James Robinson

BSc Child Nursing

“Why did you choose to study at Anglia Ruskin University?
I had spent the past 10 years working as an IT consultant. As such my career up until that point had been totally unrelated to nursing and I was apprehensive about applying. Would I have the appropriate skills to undertake a nursing degree? How would I adapt to working in a hospital environment given my limited experience? I was also aware that if I did apply I would be entering as a mature student. I had always assumed university was for 'young' people and wasn't sure whether I would be the oldest person there!

Before applying I attended a university open day to try to get some answers, and was impressed with the knowledge of the staff. The staff were approachable and the openness with which they talked about the course was refreshing. They were able to give me a good idea of what to expect from the course and explained that it was quite common for people from all sorts of careers to express an interest in nursing.



What initially attracted you to your course?
The way the course was structured appealed a lot. Rather that simply being asked to produce essays demonstrating what I had learnt, I would be assessed using a diverse range of techniques such as presentations, case studies, and in-practice assessments. I felt that this was good because nursing isn't about academic ability alone.

I also liked the concept of theory work underpinning what I do in practice. Being able to apply the things I've learnt in class to real world experiences seemed like an effective way to learn.


Which aspects of your course do you enjoy most and why?
I enjoy being out in practice the most. Working alongside children and their parents is rewarding and challenging in equal measure. No two shifts are ever the same and there is always something new to learn. As a student you are in a good position - there will be times when you can stand back and learn through observing qualified staff. At other times you will be expected to work on your own initiative but you always have the support of your colleagues.


Has the course met/exceeded your expectations? If so, how?
It has exceeded my expectations in the sense that I didn't realise just how much I was going to develop personally. I feel my inter-personal skills and confidence in dealing with difficult situations have improved. My time on the course has shown me that good nursing extends beyond addressing a person's clinical need. You need to be a good communicator and work well as part of a team.


Why would you recommend your course to others?
Good balance of theory and practice. Opportunity to work in a broad range of clinical settings.


Has your course involved any work placements? If so how were these useful?
Half of my course is spent on placement. I've had the opportunity to work in many different settings including hospital wards, out patients, operating theatres and schools. Nursing is such a wide ranging career that the possibilities for work can seem quite overwhelming. Having the chance to work in different placements is beneficial because it give me a taste of what it would be like to work in those places once I qualify.


What are your ambitions/plans for the future, and how do you feel that your course will help you to achieve these?
Ambitions for now are to get my BSc Nursing (Child) which will allow me to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and apply for work as a children's nurse. Longer term I hope to become a nurse specialist which would see me providing support for sick children within in a specific area.


How do you rate the support offered by both our teaching and support staff?
Anglia Ruskin has a well developed support network which caters for students of all ages. Becoming a student involves a huge financial commitment and surviving on a government bursary can be a challenge. Anglia Ruskin's student money advisors were able to guide me through the maze of financial support available to me. Also, the employment bureau have been able to find me temporary work which has helped me top up the ever declining bank balance.


How do you rate our facilities and resources on offer at our campuses?
As a mature student I rarely use the social facilities on campus. When I first started the course I attended a study session organised by the library. This gave me information on using the library catalogue and digital library. It was well worth doing as I have used the facilities many times since then.


Please tell us about any course/Faculty specific facilities that you have found useful during your studies.
One of the most beneficial facilities provided by the FHSCE are the clinical skills rooms. They allow me to practice my nursing skills in a friendly, low pressure environment. This is a good way to prepare me for putting those skills into practice on real patients!


How do you find fitting you studies around your outside commitments including work, family etc?
I have found the course quite intensive and had to quickly learn to manage my time effectively. There have been occasions, especially around assignment deadline time, when it felt like there weren't enough hours in the day and that has put huge pressures on me and my family. Saying that, the course is hugely rewarding and the sense of achievement I get from passing an assignment more than makes up for the stressful times.
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