So, my first post as a student learning disability nurse I thought would be around how I feel about it and the changes from the life I have come from into this world however I feel it important to offer some advice to others in similar situations- starting a course during a pandemic.
For me the concept of learning online wasn't a strange one. The whole of my last masters degree was by virtual campus using mainly webex. My cohort were faces on screens, personalities in my computer (and friends for life!) When I applied for this masters degree I had hoped I would then be in face to face groups without the barrier of distance and screens.
The pandemic had other ideas.
Here we sit doing our induction online. The reality of this hit a little a week ago when i took my niece to university. (See picture for the uni survival kit 2020 style I put together for her) She had a little wobble and I couldn't actively encourage her to be getting involved in big groups of people. She has since adapted and is loving her course and new life. I feel for 18 (or thereabouts) year olds navigating their new university life, many away from home, in the current climate. At an age where image and peer acceptance is so so important, they have the barriers. My own induction has been mainly on teams and this offers some interaction, but some on different nursing courses, I know has been recorded films to watch. They're deflated after so much hype.
Of course it is no ones fault. We are student nurses. We want the pandemic to be controlled and for least people to get sick but its important for those going through this transition to acknowledge and do all they can. So, I just wanted to offer the benefit of my experience as a online student previously and also because I worked solely online prior to becoming a student again, with a few tips.
- Make connections. Use social media. Make study groups. Those are the absolute key to keeping you going. Where safe arrange to meet up, but have that daily contact with your groups. Not just for study, but for banter, for encouragement or whatever is important to you,. That is the support network that will get you through, even when things change to face to face again. That's the group that will know when the next assignment is due in or where best to get your nails done (nails, what are they?)
- Make your study area your own. If its photos all around of people who inspire you, so be it. If its a corporate wall planner so be it. If its twinkly lights, so be it. You are going to spend a lot of time there, it needs to feel happy and motivating. My own study area (organised chaos!) has many pictures of my son and family, an Annie doll, pretty stationary and post it notes EVERYWHERE :)
- Be comfortable. A dining chair isn't going to do your back any good long term. If you can invest in a decent chair or at least back support. You need that back to stay well!
- Walk away from the screen as much as possible. The emphasis is on "walk away." Stretch the legs, leave the room, get fresh air if you can. I know taking your phone with you is inevitable and you may end up scrolling social media but that break form the intensity of your learning screen will help. (Try to have non phone time too!)
- Drink plenty of water. Its good for you and if nothing else it will make you leave your desk to go for a wee!
- Most importantly be kind to yourself. Recognise if online learning is getting tough. Talk to your peers (they really will understand) Talk to you study support networks. You can do this but as they say, its ok not to be ok too.
- Last but not least, be proud. you're starting a course in the midst of a pandemic . That's no mean feat. Many deferred for a year (that's ok too, we are all different) but you have been on a journey to get this far and can keep going. You're amazing.
No comments:
Post a Comment