Marianne Agius Attard is following the B.Sc. (Hons.) in Nursing Part-Time programme and is in her 2nd year.
What is your message from your angle as a nursing student to prospective students in light of International Nurses Day?
Welcome to a new and exciting career!
When it comes to giving career advice on nursing, for me it is more on a personal level. I was driven to choose nursing when I experienced personal loss and I wanted to help and make people better however, you learn the hard truth that you cannot always save everyone. I wanted to do something interesting, challenging and that makes a difference in people’s lives. I am currently studying a BSc in nursing studies, at the same time I am also raising a family (two young daughters) and working in a laboratory, so I find myself battling all the emotional aspects of being a mother, student and working parent. However, through all of this I am determined to get to my final year and show my children that anything is possible even later on in life.
Moreover, the best advice I can give is to never stop learning. Medical science continues to grow and you are the resources of the lives you touch. Go beyond, read and research.
Never be afraid to ask questions, wrong or right, you learn from them.
Seek out a mentor to help you grow, someone you admire and look up to in order to progress in your career.
More importantly you have chosen an honorable profession; there is no greater privilege than to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support to others, therefore don’t ever let the compassion you started with leave you as it is what makes you a nurse!
Furthermore, be ready to adapt to change as you will see so much; from life to death, so look after your mental health.