Nursing is such a diverse, challenging and worthwhile career that I really feel it is the right course for me. It is a vocation for people who are practical, conscientious, reliable and who find it easy quickly to establish good, trusting relationships with new people. I have these skills and a genuine desire to help people when they need it most. The role of the nurse is changing in the NHS, with more opportunities for nurses to take greater responsibility for patient care and to become specialists in areas such as intensive care, cancer treatment and other specialties. In studying for a degree in nursing I hope that I will be able to make the most of these opportunities as my career develops. The greater use of Information Technology as the National Programme for IT is implemented in the NHS will have a great impact on the way that patient information is recorded and used by nurses. It will be important that nurses in the NHS are confident in the use of IT and I believe that my A level in Information Technology will help me in this area.
When I was first considering nursing as a career I thought that I would prefer paediatric nursing and arranged for work experience of paediatrics in two hospitals. My first week of work experience took place at St Mary's hospital in Paddington, where I particularly enjoyed my time in the paediatric A and E department. I spent my second week at Leicester Royal Infirmary where I helped on various paediatric wards and in outpatient clinics. My work experience helped me to decide that nursing is for me because I was able to see how doctors and nurses work together as a team and what a huge contribution the nurse makes, not only to the care of the patient but also to the patient's family. I have had recent experience of adult nursing when my father became seriously ill earlier this year and spent four months in hospital. The nursing staff helped me and my family through this time with care and