Student Nurses: Bedpans and Bandages

Former carpet fitter, Alistair gets his first taste of surgery. Children's nurse, Joanne tries to conceal her emotions and mature student, Dany gets back to basics

Episode one follows three trainee nurses stepping up to the challenge of 21st century nursing as they deal with mounting pressure, a testing youngster and first day nerves. The programme follows 24-year-old first-year student Alistair, one of the growing number of men taking on the challenge of becoming a nurse. Alistair reveals how he feels about entering the world of nursing: “Bricking it. I’m pretty scared to be honest. I’m not used to being around so many women all the time.” It’s a world away from the job Alistair was trained to do by his Dad. But Alistair is preparing to swap his regular pay cheque as a carpet-fitter for a different type of reward. Alastair says: “You won’t save lives fitting carpets. But if I can save one life being a nurse, then what an achievement that is in life.” He adds: “I’m not here for the money, I’m here for that reward that comes with nursing.” This episode sees Alistair set foot on the ward for the very first time, after two months in the classroom. A nervous Alistair says: “I’m worried most about how I’ll react to people in such poor condition or people who seriously need help. I’ve never seen it before, so I think it’ll be quite a shock to the system.” As Alastair tackles the challenges his first patient brings, he says: “I feel personally as if I’ve got a lot to prove, as the rest of the cohort have got quite a bit of experience in health care.” The programme also follows mature student, 50-year-old Dany, who is picking up a career she first began training for three decades ago. She admits: “When I started at 19, I was nothing like I am now. I was shy, I wouldn’t have said boo to a goose.” Dany’s first shot at nursing was cut short by illness, but her teenage dream never left her. She says: “Thirty years later, for it to come full circle, I just can’t believe I’m back doing what I started.” Training to become a

Episode two follows second-year student TK, who spent six years selling beds before changing career to train as a children’s nurse. Second-year Aimee reveals how treating stroke patients is especially poignant for her, and squeamish Kelly has to overcome her fears on her first shift as she witnesses an injection. With young children of his own, TK finds the long hours on the ward particularly challenging. TK is on an eight-week clinical placement in Birmingham hospital’s specialist liver ward. As his 13-hour shift begins, TK has a new patient to settle in - five year old Caleb. TK says: “If you take an interest and open up to people, they do the same back to you.” Checking vital signs of such young patients requires a light touch. When TK’s patient comes round from anaesthetic, TK struggles to comfort him. TK quickly learns that sometimes, only mum will do, he says: “It’s just a lesson that sometimes there’ll be things that I can’t do. It’s actually quite difficult. I near enough cried.” In Birmingham’s Good Hope hospital, second-year Aimee starts work on the stroke unit. For the next two months, Aimee will work 12-hour shifts under the watchful eye of her mentor. Aimee says: “It can be quite difficult, you can find it quite hard. Because sometimes they (the patients) do pull on your heart strings and it is quite uncomfortable.” For Aimee, treating stroke patients is especially poignant as her grandfather suffered a stroke before he passed away. She says: “Instinctively, I did all that I could. I called the paramedics, but before they got there, he passed away. CPR didn’t work and by the time they got there, he was gone. But I thought, ‘If I can do it for him (perform CPR), there’s a good chance I can do it for somebody else’. I know that by doing that, I’ll make him proud. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to save his life.” At the University of Salford, after eight weeks of theory the nurses

Second-year Aimee reacts to an emergency admission. Nursing new boy Alistair struggles with the basics as he gets his hands dirty. Mature student Dany gets a crash course in modern day nursing on her placement in A&E.

Mental health nurse, Kelsie is faced with a phobia. New girl, Kelly comes to the end of her placement and 2nd year, Dany says a final farewell to a special patient.

First year Kelly has to swallow her squeams. Grandmother, Diane cares for a patient with a long history of mental ill health and children's nurse, TK has a close call.

First year Graham trades drumbeats for heartbeats. Third year, Danielle is assessed in the sim lab and children's nurse, Abu won't take no for an answer.

Helen faces challenging children and Aimee receives a bombshell.