International nursing.

This year I was lucky enough to get chosen to participate in the ENNE IP. The ENNE IP embodies cooperation between nursing students from 14 countries in Europe (and the UK). It also helps them to learn about and from the differences between nursing in different countries through which the student nurses develop their intercultural competences. And we get to explore the city/ country that hosts the programme.

The ENNE IP took place in Barcelona this year and during the programme I was in group 4, the best group. Our first task was to create the ideal nurse, for which we created a new curriculum that we would love to see used all over Europe. So international important health care people, look at the picture below carefully as it shows you the best nursing currucilum you have ever seen! All teachers were impressed which was an amazing achievement as we made it during the first days we were together with our group so we didn't really know each other that well either. So yeah I am very proud of what we achieved with this task. And the other tasks as well, we weren't the best group for no reason.

Never did I think this week would become the best one in my nursing career so far, and will probably stay the best week in my nursing career until it's over. It was absolutely amazing to get to know nursing students and fellow young adults/ adults from all over Europe. We got to share not only a lot of information on our nursing curriculum and health care system but also on our personal lives. I got the chance to meet some amazing and really interesting new people and make a lot of new friends. Plus I now have a lot of places in Europe I have to visit soon if only for an ENNE reunion. 

I was extremely surprised by the crazy amount of differences in both nursing and a health care systems between the countries. Aren't we all here to care for our patients? To make sure the care we deliver is the best care? This brings me back to the amazing European nursing curriculum our group developed above. A curriculum that shows you all fields of health care, makes sure you have enough practical experience and theoretical knowledge, plus it offers you the opportunity to go work as a bachelor nurse all over Europe without having to re-do the bachelors programme in the other country.

So the ENNE IP was super interesting in a nursing / theoretical way, as another task was creating a care plan for a certain case. It was also super interesting and just amazing in a personal and social way. I got to meet so many new people and learn so much about different countries (every country had to present themselves and their country on the first night). But let's not forget the sight-seeing activities we've done with the water activity as an absolute favourite. A lot of people cancelled this one due to the bad weather but the people that went had an amazing time, including myself. I went paddle boarding, and for a first time I think I did amazing. plus it was the best opportunity to do some more socialising with the other students. 

Then there were the parties. We Dutchies organised one in honour of Kingsday that was celebrated on April 27th, where we had typical Dutch games but also a lot of drinks and laughter. It was amazing. The other truly amazing party was the goodbye party, there was homemade sangria, musical chairs with the teachers, students playing music typical for their country, and a lot of tears and hugs. The atmosphere among students and teachers just shifted 180 degrees that night and it was incredible. Saying goodbye has barely ever been so hard, although it was more of a see you later as I am definitely going to visit most of them and their cities somewhere in the future!

Europe get ready for me! Nurses on tour!

Lots of love,
ThatDutchGirl96

Renée reviews: On the other side.

On the other side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Before I start let me clarify that no, this is not, yet another youtuber writing a book. Even though technically it is, this one is different. 

For those of you who don't know Carrie Hope Fletcher, who's known on youtube by the username 'Itswaypastmybedtime', is an amazingly creative person. And I don't mean this in the 'she's just your average vlogger' way. Carrie is the kind of youtuber you would want as your big sister. She's just so nice and warm and kind and cheerful. I absolutely love watching her videos. But then, Carrie told her audience she was writing a book. Honestly, I hated this idea, because every youtuber had written a book or was writing one. Then I borrowed the book from a friend of mine and that opinion changed. Completely.

On the other side is so well thought out, it has an amazing story line, and some magical twists you might not expect whilst reading the story. The story in itself is already truly magical. It's an easy read, yet conscientiously it keeps you thinking, a lot. I didn't mind this though, because the book was so well written and the characters had such interesting backstories.

And then, Carrie, also doesn't shy away from including a LGBTQ+ character and relationship. This kind of felt a bit overdone, you know as if she felt like she had to make it a very big deal, but then again, it still is a very big deal as LGBTQ+ characters and/ or relationships are still overlooked. Come one guys it's 2016.

Anyway, I will show you the blurb: 

Evie Snow is eighty-two when she quietly passes away in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. It's the way most people wish to leave the world but when Evie reaches the door of her own private heaven, she finds that she's become her twenty-seven-year-old self and the door won't open.

Evie's soul must be light enough to pass through so she needs to get rid of whatever is making her soul heavy. For Evie, this means unburdening herself of the three secrets that have weighed her down for over fifty years, so she must find a way to reveal them before it's too late. As Evie begins the journey of a lifetime, she learns more about life and love than she ever thought possible, and somehow, some way, she may also find her way back to her long lost love. . . 

Carrie wrote this beautiful magical love story, that might as well have been made up by Disney (Disney, take notes). She adds some subtle magical twists that will change the atmosphere of the story completely, yet the story wouldn't have been as amazing without them. Her playful writing makes sure you're unable to put away the book before it's finished, and although it may seem an easy read it sure gives you a lot to think about. The story tells you to pursue your dreams and do not ever let go of the things you love because someone tells you to. Live your life to the fullest and make sure that in the end you can't say 'I wish I had,' or 'I wish I had done'. Life is to precious to waist and one should enjoy every moment that is given to them on this tiny orb in this infinite universe.

When reading the book you might notice some things that will give away the fact that this is Carrie's debut novel. It doesn't change the fact that the story is amazing and so are the characters and the cover. This book is very promissing and I cannot wait to find more of Carrie's work waiting for me at Waterstones. The novella she wrote as an addition to this book is already looking at me longingly from my bookshelves, waiting for me to pick it up and start reading. 

So would I read this book again, yes absolutely.

Would I recommend this book to others, also yes, absolutely.

Now if you have become rather curious to the specifics of the story line and to find out more about the story I will put a link to the Waterstones webshop here: Waterstones, On the other side - Carrie Hope Fletcher.

I hope I have given you a new book to add to the list.

Lots of love, 

ThatDutchGirl

ps. I do recommend you buy the hardback one as I fell in love with the way it looks and it just gives you this old fashioned hardback feel which is so nostalgic......

(Source: Waterstones)