Joe Rouse's story
Joe Rouse's story
Joe Rouse – BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children’s)
Being taught by lecturers who had been there and done it as nurse professionals was a great advantage for BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children's) graduate Joe Rouse. Joe is a Digital Nurse Specialist and Registered Paediatric Nurse at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and said studying at Bucks gave him a strong platform for his career.
He says: "Bucks prepared me for the world of work because it showed me that learning doesn't stop when you qualify. Nursing is constantly changing, resulting in us as professionals having to continually learn and update our practice. "I benefited because nearly all our lecturers were nurses. I thought it would only be a few, but it was great having nearly all of our lectures being delivered by nurses who had been there and done it."
Joe started his degree when he was 23. "I was surrounded by lots of energetic 18-year-olds fresh out of school," he adds. "I picked Bucks because it was close to home and it offered placements in the hospitals that I would potentially want to work for."
"The best bits were learning the rationale and theory behind the actual physical nursing practice. I learnt that it's not always about learning how to perform a skill but that Nursing is about being able to understand the evidence behind the physical task." Joe says balancing studying with going on placements was the most challenging part of his degree.
"However, it does set you up well for having to balance work and home life," he says. Joe says the three-year degree can feel long at times but he has strong words of advice for anyone thinking of studying at Bucks. He adds: "Keep going and don't forget why you've chosen to study nursing. "If you need help, then ask for help. There's plenty available, you only have to ask."