COVID-19 student nurse to physiotherapist

Hi there,

My name is Saoirse, (Seer-sha in Irish, it means freedom!) I’m twenty - two years old from the south of Ireland in a place called Cork in the Republic of Ireland. In just a few short weeks, I will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (BSc.,) in General Nursing from Waterford Institute of Technology, in Ireland. As a student nurse, I have dedicated myself to my work and to care for others, working relentlessly through the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout all the lockdowns unpaid. I have always admired Physiotherapy as a profession and it was a career I have considered. But first let me tell you how wonderful nursing is…

From a personal motivating factor, my mother, who is an amazing General Practitioner, her drive and ambition for life are contagious. Being raised in a home that dedicated themselves to helping others in the medical field, I grew up knowing that I wanted to provide care to others. I first decided to get into nursing after shadowing and assisting my mother, in the first aid tent at a few local sporting events. I found caring for a person while they were injured and in pain was the most fulfilling experience I had ever encountered and I knew that I wanted to make a career out of it. I started my degree in 2017 and have since had various placements in hospitals and clinics throughout the south and southeast of Ireland. For the last 10+ months I have been an intern nurse in University Hospital Waterford.

During this time I have come to work with various members of the multi-disciplinary team within the hospital system, including physiotherapists. On the ward, I am continually struck by the sense of trust and motivation they instil in even the most unsure of patients. I have had the privilege of experiencing the physical and mental benefits of physiotherapy first hand, some of which include promoting independence in the older age group, an area in which I am especially passionate.

Seeing this work has motivated me to apply to a two year pre-registration MSc., in the U.K., a life changing move which I hope will enable me to further my ability to care for patients, promote mobility and encourage independence through physical means. I’m looking forward to using my knowledge from a nurses perspective in combination as a physiotherapist approach to give more care to patients. It’s a great combination to provide excellent service. I am very excited to continue into physiotherapy and see what opportunities it brings.

-Saoirse Sheehy,

Student nurse during COVID-10 to becoming a Physiotherapist