Stepping outside my comfort zone
By William, Work Experience at FoNS
Arriving for my work experience at the Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS), I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. In the days leading up to my first morning, I imagined all sorts of scenarios, wondering what tasks I would be asked to do, what the staff members would be like and what it would be like working in an office environment.
It did not take long for those worries to disappear.
Within half an hour of arriving, I realised that the anxieties I had built up in my mind were completely unfounded, my mind had been playing tricks on me. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. My first task was helping to prepare packs for their programme, Resilience-based Clinical Supervision (RBCS). As I learned more about RBCS, I was particularly interested in reading about the “threat system”, one of the three emotional systems explored within the programme. Perhaps understanding this helped me feel calmer in my first morning and more settled on my first day.
The day flew by. I spent the day preparing packs and was surprised when it was suddenly evening. I enjoyed the work so much that I did not even want to go home until I had finished making my last pack.
My second day was just as varied and interesting. The morning began with helping to build IKEA bookshelves. It was not a typical work experience task; it was an extraordinary one. I learnt that building shelves was not just an office skill, it was a life skill! Once the shelves were in place, I helped organise books by colour to create a rainbow display, which was both creative and satisfying.
One of the things that stood out most during my placement was the opportunity to learn from the people around me. During a break, I read the opening chapter of a PhD thesis about implementing change in infection control within two intensive care units. This introduced me to academic writing, citations and references. Later that same day, the chief executive spoke to me about the importance of citations, plagiarism and using evidence appropriately, what a coincidence!
I also learned a lot about the term “governance. Before my placement, I had heard the word but did not fully understand what it meant. Through further discussions with the chief executive, I learned how governance provides the framework that helps organisations work ethically and legally. Seeing how these principles apply in practice gave me a much clearer understanding of how organisations operate.
The day ended with a final task: sorting old files and folders into different year groups. While it might sound simple, I found it surprisingly enjoyable.
Throughout the day I noticed that I said “yes” to almost everything, eager to help wherever I could. Looking back, I realised that some of the most valuable learning came not just from completing tasks, but from listening and observing.
Another thing I noticed about working in an office environment was how important relationships are. The conversations and interactions between colleagues seemed to make work more enjoyable and rewarding. I thought I found it difficult to communicate with people, but I discovered that communicating was much easier than I had expected. I now find asking questions much easier than before.
This experience has given me a valuable insight into working life and has challenged some of the assumptions I had about office environments. I learned something new every day, from practical skills and academic concepts to communication and teamwork.
I would highly recommend that students who are considering work experience take the opportunity to do it. It provides valuable insight into what working in a corporate office is like, teaches you something new every day, and each new day brings a fresh start.
Work experience is often described as a chance to learn about the world of work. My time at FoNS did exactly that, while also helping me grow in confidence, curiosity and communication. For that, I am very grateful.