Emily

Where did you do your work experience?

Dartford

What did you do?

I was based mainly in the Children's Resource Centre, which is an acute outpatients department for children.

I got to sit in on various clinics covering things like blood tests, newborn hearing tests and physiotherapy sessions. The nursing staff let me help with taking clinical measurements such as blood pressure, height and weight. I also got to shadow the play therapist on one of the wards and observe in A&E.

What did you enjoy most?

I enjoyed all of it but especially helping the play specialist and looking round A&E.

What did you learn?

I learnt that nursing children also means supporting parents and that the nurses have a big impact on how a child feels about hospital visits.

Do you have any advice for other people?

Be patient when you are trying to get work experience and send your request well in advance of when you want to do it. It took five months for me to hear whether or not I had got a placement.