Heading towards Nursing and Midwifery studies? I’d say that’s a great choice. A nursing and Midwifery degree means so much to individuals who endeavor to contribute to the healthcare sector. But it’s equally challenging.
I hate to say this, but if you aren’t managing your studies well, there’s a great chance that you’ll lag behind in the results. To be honest, most people might argue about the importance of academics, but this is what paves the way for the future.
It might seem harsh, but you have to earn your independence as a professional by committing to the constrained space of academia. And believe me; it is not as constrained as you think. Instead, if you’re enjoying your studies, you can surely live life king-size.
Now, I won’t blabber plain assumptions. What I want is for you to have a solid strategy before going for a nursing and midwifery degree. For this reason, this article provides some valuable real-life tips that you can leverage.
Hear it from a Third-year Nursing and Midwifery Student
Well, that’s me! I have been pursuing a dual degree in nursing and midwifery since 2018. Currently, in my third year—I have some experiences to share that can be very valuable for you. Besides, the fact that I’m a current student makes these tips very practical in present-day academia.
In 2018, when I joined in as a nursing student, I was nervous but equally excited, for I had no hint about what was going to happen. I didn’t know what to expect and, instead, wished for pleasing surroundings. And this is natural as every fresher expects a comfortable and fitting environment, and rightly so.
But what I never anticipated was the fact that the first year would be a game-changer. Both the first and second semesters hit me hard. I struggled with Anatomy Physiology and Professional Studies.
Anatomy and Physiology is one of the major first-year subjects and quite integral to healthcare studies as it covers the structure and function of the human body. To give you a little background, it includes topics such as cells and tissues, integumentary, skeleton and joints, muscle types, nervous, endocrine, circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and the list goes on.
Why am I telling you this? Because there’s a lot of information, you are required to consume from the word GO. For this precise reason, these subjects kept me awake in night. Even after trying hard, I wasn’t able to keep up with the expectations.
My teacher even went on to say that “Fatumo I don’t want to see you again next year in my class.” However, I did justice to my potential in the end by:
- Forming a study group with like-minded people
- Discussing the topics with them
- Booking study rooms in the library
- Clearing the fellows’ problems in the aforementioned subjects
- Getting my problems cleared by listening to them
Professional Studies was next in line
As mentioned above, I struggled with my professional studies. This subject is all about writing academic essays. The objective of this course is to explain the technicalities behind professional essay writing.
Is it even necessary? Very Important, if you ask me. This subject actually lets you understand what academic writing is about and how you can develop your own papers in the most appropriate styles.
Now, I wasn’t aware of anything regarding this subject. The professor, in the starting itself, told us about the three assignments that were due. The first assignment that I did was titled ‘Characteristics of Therapeutic nursing and Therapeutic Communication.’
The requirement was to add 8-10 references with in-text citations in the APA (Hyperlink to the relevant website) format. As expected, I didn’t have any prior knowledge of the same, and I turned in the assignment without any referencing, thus, losing 30%.
However, after going through the major referencing systems, I mastered their usage and got 80% in my next assignment. This helped me in maintaining my percentage to advance to the following year.
Finally, my Top-Tips for succeeding in your first-year studies as nurse/midwives
1. Prepare a module
A module is highly beneficial in letting you know what’s next and how you can manage it. Note down the learning outcomes in the module pertaining to the specific subject and ensure that you revisit this module every now and then to keep track of your progress.
2. Prepare a planner
Creating a course/learning module isn’t enough. You need to manage your time so that you can increase your productivity. In this planner, note down the learnings you need to do according to the weightage. Prioritize what’s important in the short run.
At the start of the year, I made the mistake of delving far too deep into some topics, and then, towards the end, I ran out of precious time.
3. Keep track of the placements
The first year is saturated with placements and, at times, it can be overwhelming. Working 8-10 hours each day can be tiring, especially when you have your assignments due. Thus, avoid procrastination and do your revision/assignment before the placement starts.
Just to give you an idea about placements, here’s a look into what I was required to attend in my first year.
- Sem 1: 16 hours of maternity care
- Sem 1: 40 hours of nursing
- Sem 2: 80 hours of nursing
- Sem 2: 80 hours of midwifery
That makes it 216 hours of placement time for the first year alone.
4. Form study groups with like-minded people
Always leverage the opportunity to communicate with the community and learn from them. You see, multiple minds are always more effective than a sole brain. You can do what I explained in the previous section for making it work with study groups.
Conclusion
I followed the above things and observed that it became more comfortable for me to cope up with the stress that comes along. And now, I enjoy what I do. I want the same for you, ensure that you’re up to the challenge right when you kickstart your degree.
In case you guys are interested in notes making for nursing/midwifery, you can always contact me for suggestions. I’ll be happy to help you out 🙂
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