cheers folks

Fyr.Fytr

Anymore pearls of wisdom from you nursing folk?

stardust_dublin

yeah...dont do it!

Fyr.Fytr

stardust_dublin wrote: »

yeah...dont do it!

Bit late im half way through first year at this stage