"The practical experiences and opportunities that I have been offered as a student nurse have been nothing short of amazing! I have been assigned to work in a number of different settings from acute hospital wards to community based teams and have worked with and cared for people from all walks of life.

Trying to summarise a day in placement is like trying to summarise typical British weather; it's varied and constantly changing. You're frequently presented with something else - a new challenge, a new experience and a new learning opportunity.

Certainly there are things that don't change. There are always things that have to be done and targets that have got to be met.

In my unit, an assessment and treatment service for people with learning disabilities, we cater for up to 12 patients at a time. The day is usually fast paced from the offset. After handover a shift planner is devised and duties are allocated to the staff team as appropriate: from supporting people with washing and dressing, formal observations under the Mental Health Act (1983) to laundry and activities.

The environment is usually a hub of activity and the atmosphere charged. On a daily basis there are admissions and discharges, liaison with consultants and other professionals, visitors to the unit and various activities being undertaken. The nature of the unit means that all number of assessments from behavioural to speech and language are undertaken.

The nature of our client group suggests that the unit can, at times be unpredictable. The staff that I work alongside are expected to demonstrate high levels of skill and expertise in the quality and quantity of their interaction with patients. These skills contribute immensely to the patient experience. The compassion, understanding and patience that I have witnessed in the staff is truly humbling. My observation of these skills is certainly most inspiring. Being welcomed into, and recognised as part of such a team can be completely overwhelming. Every decision I have made or conversation that I have had has been in the best interest of, or of benefit to, someone else and their quality of life. Knowing this makes me feel 'warm and fuzzy inside' and to me there can be no greater job satisfaction. I can't help but feel proud of myself and my team on a daily, if not sometimes hourly basis - it is unbeatable and I simply can't imagine what else I could be doing be doing with my life."