Ailsa Blackadder, BNurs 2016 | Staff Nurse

Ailsa graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Honours degree in 2016, and is currently working as a Staff Nurse within the Intensive Care Ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. 

Can you tell us more about your current role?

I am currently a staff nurse in intensive care which involves caring for level 2 and level 3 patients that need one to one nursing care. Usually, ventilated patients and patients on multiple inotropes or other life preserving equipment are the patients we receive in intensive care. We are a major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe and the intensive care unit receives many trauma cases. We also work at the Churchill intensive care site, which specialises in haematology, oncology and GI. Therefore, it is mostly elective surgical patients and deteriorating patients we receive there with the above diagnoses.

What do you love the most about your job and what is the biggest challenge?

The challenge is the part I love most about the job. Everyday is different and every patient is different. You never know what sort of emergency is going to come in but you just know they are going to be very unwell to come to intensive care so you have to be prepared for the worst. One of the biggest challenges is dealing with relatives who are unsure about certain situations and dealing with the death of a patient with relatives is always very difficult.

How did your degree help prepare you for your career? What subjects/ modules/ experiences did you find the most valuable?

My degree helped me with the caring aspect of nursing and the basic care needed when dealing with patients. The placements helped the most to help me decide which areas I would like to work in and which areas I wouldn't. I think the joint modules with physiotherapists helped as we work closely with the physio's on a day to day basis. I think the most valuable modules were in third year which were more in depth. Anatomy and physiology was helpful however I think, especially for my current job, we needed longer on the subject and more in depth knowledge on this module as it is probably one of the most useful subjects for nursing staff. 

What attracted you to studying at Birmingham?

The ranking of the University for nursing attracted me and the fact it is a well-established university with top rankings among the universities in England. I also like that it is in a large city but still affordable for students, with a lot going on all the time.

How would you sum up your time in Birmingham in three words?

Fulfilling. Inspiring. Hilarious.

What inspired you most during your time at Birmingham? For example, guest speakers, lecturers, research, friendships, extra-curricular activities.

The friendships I made at university truly made my time there! I think some of the lecturers were also very inspiring, with the research they were doing alongside their careers and the stories they had from their times as nurses on the wards. 

What tips/ advice would you give to people who are considering studying your course at Birmingham? 

Be ready for the rivalry with BCU! (Haha) Be prepared for the long hours and hard work compared with other courses. It's not an easy ride. But the city has a lot to offer in the free time you do have, so be adventurous and explore while you can.

How would you advise people to make the most of their time on their course? 

Be proactive. The more prepared you are, the better and it doesn't go unnoticed either. With the elective placement as well, this was a highlight of my time on the nursing course, and it's because we'd researched and prepared way in advance to arrange it that it made it less stressful. But also with deadlines and placement prep, the more prepared you are, the easier things will be.

And finally, is there anything else you’d like to share?

I'd love to go back and do it all again! My friends kept me sane and made my time at Birmingham so amazing. I couldn't have done it without them!