A Week in the Life of a Third-year Adult Nursing Student

Hi, I’m Meg. I am a final year student studying the BN Adult Nursing degree at the University of Chester, and I am here to tell you what a week in my life as a final year student looks like, so you know what to expect!

Monday

Everybody dreads a Monday morning coming round after a weekend at home, but Monday mornings for me consist of waking up and making myself a cup of coffee before logging into teams for my Prescribing Ready module. This module aims to prepare us for undertaking further qualifications in prescribing once qualified as nurses, and gives us a broader understanding of the pharmacodynamics and kinetics of medicines we are giving to patients.

Tuesday

On a Tuesday, I head into University for my extended project module. This whole day consists of lectures and support sessions with my lecturer to aid us in writing our extended projects, which is the nursing course equivalent to a dissertation. For this, we are required to come up with a service improvement initiative for the NHS, and explain how and why it should be implemented. I have been busy building a business plan, researching literature and reflecting on the process as I go.

Wednesday

On Wednesdays, I either take the opportunity to pick up a shift at my work as a healthcare assistant, maintaining my clinical skills whilst not on placement, or working on university assignments to keep myself on track. In the evening, I will go and catch up with friends or go to a student night in the city to enjoy Chester’s nightlife.

Thursday

On Thursday mornings, I get a nice lie-in and catch up on some sleep. In the afternoon, after having lunch at home, I head to University for a clinical skills session where we practice scenarios such as surgical wards, community settings and intensive care units using the University simulation suite to keep our clinical skills and nursing judgments up to date. In the evening, I spend time with the MMA Society training and keeping myself fit. I have met a great community of people through this, and it gives me a great break from the world of nursing and healthcare.

Friday

Fridays are another opportunity to either work or catch up on university work. In the evening, I get to see my partner or spend time with the girls, watching movies and having charcuterie boards (student-style). Friday is my favourite day of the week because it means it is the weekend and I get to spend time decompressing and doing things I love.

The Weekend

Weekends for me normally consist of spending time with my close friends and partner. Sometimes I game and chat to friends back home, and other times I go out for walks and enjoy the beautiful sights around Chester. 

Occasionally, I will book a weekend shift to earn some extra money to put towards going out with friends or going home to see family. I make sure to do a Sunday reset and prepare myself for the week ahead by relaxing with a face mask and movie on a Sunday evening.