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PRODUCED BY NURSING AND MIDWIFERY STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

BNurs (Hons) Guide for New

Students 2014-2015

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

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Welcome

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Contents

Welcome to your new adventure as a student at the School of

Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work. This booklet has been

written by nursing and midwifery students to give you some

advice and guidance about what to expect as a student study-

ing and living in Manchester.

A-Z for Student Nurses…..……………………………………….3-7

What is PASS?................................................................8

Voices of Experience……………………………………………..9-12

Affirmation Ceremony……………………………………………..13

Useful Contacts………………………………………………………..14

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A-Z for Student Nurses

Academic Advisors. Every student is allocated an Academic Advisor (AA) who is

a member of teaching staff from the School. They will support you throughout

your degree and are there to contact if you have any problems affecting your

learning.

Blackboard. Blackboard is the University’s online learning environment and is

where most of your course information will be put during your studies. You will

have a timetabled training session at the beginning of the semes-

ter to introduce you to Blackboard.

Council Tax. As a full-time student you are normally eligible for either council tax

exemption or a discount.

Diary. Essential for all nursing students. University days, shifts, child care arrange-

ments, submission dates… You have so much going on, you need to be organised!

Eating on campus. With more than 30 cafes and restaurants on campus there’s

lots of variety on offer at a reasonable price. Why not head to University Place on

a Tuesday for Mexican day or grab a salad or curry from the International Society

opposite the Students’ Union?

Finance. Living on a bursary and a student loan means that money is going to be

tight. To help you manage your income and expenditure have a look at advice pro-

vided by the Student Money Adviser.

Grants and Bursaries. By now you should have applied for your bursaries and

student loans. If you haven’t, you need to do this straight away as it can take time

to be processed. Contact the Student Support Office if you have any problems

with your NHS Bursary on studentsupport.nursing@manchester.ac.uk.

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A-Z for Student Nurses

Health. As a full-time student you may be entitled to help with your health care

costs, such as free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and eye tests. Pick up

a HC11 form from the Students’ Union or download one. You should also register

with a local GP as soon as possible.

Internet and social media. With your University log-in

you can access Wi-Fi on campus, and will be able to use

the Internet on University computers and in Halls. As nursing students you are

guided by the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct, and this applies to

social media as well. Remember to be aware of the privacy settings on any social

media or networking site and think carefully about what you post online.

Jean McFarlane Building - the home of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and

Social Work. On the ground floor you will find the Programmes Office (G.319) and

Assessments Office (G.313). The Student Support Office is on the third floor

(3.335b).

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A-Z for Student Nurses

Keeping fit. Life as a health care student can be pretty hectic, but it’s good to

find time to look after yourself. Have a look at the sports and activities on offer.

Library and Learning Commons. Blue

Floor 2 in the University library is where

most of the key nursing texts are located.

The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons offers

individual and group study facilities as well

as access to computers, scanning and

printing facilities. The Library and Learning

Commons run study sessions for students

to develop their skills.

Manchester Student Homes (MSH).

If you’re not planning on living in halls you

can find information on rental properties

from MSH. It is a letting agency funded by

Universities and Colleges in Manchester,

and landlords and properties have to meet certain criteria to be registered with

them. They will also mediate between students and landlords if there are any

problems.

National Union of Students (NUS). The Students’ Union (SU) can be found in

the Steve Biko Building on Oxford Road. On the ground floor is the Advice Centre

which offers support with all student matters. Once you have registered at the

University you will receive an NUS card that gives you discount in many shops. You

can also get additional discounts with an NUS extra card.

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A-Z for Student Nurses

Occupational Health. Before you can start on placement you need to have

health clearance from Occupational Health and you may need to arrange vaccina-

tions. Occupational Health appointments are very important throughout Universi-

ty and health care careers - make sure you attend them!

PASS. Peer Assisted Study Sessions—read more about

these on page 8!

Queues in Welcome Week. Be prepared to wait in line to collect your Student

ID card. Make sure you plan ahead and get to events early.

Reading. Many recommended text books are available

from the University library. You may be sent a reading list

for the course or for different modules - the books can be

quite expensive so ask your PASS Leaders if they recom-

mend buying a particular book.

Student Services Centre. Located in Burlington Street, this is where you go for

information on finance, registration and council tax. See Q, you have been

warned! They will also have a helpdesk at the Welcome Week Fair.

Transport. The stretch of road covering Didsbury, Withington, Fallowfield, Rush-

olme, the University and the city centre is the busiest bus route in Europe and

buses run 24/7. The Oxford Road Link bus (number 147) operates Monday – Fri-

day, 7am - 6pm, between Sackville Street and Oxford Road campus zones and is

free if you show your Student ID card. The nearest train station to campus is Ox-

ford Road, and the other train stations in the city centre are Piccadilly and Victo-

ria. There are cycle lanes down Oxford/Wilmslow Road, and loads of places to lock

up your bike on campus.

