To kick off our celebrations for Year of the Nurse and Midwife, student nurse María Carruego tells us about her experience so far and her ambitions for the future.

What inspired you to study nursing?

I’ve wanted to study nursing for as long as I can remember. From a young age I was always interested in watching programmes that involved helping and looking after people and I loved receiving medical toys such as bandages and stethoscopes for my birthday so I could play with my sisters and pretend they were injured. But I’ve always had in my mind that working in a healthcare profession meant having to study hard, so when I looked at the entry requirements for University, this motivated me to work harder for my GCSE’s and A-Levels because the results of this would be being able to study for a career I  have always wanted to do.

What has been your best experience so far as a student nurse?

My best experience so far as a student nurse is having to put into practice what I’ve learnt at University. This is because you’re able to get really good feedback from patients, families and healthcare professionals, which is very rewarding at the end of the day. I’ve had patients thank me for how well I’ve been treating them during placement, and honestly, this makes me feel so happy because this kind of feedback makes me feel like I am doing a good job, which I think it’s quite reassuring for student nurses since it shows how grateful the patients are. Also, sometimes it can be the little things that just makes me think that I am doing well, and I can’t wait to qualify as a nurse to carry on helping more patients.

Is there anyone who has particularly inspired you during your training?

During placement practice I have been inspired by not just one person, but multiple. Being able to see patients get well because of all the work nurses, healthcare assistants, doctors and many others do is amazing, and it just makes me want to work harder towards my degree because I want to follow in their footsteps.

What are your ambitions for your future as a nurse/midwife?

My ambitions for the future would be, being able to be that person who makes a difference to someone’s life by contributing to their life and health. Also, with nursing I feel like there is always opportunities to get your hands on something you haven’t experienced before because this work field is always developing learning opportunities which are effective for learning new skills.

What would you say to anyone who is thinking about studying to become a nurse/midwife?

I think I would tell them to pursue their dreams and if this career is something they’ve been wanting to do for a long time, then they should give it a go! However, I think when it comes to this degree you have to have dedication, passion and commitment because although it can be challenging at times it can also be very rewarding which makes it worth it.