Student Nurse after info (if its not too cheeky to ask that is)

Replies

By Pysie

Re: Student Nurse after info (if its not too cheeky to ask that is)
Sat 12 May 2007 20:38

Oh, Tai, where do we start to answer your questions? Like most carers, given time to do so I could write a book!

Your best bet is probably to read the messages on these boards. If you spend an evening or two going throught all the messages and replies posted within the past three to six months, you will have an excellent understanding of how an enormous variety of carers feel about their roles and the main issues they grapple with. I don't think anyone could add constructively to this information

I'm pleased to see you refer to caring as a 'job'. (Assuming you refer to people who sacrifice their lives and jobs to look after friends or relatives and not professional 'care workers'?)

I wish you all the best in your course.

Love,
Pysie

By SocialHeretic

Re: Student Nurse after info (if its not too cheeky to ask that is)
Sun 13 May 2007 08:34

Hi Tai ..... one underlying theme .... too many carers simply have no option other than to become carers ..... choice ? Simply does not exist.

Without us , your precious NHS would collapse within weeks.

I echo Pysie's recommendation to pursue the Posts on this Forum as a snapshot of life for many of us.

By Greebo

Re: Student Nurse after info (if its not too cheeky to ask that is)
Sun 13 May 2007 12:15

Ditto, and please try to use your imagination.

You know how sleep deprivation feels? Or how it feels having a high temperature and still having to get up to do something? Even a student must have had some experience of those.

Ever had trouble getting past a receptionist, even when a doctor has explicitly told you that you must?

You know what it's like to wade though paperwork to organise your student loan or maybe a bursary? Ever had to claim housing benefit or council tax benefit? Well, getting DLA middle rate care for your caree so that you can get Carer's Allowance is even more stressful and difficult than that..

Ever had somebody talk to you like some sort of halfwit? Another common experience for carers - even though we are the experts in the day to day condition and treatment, management, handling of our carees.

Ever had to teach yourself immunological theory, pain control, or something else of that nature? Many carers have to, because if they don't their caree will suffer.

Some have to work out how to use PEG feeding machines, or catheters, because the so-called professionals refuse to do it.

Heaving sombody on & off the toilet is one thing - cleaning up, applying a suppositry or helping to change pads (or even tampons) is another thing entirely.

It's one thing to do this as part of a job you're paid for to a complete stranger - it's another thing when you have to handle your own feelings about the person you're doing this to, when you know him/her well and you can remember when they didn't need this doing.

Non-carers tend to think that carers either look after small children or elderly people - wrong! I was in my 20s when my partner became longterm sick. That was roughly 15 years ago.

People don't like to think of what this can do to relationships. You'd hope friends & family would all pull together - well, it doesn't happen, or if it happens to start with, it doesn't last. They drift away if your caree has the bad manners to remain ill without recovering or dying.

One book I'd recommend that you borrow and read (even if you don't want to buy it ):
The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring" by Hugh Marriott, Polperro Heritage Press, ISBN 09544233-1-3
It's written by a carer, for other carers, and it may give you some insighs into the stuff that non-carers don't like to think affects us..

Not sure if we're allowed to post links, so I'm going to give you some other places to google:
"uk carers"
"carers UK"
"caregiving spouses"

Good luck with your studies.