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A-Z for Student Nurses

Uniform. The uniform is designed to be

practical - it’s definitely not a fashion state-

ment. It shouldn’t be fitted and when you put

it on you should feel professional, not scruffy.

It’s the first step towards you feeling like a

nurse.

Vacation Accommodation. Term dates for

nursing courses differ from standard University undergraduate courses, so if you

are living in University halls you need to check the terms of agreement to see if

you have your room/flat over the vacation periods. If you need to book extra

weeks you can do this by contacting your Halls of Residence directly or checking

the information on the Accommodation Office website.

Welcome Week. You will be given lots of information so make sure to keep a

notepad and pen with you at all times! Head to the Start of Year Fair to join socie-

ties and sports clubs and look out for MidSoc, NurSoc and HEAL (Healthcare Alli-

ance Society). Welcome Week will include course related activities, events on

campus and many new people to meet, so be prepared to be busy!

X-tra Activities. We know that you’ll have a jam-packed schedule but why not

think about doing something different with your free time? There are plenty of

volunteering opportunities available on the Careers Service website and through

the Students’ Union. It’s a great way to get involved in the local community and

meet new people!

Young Persons Railcard (YPR). All full time students are eligible for a YPR. It’s

recommended that you get a railcard if you travel by train during the year as it can

save a third off a standard rail fare.

ZZZZZ. Make sure that you get plenty of sleep!

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What is PASS?

“The activities were well planned and resourced. They were varied and included

games, matching activities, diagram labelling and general exam revision”

“My PASS Leaders have gone above and beyond in order to help

me and my peers”

“By creating a fun and relaxed environment and effectively removing the stress of

a formal teaching environment the material that we covered really stuck in my

head”

Peer Assisted Study Sessions, aka PASS, are timetabled group study sessions

led by two second year students who have been trained to be PASS Leaders.

You will be assigned to a group of around 12 first year students from your pro-

gramme and the PASS Leaders help you develop study skills, recap difficult

topics and discuss queries or concerns in an informal setting.

PASS is a good way to meet and socialise with others in your cohort and get

advice from third year students.

There will be a Welcome Lunch on Wednesday 17th September 2014, 11am-

1pm, where you will your PASS Leaders and your PASS group.

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Voices of Experience

A student’s perspective: living in Halls

“When I found out that I had a place at the University of Manchester I felt a mix-ture of emotions. I was happy that I was going to the best university in England for nursing and alongside that a bit of apprehension as it would be new sur-roundings, in a different city. “When I arrived at the University of Manchester I was a little apprehensive about living away from home in halls of residence as I would be living on my own and becoming more independent, which was a lot different from having everything done for me at home. However I was living with seven other people all doing different courses which made things easier, as we were all in the same position and could help each other where necessary. Also whilst in Halls the residents as-sociation, which is run by students, held Christmas balls and barbeques, which were a lot of fun. “When it came to doing the essays and exams I found some of them quite tricky to get my head around, but the tutors are always there to help if you require it. Just one quick email to them and they get back to you the day after or even the same day. We were also assigned an Academic Advisor which is sort of our per-sonal tutor, who we can go to if there are any further concerns. Again they are very helpful and if you contact them they can arrange a meeting as soon as pos-sible, so you will not feel alone whilst on the course. “I feel that placements are the best thing about this course. I am currently on a community placement in East Manchester looking after 0-5 year old children. Tasks include making sure that they are developing as they should be and giving guidance to parents about immunisations. Whilst on placement you get to do things called spokes which is where you can go to another area within your Trust to help expand your knowledge and you can experience different things which will help enhance your training.”

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Voices of Experience

A mature student’s perspective: living in rented accommodation with a partner “It had been seven years since I left University for the first time and arriving on my first day at Manchester was scarier than I remember it being first time round. I was worried I was going to be the only mature student on the course and be-cause I wasn’t in halls or a shared flat I was convinced I wasn’t going to meet any friends. I was in an apartment with my boyfriend and was also sure I would be in the minority. I couldn’t have been more wrong. There were people from every background and discipline I could think of and the amount of mature students was unbelievable. I found that most of the people I spoke to also worried about the same issues as me. “In all honesty, I found the first week very difficult and although everyone was friendly, there is so much to do, everyone has meetings at different times and places and time on your own is inevitable. However, after that week everything just seemed to slot into place and when seminars and lectures are up and run-ning it’s easy to recognise people and easier to chat to them. “Academically, the first semester of first year is quite full on and everyone seemed to have a particular subject they found more challenging than others but overall they are all very interesting and enjoyable. Time management is essential if you want to get as much out of a nursing degree as you can. Initially place-ments can feel scary but they do get easier and the butterflies the night and morning before do disappear. There is so much support within University and placements if you need it and if you show you are keen to learn, the staff will be more than happy to help. “First year has been amazing for me and if you work hard it will pay off. There have been times when I’ve asked myself if being this poor is really worth it but the time flies in and before you know it you have exams and you’re half way through your first year. When you’re on placement and you see the nurses work-ing hard and you are really ‘hands on’ it's exciting because that’s going to be you very soon.”

