Nursing Reflective Essay

At the age of eight, I experienced a devastating moment of my life. My younger sister was diagnosed with cancer. I witnessed the emotional turmoil that my family went through and vividly felt an unprecedented level of anguish and despair. Thankfully, my sister promptly underwent treatment and has not suffered with any significant repercussions of the disease ever since. Despite my age, the ordeal gave me valuable insight into the medical profession, and I became acutely aware of the importance of healthcare and gained an appreciation of the people who dedicate their lives to medicine.

This encounter with the Oncology Department taught me that hospitals do not just consist of needles and surgeries. Instead, it includes people who are willing to sacrifice their time to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of healthcare and experience it from the perspective of doctors, I sought out work experience placements. My first placement in a GP surgery taught me the need for punctuality as I

Teamwork was the most important aspect I observed whilst working at the hospital. During ward rounds, all the staff gathered together to discuss the plan for the day, and communication was maintained between all members of the healthcare team. I had the chance to witness fascinating procedures, such as PICC line insertion on a premature baby and an operation on another premature baby where they placed a shunt inside the skull. The manual dexterity, attention to detail, and the intricacy involved in the surgery greatly impressed me and has since sparked a desire within me to further explore surgery as a potential career route within medicine. My interest in surgical procedures increased as I attended taster courses, where I practiced the different methods of