The end of a hectic 2 weeks of induction!

I Started my studies at London South Bank University, Havering campus on Monday 15th September 2008. I was a bundle of nerves, but bouncing with excitement to be starting out on my lifelong ambition. Kids were all safely shipped off to breakfast club, and my bag was packed and checked about 20 times. My first feelings were of isolation as I drew closer to the area everyone was congregating. Small groups had formed of people who all seemed to know each other, and I stood self consciously leaning up against a wall fiddling with my phone. As we were ushered to what is known as lecture hall 1

someone in authority said "Ah its the lambs being led to the slaughter!" which eased the tension a little. The next half hour passed in a blur, with form upon form, and que upon que. I had signed up to Adult nursing, had I made the right choice? I reflected back on the open day when my gut told me I wanted to become a children's nurse. "I really wouldn't advise it" said one of the staff, "If your not really sure you should do Adult nursing, or you'll be stuck with nowhere to go" Since I wanted to go as high up the ladder as I could, I took this as gospel and pushed aside my gut feeling. This was playing on my mind as I sat down in yet another Que to produce my qualification certificates. "What branch are you doing?" asked a friendly face next to me. "Adult" I said glumly, beginning to worry I had made a huge mistake. It just so happened that this girl was not a new student at all, and had enrolled last year into adult nursing. She explained how she had done several months of the course and realised Adult branch just wasn't for her, and pulled out of the course. She didn't know she could swap, so there she was starting out again but in Child branch instead. Swap branch?! was that really possible? I began to hope it was, and told her about how I was feeling before being cut short by my turn at the front of the cue. It was here that I was asked to produce my certificates to one of the staff. I passed over my certificates to the friendly looking lady behind the desk who's face lit up when she saw the A* I had gained for GCSE child development. After congratulating me she immediately looked puzzled, "Why are you not doing child nursing?" she replied scanning through my application. It turned out she was the head of the child nursing department, and I was so relieved to tell her how I was feeling. "Come and see me" she said. It turns out I was not stuck at all, and the relief I felt told me all I needed to know. I was going to become a children's nurse!

The next few days kinda dragged, with not much going on except for more forms, and introductions. During one session I got talking to someone who I knew straight away would be a good friend. Her name is Mandy, and she has 4 kids, a dog, and is doing Children's nursing. During the second week I managed to complete the task of enrollment, juggle the roles of housewife, mother, and full time student nurse, and to my relief changed branch to Child nursing! It was the end of a long 2 weeks adjusting to my new life, and I was looking forward to a relaxing day off on Friday. It started off just how I planned, pottering around, getting through a backlog of washing till something rather unfortunate happened....