Mari Kasperska - Zegar

My career journey... 

I wanted to become a nurse when I first came to the UK, but was not able to straight away. Instead, I turned to improving people’s wellbeing and opportunities in life through education, I worked as an educator and as a member of support staff at primary, secondary and university level. Whilst I was working, I studied a bachelor’s degree in social science at the Open University on a part time basis. Working as an educator inspired me to go back to university to study children’s development and health at University College London. Upon graduation I started working on a project for young people’s mental health provision in schools in the south east of Engand, which is where I found out about the newly available routes into nursing! 

Ready and determined to move my career forward I joined an eating disorders service at a local community hospital to gain experience as a healthcare assistant and worked bank shifts at an acute hospital to further expand my skillset. All of my experiences working in different settings with different people helped me to select the best fit for me – adult nursing. I was extremely pleased when I was offered a place at Liverpool John Moores university, so I packed my suitcases and moved from a coastal beach town to the North West. Which takes me to now, studying a masters pre-registration in adult nursing. 

Other opportunities I have got involved in... 

During my studies I became a student ambassador with The Royal College of Nursing as well as co-founded and presided over the “Bench 2 Bedside” translational research in healthcare society. I am now also proud to be a member of the NHS England north west student council. 

My future career... 

My passion is clinical education, which I am researching for my Masters dissertation. Perhaps a role in clinical teaching and facilitation is on the cards when I am established as a Registered Nurse! I love that the nursing profession is so varied and dynamic. 

About me: 

My spare time... 

In my spare time as a hard-working student with a part-time job I love to sleep!  I am also an amateur drummer and an analogue photographer which engages my creative side. For energy and sensory balance, I regularly interject my city life with good length nature walks with my loved ones. 

My three pieces of advice for someone wanting to take a similar career path... 

1. Apply the nursing knowledge to yourself. How do you recognise and respond to signs of distress or deterioration? Who can you escalate to for advice or support? What has worked before? What equipment do you need?  

2. Your body, your mind and your relationships are your biggest resource on this journey. Studying nursing is a very rewarding pathway, but the workload and competing deadlines can be demanding and tiring.  
   
   My tip - invest in easy access solutions to what makes you feel good and restored. 

3. Like with any complex task, preparation and asking for support can take you very far. Reading ahead about subjects you will be writing about, thoroughly evaluating your learning needs before placement, finding out where you can  enhance your education, collating resources you can come back to for a topic you want to revise, reaching out to multiple sources for support or advice – all of this will pay off in the end and make your studies so much easier. The quality of your preparation and use of resources (including access to knowledgeable people you meet) is a great investment in a quality overall experience as a student nurse. And you will enjoy it so much more! 
   
    

My top tips for managing working/studying/life balance... 

I think what has helped me the most on managing my student nurse journey is recognising priorities – as someone put it, when you spin many plates some are likely to fall; you just have to make sure the ones that fall are the plastic ones not the ceramic precious ones. So, you can pick them up later and have a go again!  

Every day I remind myself that every step towards the goal is valuable, and as long as none of my precious plates (fundamental needs, essential deadlines, important relationships) are not dropped to break it is okay if I don’t live a perfect life everyday – microwave dinner during the exam preparation week is absolutely fine. Half-written work which can get constructive feedback to improve is better than no work at all. Taking up a tutor on the 1:1 meeting offer last minute is infinitely better than feeling unmotivated or confused on my own. 

I have definitely learnt to reach out for the help available, move step by step however small – and go forth! 

My encouragement to every student is a quote from a brilliant anthropologist and feminist Margaret Mead: 

 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has.”  

My final piece of advice... 

Speak honestly and stand up for what you believe in, and you will find more people to influence things with you. Join or form groups, committees, task forces, interest circles or gentle comic-relief chats; encourage and support others on placement no matter who they are in the team; notice where you connect and share values with others to build bridges and alliances for things that matter; share your experiences, perspectives, skills and tips so we all rise together.  

Because we are in this together: more happy student nurses mean more happy registered nurse workplaces, and more happy patients with better health outcomes. I believe in us – let’s work together!