Placement 2; Week 1

Hey everyone!

I have now completed my first week of placement and once again I have managed to do a fair amount. 

I am on a children's ward this time and I have loved it so far! 

I have learnt a lot about peadiatrics and peadiatric surgeries. It has been interesting to say the least. My youngest patient thus far has been a mere week old, and my oldest has been 17. This has given me a good chance to communicate and liaise with children of all ages. I have also been able to practice my clinical observations and the various documentation that comes with this.

I have looked at the different PEWS charts for the different age groups. (I am hoping to get copies of these as it is very hard to find on the internet!)

I have chance to observe a nasogastric tube being placed on a baby; 

how to obtain blood samples from young babies and I have seen children taken down to theatre and be placed under anaesthetic. I have been able to see a catheter insertion and I have had the chance to talk to parents and learn more about head injuries. I have children undergoing phototherapy;

As well as this I have observed patients being admitted and discharged as well as the care pre and post operatively.  It is remarkable the amount I feel I have done in one week.  I have managed to talk to the various staff on the ward as well as others. I am hoping i can get the chance to observe some surgeries during my placement as well. This should be really interesting to see the process from a patient being admitted, to their surgery, to their recovery and then discharge.  

To try and learn more about peadiatric processes and how to carry out clinical observations I have read up with this book from the library.

It is a good book yet I have found nothing is better than hands on experience. It is helpful having other students on the same ward as myself as well. I am on with both second and third years so I have had the opportunity of observing them and asking them questions as well.  It has been a quick week and I have enjoyed it.  I do think that you do need to be strong and have a good poker face when it comes to working with children.  I have seen parents so torn up and upset at seeing their child in hospital.  Because children cannot consent their parents do so for them.  This may involve putting the child through procedures that they are scared of and will say no to, or cannot as they are too young. Having to prevent a child from pulling their own nasogastric tube out as it is inserted is hard.  

Working with children, it is important that you are aware of the Gillick competency. 

See the below website for information.

NSPCC

It is also important that you are aware of confidentiality and how to report any suspicions of child abuse.  It is vital that you are aware of local child protection guidelines as well as nationally. Children and their health can be straightforward, however, it can be difficult as there can be various circumstances as to how that child is in that hospital or care facility that you are in.  This is where maintaining those professional boundaries come into effect. Reading up on any of these things before you embark on a placement with children will help.  Talk to your mentor and your university if there is anything you feel you are not comfortable with or if there is anything you want to clarify. 

I will say this, working with children is so rewarding.  I have had the opportunity of playing with some of the children and their siblings as hospital can be a scary place. Communicating with a child on their level may be difficult, but it is so important for that child.  I will say this though, be prepared for the unpreparable!   

(All photos available on Google images) 

Phase 2 - Complete!

Hi All! 

It has been another 6 weeks of class come and go! Dont know where its going! 

I have enjoyed it immensely. I have had an exam to do and an assignment due in. I have also had my portfolio back and received feedback from that. 

It has been an eventful and eye opening few weeks to say the least. Everyone is finding their feet and you can see friendship groups being formed.  It has also been a good way to get our questions answered and finding out how we are getting on at university.  For some people, it has been a way of finding out if they're enjoying the course and how they are finding it.  As you know, there will be people that drop out and there will be people that want to change course. 

So as you progress, the workload changes and gets more immense and you find you will feel different stresses compared to others. 

Each person has their own circumstances and their own ways of dealing with stress. It is important to remember that you need to avail of your personal tutor and any other university help. 

In our practical classes we have been covering the likes of the aseptic technique and eye care and oral care. These classes are a good way of gaining confidence in your clinical skills and a good time to ask your tutor anything you feel need help on or want to gain more advice on. See this website for ANTT.and the Great Ormond Street Hospital website is good too. As I knew my placement in advance, i have been revising children's procedures and their usual vital signs and typical values. This has been particularly helpful as I know more adults than i do children.  It is important you self reflect and look at your strengths and what you may need to improve on. Nursing is a career where you are continually learning and finding out new things.  So never be afraid to ask questions or to go and find information on your own.  Initiative is a good quality to have and if you ask questions, there will always be someone along to help you and give you advice. 

