Ella Woods

My journey into nursing... 

I came straight to university from my a-levels, however I did complete a foundation year before commencing on my nursing programme.  

What I like most about nursing... 

I love working with people from all walks of life. I have found my fellow students’ routes into nursing are all so different from my own.  

I also love being able to go on such a variety of placements! I feel very lucky to be able to try different areas of practice to give me an idea of what I want to do when I graduate. 

Why I am proud to be a nursing student... 

Knowing I can make a difference to the patients I am working with makes me immensely proud to be a nursing student. I also absolutely love working with people who share my passion and learning from others in collaboration.  

Additions to my studies... 

I am a student voice representative for my cohort of children’s nurses. Additionally, I have undertaken a new role within this committee, and am now a co-chair for the student voice meetings for pre-registration nursing. 

I am also involved in a couple of projects with my university which focus of practice simulation development. 

Since getting involved with projects like these, I have found a passion for nurse education. I don’t have any specific career ambitions, but I’m excited to see where my degree takes me. 

About me:

My spare time... 

I love to get creative in my spare time. I think I adopted about five or six different hobbies in lockdown, and I really try to keep them up as a way of looking after my well-being. I love baking and painting especially.  

I spend a lot of time with my housemates, we cook together and love going to see live music! 

My favourite thing to watch... 

I love a documentary! Especially Stacey Dooley! But anything true crime related is my favourite. 

Films-wise I love anything directed by Wes Anderson. 

My feel-good song... 

I have a couple of playlists which always seem to cheer me up, The1975 make up a large proportion of it! 

My pets... 

My Jack Russell, Ted and my cat, Frank are my best friends! They live back home with my family but are always one of the best parts about going back to visit. 

My passions... 

Doing a nursing degree has always been a goal of mine and to be able to do this every day is awesome. I’m passionate about my career and ensuring current and prospective students feel the same and have a positive journey into nursing! 

Looking after my mental wellbeing... 

I make sure I make time for myself to do things that I love. I also surround myself with wonderful and supportive people. When you’ve had a difficult day on placement or are feeling stressed about an assignment – being able to laugh and chat with your friends and family is so valuable. 

My advice for current or prospective nursing students...

Embrace every placement you go on! Even if you don’t think that particular area is for you, there’s always opportunities to learn from your experiences. 

Get involved as much as you can! See if your university has any societies or is working on any projects you can be a part of. If you’re passionate about something, push yourself to make the change.