Nursing in DCU

Hooly22

Hey

I'm not sure where to post a general post like this.

I've been pretty interested about doing Nursing in college. I've heard bad and good things about it so I'm still thinking about it!

But I'm also trying to decide about which college??

Anyone know what nursing is like in your college, and whats the college like itself?


Thanks

sunnyjim

I'll let some of the actual students reply, but if you are interested in nursing, have you tried getting work as a Nurses Aide, ie a HCA?

tnkrbell

Hi there
Im in my third year of general nursing in DCU and loving the course but in saying that i have always wanted to me a nurse...theres some good points and bad points to the nursing course in dcu...ill start with the good first!
- Skills labs - basically a whole floor done up like a mock hospital with mannequins etc so that you can practice how to carry out basic nursing skills
- lecturers - absolute laugh some of them are!! a lot of the lecturers are realyl helpful and very approachable
- placement - theres loads to do and if you do general and end up in beaumont you get to do some pretty specialised placements ie neuro and paeds in temple street

one of the major downfalls to DCU nursing is monitoring attendance.this means you have to have 80% of attendance per each subject before you can sit that exam.sounds horrible it is and it isnt...i have to say i was against it at the start but im beginning to like it cause you really do end up learning loads by going to your lectures and when you're on placement and asked something that you should know but dont know cause you skipped lectures you dont end up looking like a tool!!

other reasons why you should go to DCU to do nursing...great clubs and societies, great social life, meet some great people and also the nursing facilities in DCU are from what i can gather the top in dublin and maybe in ireland.also DCU are now offering general, mental health (pshychiatric), intellectual disability and from last year paeds and general integrated.

heres a link to the skills centre so you can have a look http://www.dcu.ie/nursing/skills.shtml

izzyflusky

I'm in my first year of Intellectual Disability Nursing in DCU, and so far I'm loving it. I find the lecturers in general very helpful, the facilities are great, and I've met some great people in my course too.
I went on my placement in November and can't wait to go back!!! The college is a bit far from my house, thats the only downfall for me. About the attendance, afaik in trinity and other colleges you also have to have an 80% attendance, the only difference is that is manually done, ie. you don't wipe in, you just sign in a sheet of paper. Or at least that's what I've been told from some people doing nursing in other colleges.
Dunno if it was coincidence but I was sent on placement to a place very close to my house which was very handy.
Also the college in general I find it excellent, theres always something going on, balls, etc...
To sum up I couldn't be happier....oh wait I could, but only if I didn't have to get 2 buses every morning LOL

sunnyjim

Has she been back?

Kelliebyrne

Hi would anyone be able to help me out, I'm going to do nursing in dcu. I'm between general and psychiatric I don't know which to pick, any thoughts on which is better? I wanted to do childrens nursing but I don't have the points, does anyone is it easy to get accepted to the one year childrens course when I'm finished my degree? Or are there any other ways into it? Thanks

lovelife91

Kellie Byrne
I am doing general nursing in DCU (just finished 2nd year). Basically my advice, if you really want to do children's nursing is to definitely do general. Stay well clear of psychiatric nursing if that is not what you're interested in, remember, you will spend the best part of 2 years out of the 4 on clinical placement, if you are stuck in an area of nursing you don't want to be in, these will feel like hell. Children's nursing is very different to general nursing also, but general will provide a good base regarding hospital care, conditions and the general happenings of a surgical and medical ward.

My overall advice is to do general nursing. It provides the broadest base of nursing and after you've finished your 4 years you can pretty much specialise in any area of nursing, if your grades are good enough.
Post grads are competitive so you really have to be committed and do really well to be accepted into a paediatric post grad.
Best of luck! Maybe some day we'll cross paths in Beaumont on placement!

Gracie197

Hey:)

So im filling out my CAO and i ahve DCU general nursing down first, but I am nervous! I think its what I want to do. I have a few questions if anyone could answer it would be brilliant!

Is it as hard as everybody says? Surly its not as bad as the leavingcrt?
Do you still meet people from other courses, like, do you have tome to join clubs and socs what with various placement?
Are you getting any "college experience" what so ever?
Is Beaumont a good training hospital? I heard it wasnt.

If any one knows anyone doing general nursing in DCU could you reply. Thanks:)

lovelife91

Hi Gracie,
I'm a third year general nursing student in Dcu so I can pretty much answer any and all questions you have.
To begin I will say I did a pre-nursing course (fetac level 5). This gave me an unbelievable leg up as I was basically 100% sure I wanted to do the course and made first year very easy.
However the vast majority of my classmates did not and about 75% are still here three years later
So, to answer your questions:
Throughout the course the timetable is heavy compared to other courses, but the lectures are not overly difficult and the most important thing is that the subjects are interesting and relevant, unlike the majority of leaving cert subjects!

I would say in first year and maaaybe second year, joining clubs etc is possible. As far as 3rd and 4th year, forget it!
However, I have to say nurses do seem to have a special bond, there'll be no issue making friends, finding people to go on nights out with etc!

In first year you do 6 weeks of placement
In second you do 8, and a 3 weeks elective during summer.
In 3rd year the entire first semester is placement. And another 4 weeks in the 2nd semester. (only 8 weeks of lectures in 3rd year).
In 4th year you begin with 8 weeks of placement, then 8 weeks of lectures and then you do a 9 month internship in beaumont.

So as you can see, the opportunity to participate in clubs gets more and more limited, also let me say, placement sucks the life out of you! In a good way, you give everything you have to increase your learning and provide the best care, after a 12/13 hour day, the most important thing becomes your bed!

My link hospital is Beaumont, and I have had nothing but positive experiences in regards to it being a teaching hospital. Staff are generally very willing to show you new things and because there is sooo many students they are very familiar with how to go about teaching and your skill level etc. However I will say that it is a tough tough environment. The shortcomings in care provided to people can be so frustrating and you are busy beyond belief from the minute you walk in until they say you can leave.

In first year the majority of things they let you do are in relation to washing and dressing people, changing their "pads" which are basically nappies, changing bed linen, taking their blood pressure, temperature and overall being a kind and listening ear to people during their time in hospital. You will be surprised how your communication skills grow during 1st and 2nd year!

So what I'm saying really is: Nursing is Amazing.
I would never ever change it. It can be so rewarding and just a lovely position to be in, having the ability to help people needing it the most. But if you're not prepared to work hard and go above and beyond, it will not be a good experience.
Lectures and exams and all that are very doable. It'll be the placements that test you, physically and emotionally!

One other thing, are you from dublin or will you be living in dorms/apartments on or near dcu?
Have you ever done work experience in a hospital or nursing home?
I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have!

kornalelly

Hi I'm doing nursing come September and I may be going to DCU.. just wondering acout the accommodation..how expensive it is, where is it what accommodation you get etc..I'm clueless!! thanks

lovelife91

1st: shanowen square (shanowensquare.com) located 5 mins from dcu, specifically for students. Each student has a single room and ensuite and prices are reasonable 400-500 a month I believe! Very well liked by all the people who I know that live there. Also it is less strict than campus accommodation. 2nd campus is very handy and secure but also heard they are very strict so that's the downside there. Other option is gateway student village in ballymun. About 15 minute walk away but many shops around it and is also less strict that campus but has good security. All student rooms in gateway are 400 I think. Start with shanowen and see, that's my advice! Any other questions?