As a link lecturer, I was visiting a trust and waiting for a meeting on a busy ward. I was passively watching a student nurse performing nursing care activities for a patient who was sitting on a chair. On completion of the tasks, I overheard the patient say, ‘thank you, nurse’, to which the student nurse replied ‘No, I am just a student’ then gently placed their hand on the patient's shoulder, leaned in to say ‘please let me know if you need anything else’, smiled and left. I was then called to my meeting, but this conversation was still etched in my mind.
Clearly, the student nurse had been right to correct the patient regarding their status. But to say that they were ‘just a student’ sounded quite negative. Could it have been imposter syndrome, professional socialisation, demoralisation or lack of confidence? Sadly, I missed my opportunity to address this with them. I felt that such activity had displayed all the criteria of being part of nurse training, fulfilling the ‘6 Cs’ of care: compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment. It showed much more besides, such as good character – a value held dear to us as professionals, showing qualities of having principles and creating a good impression.
My university recently had an important event, and we were tasked with selecting seven final-year students from a list of recommended students. They would be chosen to represent the university, but also to recognise their own achievements. This was a difficult undertaking as we could see such potential in all who had been recommended. Nonetheless seven were chosen and they volunteered without question, even though they did not know the full details at that point as those were confidential.
For weeks we practised the skills and tasks required. They would come in on their day off from placement, after a full week of over 40 hours. They were mixing with fellow students from other professions. As an academic, I know colleagues who would grumble at such a task, but these students were determined.
Through the weeks I got to know the seven students well and they shared their stories with me.
‘At a young age I never considered myself capable of completing a degree, but when my father died after suffering for 13 years with kidney disease, and the care and attention he received in healthcare throughout … I knew that this was the journey, which at times has been difficult, that would be the career for me.’
Kajeanna
‘I was 14 years old when my grandfather died, we were very close, and to lose someone at that age I felt at a loss. But for the devotion and attention from the nurses, I knew I wanted to give something back to the NHS.’
Erin
‘I came into nursing late in life, I waited for my children to grow up, but felt it might be too late. Then COVID hit us, and it hit my family badly. I knew then I needed to do something. I wanted to be a nurse.’
Hayley
‘Coming from East Africa, a community where health facilities and equipment are scarce. I remember the struggle my parents and I had (aged 12) caring for my disabled grandmother. I was (am) determined to make a difference, to be a nurse.’
Banjo
‘It took others around me to convince me to become a nurse, never thought any more than being a healthcare support worker. But as an apprentice I was encouraged to do my best. And here I am in my final year of nurse training. I am so surprised, it's been amazing.’
Hyacinth
‘The year 2014 marked a change for me, we were in the UK in July and my wife went into labour. It was all happening so fast there was just no time. Through instruction, I delivered our baby into the world, and wanting to protect my new family with their health, after 4 years I finally got into nursing. ‘
Olugbenga
‘My entry into the nursing course was not easy, I needed to go through night school to meet the right criteria. Then, no-one was more pleased when I received the welcome letter to start the course. I had done it! And now I look back in my final year knowing I had made the right decision.’
Fathima
I felt privileged to learn of their journeys and reasons for wanting to become a nurse, and it reminded me of the occasion when I was visiting a placement, that feeling of: here is an example of good character and you are more than ‘just’ a student.
Later, it was announced that they would be presenting in front of King Charles at a visit to mark the university's 125th anniversary, and also Professor Mark Radford, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England and at that time Chief Nurse at Health Education England (Mewalla, 2023; University of East London, 2023a; 2023b). At that moment, I saw in them a mixture of emotions: excitement, fear, but overall a feeling of duty and commitment. Undeterred, they trained harder to ensure that they had got everything right.
So, the moral of this discussion is that you are never ‘just’ a student. As soon as you put on your uniform you are a student nurse with great character, who can show resilience in an ever-changing climate. Whenever you feel low in mood or confidence, just remember your journey and why you are here.