My journey as a mental health nursing student

My offer to study at the University came with much excitement! But as excited as I was, I was also quite nervous because I had never been to Scotland or the UK before, and I was unsure of what to expect or how to navigate life in a new city and country. Now, a year has gone by!

Studying at Dundee

The University of Dundee is one of Scotland's leading providers of nursing and healthcare education, with excellent facilities that will help equip you with the essential skills needed for a successful and rewarding career in nursing.

The learning environment is grounded in teaching and research excellence. The lecturers create an engaging classroom environment, where you are free to share your own experiences, and they walk you through any areas you may be uncertain about.

One of the best things about studying Nursing at Dundee is that you spend half your time learning on campus, and the other half on placements in hospitals and community settings, giving you the chance to use what you have learned and apply it in real-life settings.

Hands-on experience

Clinical skills and placements are invaluable as they provide essential information, techniques, and skills that we will use in practice. These sessions give a sense of what it is like to be in a ward or attending to patients, offering opportunities to practice and develop your skills in a supportive and friendly environment.  

As wells as hands-on experience, the course includes online modules and assessments which help build our knowledge and skills.

Life as a nursing student

As a nursing student, you often find yourself in new situations, unsure of what to do. Reaching out for assistance, no matter how small, can be incredibly helpful, and you would be surprised how many other students are facing the same challenges. Speaking out not only helps you but others as well.

Joining societies and volunteering groups, such as the African Caribbean Society and Peer Connectors, that promote empathy and care for others, has helped me reflect on my decision to become a Mental Health Nurse.

My highlights

My highlights of the course so far have to be the clinical skills workshops and the friendships I have made. Before starting, I wondered what it would feel like to be in a practice ward environment. Attending clinical skills workshops has been both exciting and insightful. Meeting new course mates and sharing experiences has also been a lot of fun.

Today, I am proud to be a nursing student, and I am happy to say that I enjoy life here in Dundee!