Why I am running
Over the last two years of my adult nursing degree at Queen's, I have seen firsthand the dedication, resilience, and perseverance every student in the School of Nursing and Midwifery must demonstrate. Needing to balance academics, placements and personal life is very difficult and can take a toll on our mental health. This experience shapes the nurses and midwives we become when we graduate. I have decided to run as school representative to become the mediator for students, the student union and the SONM. To ensure our voices are heard, whether it is about academics, placement or our wellbeing.
Key priorities and goals as the new school rep
1. Placement support
- Push for earlier notifications for placement allocations for each year of study for students to plan their NIPAD checklist well
- Push placements to give a clearer guide to expectations and learning objectives for students to prepare before each placement allocation
- Clearer guides from lecturers for each section of the NIPAD for each year, with more specific guidelines on NIPAD
- Easier and clearer guide on travel reimbursement
2. Finance support
- Push for an increase in bursary support for local students; push for differences for students with child support.
- Push for financial aid for international students in the SONM
3. Mental health support
- Push sub-group reps to do regular check-ins for students in groups
- Create 'buddy' systems available for students in first-year, pairing up first-year and final-year students for support when needed
- Debrief section for all students in each group after each placement (1 hr sections)
✨My commitment to students in SONM✨
- Create anonymous drop-in online suggestion boxes for any support, available 24/7 for students to raise concerns.
- Push opportunities for students to experience and learn more around the school
- Regular check-ups with each cohort
- Stronger communication between SU and the SONM
Thank you for considering me as your student representative, and I hope to be able to work together to make our journey to becoming a nurse or midwife better for everyone!