University started for third-year nursing students in early February. Our first semester began with placement and then moved to academic study in March. The Faculty of Nursing moved to an online mode of study during mid-March (Go nurses! Ahead of the game!) while the rest of university moved completely online during April.
What’s Changed?
In terms of classes, not a lot! I’ve found that online tutorials have been really beneficial and I don’t feel that my learning has been too affected. Our lectures were already all online and our online tutorials have been quite interactive. If anything, we have more flexibility in terms of engagement – there have been some days where I have stayed in pyjamas and turned my camera off.
The lack of interaction has been a little difficult; I miss seeing my nursing sisters and brothers everyday but we are keeping in touch and messaging each other with questions about our study continuously. I don’t know what I would do without this amazing group of people! It makes me think that it must be very hard for those first-year students who haven’t yet had the opportunity to find their people.
OSCAS (or OSCES): We recently had our first ever online OSCA! This is a nursing assessment where you are presented with a case or situation and the student uses their knowledge and skills to demonstrate to the assessor that we are capable. Never have I felt prepared for an OSCA but an online OSCA! This was the stuff of nightmares! It was a bit like using virtual reality to examine the patient and the notes and documentation provided. We then had to create a video to upload addressing how we could address the scenario.
Clinical placement: At this moment in time, clinical placements are limited and in high demand due to this pandemic. We are wondering whether we will be able to graduate this year and whether we’ll have the clinical hours to register as nurses. For now, we’ll sit tight; hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
What Hasn’t Changed?
I’m still a procrastinator. I’ve seen a lot of people talking online about how they’re going to use this time to be as productive as possible. This has been the opposite in my case. Writing this blog post… procrastination. Reorganising my filing… procrastination. Bingeing Ozark… Procrastination. I’m glad some things haven’t changed during this crazy time!
The University has been doing an amazing job of checking in with us and trying to support us to complete our degree. No amount of planning could have prepared us for this, so of course there will be some little hiccups (especially in the technology department) but we are all doing the best that we can, given the circumstances.
In the words of Doctor Mike (check him out on YouTube, you won’t regret it) : ‘Stay alert, not anxious!’
Daisy Azmi 