Child's Nursing Personal Statement
Submitted by Jamilah
I would like to study Child Nursing to make a distinct contribution to the availability and accessibility of high quality childcare health services. It is striking to note that 25.6% of children under the age of 18 in the least developed countries are malnourished, uncared for or abandoned due to a lack of knowledge and poverty. Therefore they are forced into child labour due to poor living conditions. Thus, the full enjoyment of the right to health still remains a distant goal.
My interaction with young children in Uganda made me aware of the neglect they experience within their daily lives leaving a permanent imprint on my heart. These experiences opened my mind to the darker side of childhood that many children suffer through, causing me to make every effort to improve the lives of all children. This inspired me to dedicate my career towards paediatric nursing, in order to grasp a deeper understanding of the trauma these children undergo and explore ways of promoting conditions in which everyone can lead a healthy life. This cannot be achieved without access to the underlying determinants of health, such as food and nutrition, housing, access to safe and potable water and adequate sanitation, safe and healthy working conditions, and a healthy environment.
What has motivated me even more and had a massive impact on my career choice was my younger sister who was born with a ventricular septal defect and required round the clock care. After a long time in hospital, she recovered. I witnessed nurses taking good care of her and I was inspired to look after others in the future. My end goal is to work in a hospital providing specialised child healthcare. I have always had a natural talent of being overly supportive of those in need and again have first hand practice with my brother who is epileptic. I always like to look after others. This is why I was elected to be a bully ambassador as well as a member of the School Council at Uxbridge High School. In year 10, for work experience, I worked in a primary school with children aged from 6-7. I excelled in supporting children learning but more importantly enjoyed working with children.
In addition I have worked in a special needs school for sign language where I participated in a choir learning sign language for the event. From my voluntary work I first hand witnessed a baby suffering from hydrocephalus on the Children malnutrition ward, which is a severe but very common disease in Uganda but extremely rare in the UK. This has made me a more sympathetic and understanding person by assisting the doctor. Due to my pure passion to help young children and an understanding of the essential role the family plays in the recovery of the child, I can better relate to the family and advise within their best interest as well as empathise. A level sociology has played a crucial role in my understanding of the importance of the family and how it affects child development as it has in depth views on socialization within the family, cultural and social impacts.
Besides, I have developed transferrable strong customer relationships having worked as a Sales Assistant in various places. I also participated in 2 weeks work at Parexel where I got to sit through a clinical trial, as it gave me an insight of my biology theory lessons in action. I was shown how to write a medical document and shown the business strategy behind it all as well as go to one of their labs at St Mary's hospital. I got to speak to patients as well as witness the tests they carry out on them. This experience very much reminded me of my A level Chemistry classes when carrying out practical's and have to conduct tests and chemical reactions by coming up with hypotheses, conclusions and graphs.
In summary, due to my diverse experiences I have the capability and commitment to study child nursing and contribute to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health conducive to living a life in dignity.