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Voices of Experience

A mature student’s perspective: living at home “As an older than average nursing student and having a family at home to look after, I felt apprehensive about commencing the BNurs programme at Manches-ter. Although I returned to education the previous year completing an Access course, I had been away from education for about 18 years. I had never attended university before and the prospect of being a first time university student gave me a sense of both anxiety and excitement. “Welcome Week offered the chance to mix informally with other students and meet some of the academic staff. Fortunately, I already knew some friends from my previous course but I was pleased to find a variety of age ranges, with a good number of mature students, and quickly got chatting and settled in. The first few weeks presented some difficulties in orientation and organisation but I used the campus map and made full use of second and third year students to gain infor-mation. “The academic work has been challenging and it has been essential to manage my time well. I set aside study times each week and have tried very hard to stick to these times to prevent myself from falling behind. “Support from my family and friends has been essential and my advice to those of you with families would be to take any help that is offered and don’t feel guilty for delegating some of your usual chores to others. “Some tips I would like offer from my experience are: print off lecture notes beforehand and have a quick look through so that you

are prepared and can make additional notes during lectures; try to revise and make notes each week, I found this a godsend for exams and

assignments; use the support available from PASS leaders, academic staff and mentors and

never be afraid to ask questions; and take time to look after yourself and find ways to relax as the programme can

be intense and you definitely need some ‘me’ time to keep yourself energised.

Good luck and enjoy your experience!”

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Voices of Experience

A mature student’s perspective: living in rented accommodation “When I got offered a place at the University of Manchester to study nursing I was over the moon. I couldn't wait to get started but I did have some anxieties. As I'm a mature student and have two dogs and a cat I decided to get a flat by myself in Withington, which is just near Fallowfield- a place you'll all probably become quite familiar with - it's student central!

“I was apprehensive that not living in shared housing or in halls would mean it

would be hard to make friends. Because of this I made extra efforts to go to social

events and meet people. It's a big course so it can feel really overwhelming at

first. Don't be scared to go up to people and say hello, you're all in the same boat!

Your seminar groups, AA group, PASS group and Evidence Based Learning group

are good places to get chatting to fellow nurses if, like me, you aren't going to be

living with other students. I found in my year everyone was really friendly and not

living in a student group didn't hold me back.

“The academic level at Manchester can be scary too; I was surprised how much

work I had to do. My best tips would be to try and give yourself a bit of time each

day for private study, especially for things like A&P and pharmacology which per-

sonally I thought I would never understand! The last time I'd done science was for

my GCSEs 12 years ago! But I promise you it will start to make sense! Going over

your learning objectives week by week will make things much easier when it

comes to revising for the exams. If you're coming into it like me without much of

a science background, don't panic! Work hard and you can do well!

“I'm so glad I came to The University of Manchester. Now I'm on my block place-

ment and I feel like the academic level which seemed scary at first is proving in-

valuable now! Enjoy your time here! It goes unbelievably fast!”

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Affirmation Ceremony

The School of Nursing, Midwifery and

Social Work will be hosting a Welcome

Event for all new midwifery and nursing

students on Tuesday 14th October 2014.

Look out for more details in September!

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Burlington Society (for mature students)

www.burlington.manchester.ac.uk

Bus Information

0161 244 1000

http://www.tfgm.com/

Disability Support Office

Second floor, University Place

0161 275 7512

@ dso@manchester.ac.uk

IT Services

0161 306 5544

@ it-servicedesk@manchester.ac.uk

NHS Student Bursary

0300 330 1345 or 0191 279 0570

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/816.aspx

Occupational Health

The Mill, Sackville Street

0161 306 5806

School Reception

Open Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm

Jean McFarlane Building

0161 306 0260

Student Finance England

0845 300 50 90

www.direct.gov.uk/en/

EducationAndLearning

Student Services Centre

Open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm

Burlington Street

0161 275 5000

@ ssc@manchester.ac.uk

Student Support Office

Room 3.335b, Jean McFarlane Building

0161 306 7717/7725

@ studentsupport.nursing@manchester.ac.uk

Useful Contacts

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Jean McFarlane Building

University of Manchester

Oxford Road

Manchester M13 9PL

http://www.nursing.manchester.ac.uk/

Ug.nursing.bnurs@manchester.ac.uk