Demi-Jo
Bsc (Hons) Children’s Nursing
Demi has just completed her final year of the BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing degree at the University of Bradford and is about to become a fully-qualified registered nurse.
This is her story…
An instant feeling
“I got such a good feeling about Bradford.”
"I live in Leeds and applied to study nursing at three local universities, but as soon as I visited Bradford I got a good feeling about it and knew it was the place where I wanted to do my degree. It’s a really inclusive university and I felt like I belonged there when I attended the experience day on campus."
Inspiration from experience
“I chose to study nursing after giving birth to my daughter prematurely.”
“My daughter, who is almost seven, was born prematurely and we had to spend a few weeks in the hospital after her birth until she was strong enough to go home. The nurses on the ward were amazing and they really got me involved in her care and taught me how I needed to look after her when I took her home. It really inspired me, and I decided that I wanted to become a children’s nurse too, so I could help other families like those nurses helped me.
“As a parent who’s had a poorly child, I also know how it feels, so I feel like I can help other families going through similar situations because I understand exactly what they are going through.”
A little bit of everything
“The course covers everything you need to know.”
“In the first two years, you study with mixed-field nursing students and learn the basics of nursing, including theories, how to use evidence, how to assess patients and the foundations of nursing practice, so you gain so much knowledge. In your final year, you break off into your specialist fields and learn about professional leadership, team working, how to work with other professionals to provide integrated care, and how to manage complex patients.
“You also do two practice placements per year that are relevant to your specialist field, which give you so much brilliant experience. I worked on a specialist surgical ward at the LGI in Leeds, and in the neonatal ward and children’s ward at Bradford. I also did health visiting in Wakefield, worked in a special educational needs school in Leeds, where I observed how teachers worked and communicated with children with additional needs, and did my final placement on a children’s ward at Pinderfields.”
The practical, hands-on side of the course is fantastic. All my practice placements have been phenomenal, and you get to do so many things while you’re on them.
Gaining the skills
“The work placements and hands-on elements of the course were highlights.”
“I got to see an emergency C-section, and looked after children on the children’s ward that I’d previously looked after on the neonatal ward. You gain so many skills and the University encourages you to get as much work experience as possible.
“I also created lots of further opportunities for myself by becoming a student rep and a student ambassador, and I got nominated for a Nursing Times Award. The course staff push you to do as much as you can, which is great.”
Practical learning at Bradford
“The facilities at Bradford are excellent.”
“The facilities at Bradford are really impressive and there’s a whole floor dedicated to nursing that’s split into different rooms where you can learn about different things. There’s a mini ward where you learn how to hoist people and do things like bed baths, as well as simulation bodies that you can practice clinical skills on. All the rooms are compact, so you get to learn in small groups, which gives you a really personal learning experience.”
Invaluable staff
“The staff on the course all have nursing qualifications.”
“The staff who teach on the course are all registered nurses or have some sort of nursing qualification, so they know the field inside out. All the module leaders have also worked as children’s nurses, so they know what it’s like and can provide real life insights as they’ve worked in practice themselves. It makes a big difference.”
“Everyone is so supportive.”
“The lecturing team is brilliant. All the lecturers are really supportive and there for you when you need them, plus as they’ve all worked in the field they can share knowledge and best practice with you.”
Skills to last a lifetime
“The course has given me everything I need to pursue a career in nursing.”
“Now I’m at the end of my degree, I feel really confident about practising as a children’s nurse thanks to the skills and knowledge I’ve gained at Bradford.
“Nurses from Bradford are highly sought after and highly regarded, and I’ve already got a job on the children’s ward at Pinderfields, the hospital where I did my last placement.”
Here's to a bright future
“My advice to other students hoping to follow in my footsteps.”
“Take every opportunity that comes your way, as the more you put in, the more you’ll get out. I put in a lot of hard work while I was studying at Bradford, and I’ve reaped the rewards."
When times get tough – which they sometimes will – always remember why you started out in nursing and keep that front of mind.
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