From an introverted student to a fully qualified nurse: HBO Nursing student Daniël Arents is very enthusiastic about the professional and personal growth he is experiencing during his studies and internships at the UMCG. In the 'Boeien en Binden' program, a collaboration between UMCG and Hanze where learning and working are combined, he finds all the challenges he is looking for. "That practical experience you get at the UMCG and the good collaboration between Hanze University of Applied Sciences and UMCG here at Campus Groningen, you can just learn an incredible amount from it."
Ambitious
Daniël is happy with all the opportunities at the UMCG: "I find challenges and growth opportunities very important in my work. I love being stimulated and I am ambitious, so I want to specialize further in the future. The UMCG really gives me the space to elevate myself to a higher level. When I first arrived, I was very introverted and hardly talked to others. But now, I just walk onto the ward and approach a patient. I start a conversation just like that."
A high-speed train that never stops
Securing a great internship or first job is very achievable at Campus Groningen, Daniël believes. How did he manage that? “Starting from the bottom worked well for me. I first steadily learned the basics at Wiebenga of Hanze and at Wilhelmina Hospital in Assen. Then I moved on to the UMCG. It's really great to already have the basics with you because the UMCG is a high-speed train that never stops.
Of course, there is plenty of room to learn at the UMCG, but everything goes a lot faster. You can only try to further develop yourself here. The UMCG and the Campus offer plenty of tools and opportunities for that. Incredibly many opportunities even.”
Contributing to quality of care and job satisfaction
His own graduation research is a great example of those opportunities: "I am currently conducting my graduation research at the Beatrix Children's Hospital. The Beatrix Children's Hospital wants to develop a learning climate scan to assess whether workplace education meets the needs.
Together with a fellow student, I am investigating how pediatric nurses in training experience the learning climate and what they find important. With our advice, they can improve the training, thereby increasing the quality of care and job satisfaction. Really a very interesting subject to delve into!”
Seize the opportunities
Daniël has no doubts about his dream workplace after graduation: “I want to work at the UMCG, where I felt at home from the start and where I find all the challenges I am looking for. I would advise anyone studying HBO Nursing to seize the opportunities at Campus Groningen. Here you can learn a lot both theoretically and practically, and the connection between the two is beautiful."