I have just completed my first day of my second placement and it has been so good to learn new skills and to be able to put them to use.  I have enjoyed my first day and have found it is something I am beginning to enjoy.  My passion first and foremost will always be learning disability though! I will always be one to have my say if I believe people are being disrespectful.  More often that not though, it is the unknown field for a lot of people. And all you can do is educate them and give them information. It is these people that will perhaps go on to tell others. This is how we can raise awareness and get that information out there that learning disability nurses are needed wherever there may be contact with a person with learning disabilities. 

I am attending 2 conferences next month so I am really looking forward to that. I cant wait to meet others that are learning disability nurses and to learn more in other fields too. I am hoping I can post some details on here afterwards. I have asked my tutor and the hours attending the conferences count towards my clinical hours as well so I don't have to worry about making any placement hours up as well as attending them.  The conferences are a good way of meeting people and you can find out about ones in your local area from the following websites:

Nursing in Practice

RCN

It is always worth attending conferences. They will enhance your knowledge greatly, you will meet some wonderful people and you are able to ask questions and learn a lot more about all things nursing.  

I will be updating you all at the weekend after my first week on placement! So far it's going great! 

The Personal Stresses of Being A Nursing Student

Hi All!

So these past two weeks have been very stressful indeed.

I struggled on choosing what to write about this week.  I have a few posts lined up, but I thought this post may be more helpful and more honest than a factual post on a medical condition. 

Everyone says nursing is hard. They say its difficult. Or perhaps they have the opinion that it may not be that hard, or that in fact, as you're not in university because you're on placement that it may be fairly easy. It is far from that. 

Many people worry how they are going to handle the course. Many parents, many people with families, with caring roles at home etc. And yes it is hard. But I think some people don't seem to realise it is difficult no matter your circumstances at home.  I don't have any children. I dont have that level of responsibility. I do however, live with my partner and have our pets. I have been feeling the stress levels rise these past couple of weeks. I have my assignment and exam this week before I head out on placement next week.  I have also been working as much as I can as my partner has not been able to find a job.  So I am using my bursary, student loan and wages to pay for the house. As well as this, I am trying to ensure I get my revision done and meet deadlines.  I have been feeling how difficult this is these past few weeks, So, I had to find out if others were feeling the same.  I have spoken to a few on the course that were willing to open up. A few have said they are struggling with the finance side of things but they are getting by.  There are those parents that have to ensure they work so many hours per week so they don't lose their benefits.  Fitting this in with looking after their children, maintaining a house and revising can be difficult.  So it is nice to know I am not the only one feeling the same way.  

I thought a post such as this may help to highlight just how difficult it can be being a nursing student.  Unfortunately, with nursing students, you are not seen as a regular student. You cannot go out and get drunk and post silly things, as your fellow students will report this.  No matter how close you think you are to some people, there are always those who are willing to screenshot your Snapchat, your Facebook, your Twitter or whatever social media account you have, and pass this on to the university. So it is imperative that you are always aware of your behaviour.  

You do not have the same holidays as other students and you don't always experience the same student experiences.  It is important that you make the most of your university career. 

It is also very important that if you need help, you ask for it. It is something that not all students avail of.  My personal tutor and my class tutor have been more than helpful.  

I have found that the university support can be invaluable and having gone to university previously, I thought that I would be aware of what is coming.  On the other hand, I wasn't prepared for the feelings of mistrust amongst the cohort, the segregation and the feeling of ostracism.  It can be difficult, and I am not saying everything will always be plain sailing. 

I am, on the other hand, so glad I am where I am. These past 2 semesters have flown by and it is going so quick. So I know, in 2 years, this will all be worth it.