This week’s edition of Change of shift, which you can read now over at Nurse Ratched’s Place contains some great posts, presented around a wild west theme. What is particularly great for me is discovering some new blogs that I hadn’t read before, and what is more learning some new stuff as well as being entertained. To think that 2 years ago I barely knew what a blog was, let alone that so many nurses, doctors and others were around sharing parts of their work and home lives with us.

At the beginning of next week I reach the milestone of 2 years as a blogger and boy has that time gone quickly. I have in the past started diaries at various times but have never carried them on, and I expected that this blog would become another short term attempt. Instead I have found that I have maintained my interest, and whats more used my blog as part of my reflective practice journal for the masters in leadership I have just finished. The biggest surprise though has been ‘meeting’ other nurses online, getting to know so much more about nursing practice in a variety of specialties both in the UK and across the Atlantic.

Today has been something of a nerve wracking one. I had never appreciated how nervous you could be for your offspring as they go to collect their exam results. So much emphasis is put upon exams these days, by schools, parents, the media and of course employers who have a vested interest in these things. My teen son has done pretty well, and particularly in the subjects he wants to continue with in the 6th form. In one or two subjects he has done less well, but actually in the long run I doubt that will be a problem. I have told him I am proud of him, and I am very proud. I suspect the whole process of exams and results will never be quite as bad again, I also suspect he now understands what I am going on about when I nag him to work hard, do his homework and revise. I have a nephew who is possibly not having such an easy and pleasant day. He has received similar results to Matt, but his parents have spent the last 7 years or more telling him, us and all who would listen that their son was fantastically bright, and was so special that they needed to send him to a fee paying school. The experience has caused them extreme hardship, so much so they have lost their house, it has almost broken up their home, as the parents considered splitting at one point and the pressure on their son has been immense.

I am a firm believer that the education you receive is important. It is vital in giving you the grounding you need for your future life. It can make or break your future in fact. However the results you receive at 16 will be superseded by those that come along at 17, 18 and so on. Plus, learning should continue throughout life so that it is ok to study for a masters in your 40’s if you want. Education is vital, good results should be celebrated, but a couple of poor results at 16 are definitely not the end of the world.