Compassion and empathy are essential qualities required of nurses working on the frontline caring for NHS patients. I learned how crucial these skills were while on my journey toward nursing, as I volunteered in a care home and cared for my grandfather, who suffers from Parkinson’s. While caring for others, I realised how rewarding a role in nursing could be as I would join a multi-disciplinary team which works collaboratively to enhance a patient’s healthcare journey.

Nursing intrigued me as I have always wished to care for others, reduce patient anxiety and contribute to their care. While caring for my grandfather, I saw how challenging life can become with a debilitating condition that affects movement and quality of life. He was deteriorating slowly, and he had many appointments with various members of the healthcare team to monitor him. This was exhausting, but the team that cared for him were passionate in their role and continually searching for ways to improve his life. The care we received was personal and tailored to his needs, inspiring me to provide similar patient-centred care.

To better prepare myself for a caring environment, I began weekly volunteering at a local care home for those suffering from dementia. I would regularly create engaging activities to keep the residents entertained and ensure they were mentally stimulated. I built strong relationships with the caring team as I would often step in to offer a helping hand with meal times and cleaning. By doing so, I learned the power of teamwork and effective working. While speaking to the residents, I had to be patient and understand their communication difficulties. I could also talk with the resident’s family members and share our activities during the day. This was fulfilling, but it was tough to see the care home residents forget their loved ones. Through my time at home, I developed my resilience and learned to overcome any challenges that may arise, and I plan to keep working on my strong mindset while on the nursing course.

Aside from my caring duties, I was also a student leader during my time in college, where I took on a role of leadership and responsibility as I implemented strategies to improve learning. This involved me liaising with the staff and sharing student concerns and ideas to improve the education we were receiving. I became more confident in communicating my thoughts and discussing options and alternatives that would benefit the staff and students. Similarly, there may be times when nurses have to share their thoughts on quality improvement within a clinic and discuss any concerns they may have with patients. Being accountable and speaking up can be daunting. However, this is a priority when caring for patients and putting them first.

I witnessed nurses’ various roles while shadowing at a hospital over two days. I oversaw how the nurses built trusting relationships through excellent communication with the patients on the ward. They would go above and beyond in their duties and ensure patients were well-monitored and appropriately cared for. I found that the nurses respected the patients and made them feel as comfortable as possible. The nurses regularly monitor patient vitals and communicate their findings to the physicians in charge, which involves accuracy and attention to detail. I improved my accuracy while working on chemistry practicals during lab work, where delicate movements were required to record findings during titration practicals accurately. I wish to further enhance these skills by gaining extensive clinical experience.

My journey has encompassed a variety of patient experiences that have drawn me toward healthcare. I recognise there will be challenges along the way and have built the resilience to tackle these and to provide patients with high-quality care. This opportunity would be invaluable in my growth and I look forward to someday joining the frontline workers.