Published: December 13, 2021
When I was applying to universities to study Paramedic science, all I originally was looking for was a Uni in the North. This led me to apply to Sunderland, when I came for my interview back in December of 2019 I just loved the uni and the city, as well as the welcoming friendliness of the staff and other students
Upon getting my offer to start in April 2020 I just knew that Sunderland was where I wanted to go, and I actually withdrew all my other applications to other unis, and accepted Sunderland as my first and only choice.
Roll on April 2020 and we are in the middle of a global pandemic, but starting my degree and leaving my old role in the home care sector was amazing, the tutors even though they hadn’t met us in person and only had little pictures to names were fab, making me feel so welcome, unfortunately, it wasn’t until the July that we could come into uni and have a bit of in person skills teaching, so when that came, it was all go, moving into Scotia Quay, this was quite daunting as I’ve never lived away from home, and especially never lived in a city so it was all new experiences.
Our 2 weeks in-person clinical skills were fab, finally getting to practice what we had learned the theory of, with skills such as manual blood pressures, history taking and basic life support being but a few. Since those first weeks, I’ve personally gone from strength to strength, learning loads of new skills and loads of theory, as well as going on placement in both ambulances and local hospital trusts.
I’m now in my 2nd year and thriving, yes, it was a rocky start with joining in the middle of a global pandemic, but personally, I’m so glad I did, Sunderland uni has been there all the way and the support and assistance that the uni has offered has been second to none. Sunderland uni treat me like part of the family, ever since joining, I have felt like part of the team, in as much as that I try and give back by volunteering as part of the peer support for the cohorts behind me.
I’ve just completed my 2nd year OSCES and am back out on placement, cannot wait to get stuck in helping people who potentially are having medical emergencies, all the while I’m learning and proving to myself that I can do this, and I will have a successful career as a Paramedic once I’m qualified, scary to think, that I’ve only got about a year and a little bit left, so here’s to the future."
.png)
Rebecca Ivinson
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care
Topic: Course