INTERVIEW WITH NURSE RUTH

Iyanda Ruth Temilade (RN, RM, RPHN, BNSc) is a dedicated, passionate intern nurse at UNILORIN Teaching  Hospital. She graduated from Osun State University (UNIOSUN). She’s had five years of experience from her days in the university and one year since she got inducted into the nursing profession.According to Nurse Iyanda, nursing is more than just a job and a profession, and it’s satisfying when she nurses patients to complete health which gives her a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and for this reason, and more, she loves this esteemed profession

INTERVIEW WITH NURSE RUTH

My name is Iyanda Ruth Temilade (RN, RM, RPHN, BNSc). I graduated from Osun State University (UNIOSUN) and I’m currently an intern in UNILORIN Teaching Hospital.

I got the form that was available online. Though some hospitals require you to submit your CV directly at the hospital, but for the hospital I currently intern, we got the form online.

Yes, you have to apply. I personally applied to five different hospitals because of what I had heard about internship placement, especially how challenging it can be for university graduate nurses to secure a spot

At first, I wasn’t so confident of myself that I could do some of those nursing procedures even though I spent years practicing those procedures as a student nurse. But as time goes on, I came to the realization that I’m a nurse now and everyone believes I must have been taught these things and as intern I must know how to do them, so overtime I got used to that fact.

Honestly, I did not have any high expectations, the plan is just to see how it goes, enjoy the moment and take all the experiences this period has to offer and so far, the experience has been worth it.

It was quite overwhelming at first. Being in a new environment, some of the nurses already expected me to know my way around as per you’re ‘an intern nurse.’ I was still trying to familiarize myself with the hospital setting, especially because we weren’t stationed in just one ward. Instead, we rotated through different wards for the experience, which meant I had to learn quickly and adapt fast

I came to the realization that, unlike as a student nurse, I could no longer afford to make certain mistakes as an intern. I had to be sure of what I was doing at all time because I’m  now a graduate nurse.

So far, I’ve met some amazing seniors that are always ready to take us through some of those things we don’t know or are not used to. And as much as you are ready to learn they are also ready to teach you.

Yes, the opportunities are there to learn and practice, as long as it falls within your job description. And if you show that you are willing to learn, you will definitely be encouraged.

Just like I said before, , I wasn’t very confident in myself or in what I knew at the beginning. But as time went on and I repeatedly performed different procedures, my confidence grew. With continuous practice, I became more comfortable and skilled, definitely more confident than I was at the start.

That would be my posting in the Accident & Emergency unit. The experience there for me was truly intriguing, made me feel like an active part of the healthcare team and kept me on my toes at all times.

I will change the fact that newly graduated nurses have to wait months or even years to secure a placement which shouldn’t be the case. I hope our Nursing leaders will look into this and create a smoother transition for fresh graduates

Be open to applying for internship positions in any hospital. Reach out to anyone who can support you in the application process, including your lecturers, have all your documents prepared and photocopied. Also,do not let anyone tell you or make you feel like you don’t know anything, be confident in whatever you know and ask questions from those that have worked in your hospital of interest for information.