Becca McDonald - Adult Nursing student

Why did you choose to study Adult Nursing at DMU?

I originally joined DMU as a Medical Science student in 2019, then in March 2020 the pandemic hit and we were all sent home to continue that academic year online. During this period, I was seeing the incredibly hard work that the NHS staff were doing during the pandemic and I would sit there wishing I could help.

My mum is a Healthcare Assistant for the NHS so I’ve grown up around healthcare and always had a passion for helping people. I contacted DMU to ask for an internal transfer to Adult Nursing and they agreed to give me an interview. I was over the moon!

How have you found it studying Adult Nursing?

I’m now in my final year and I have been opened up to many opportunities and experiences that have allowed me to decide what I want to do in the future. I have been able to gain skills related to patient care and treatment, but it has also allowed me to build on life skills such as communication and time management which I will be able to use in the future inside and outside of the work environment.

It isn’t an easy course, there is a lot of balance required with such an intense course, especially during placement blocks when you’re working full-time. Having said that, it is enjoyable and you build a support network amongst course mates as everyone is in the same boat and all look out for one another.

What have you enjoyed most about the course?

I’ve really enjoyed all the opportunities offered on the DMU Nursing course. The variety of placements I’ve been on have helped me to decide where I want to work in my future career as a registered nurse.

As well as this, I was extremely lucky to be offered a place on the DMU Global trip to Dubai to look at their healthcare system. This is something I would probably never have experienced otherwise so I am incredibly grateful for the experience – it was incredible!