Placement 1 - Finished!

I've finished my very first placement! 

It has been amazing. I have learnt so much and I have chance to do a lot. Massive thank you to the staff and patients for being so accommodating. 

I have loved every minute of it.

It's tiring getting up at 5.30am and working 13 hour days then having to travel home again only to be back on first thing some days.  But it is worth it. As per my previous posts, I have been able to do injections, enemas, peg medication, other medications, learn how to monitor and manage diabetes. I have had chance to meet with the speech and language therapist  (SALT), the aromatherapist, the orthotics team and the dental team. I have had chance to see multidisciplinary team meetings being carried out, I've seen how resettlement works for patients moving into the community from hospital and I have had chance to meet the doctors involved in the patient care. I have seen their admissions to other hospital facilities and I have had the chance to really experience patient care in hospital facilities for those with learning disabilities. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt so much. My mentor was very understanding and helpful in my learning. I was able to shadow my mentor and they were able to show me various different aspects of nursing care. I was also given aims and objectives for my next placement from my mentor that we agreed upon together in my assessment meeting. I have an initial meeting with my mentor to agree on what I want to get out of the placement and if I have any additional needs. Then half way through we have another meeting to see how I am progressing and what I have gained from placement thus far. Then in my final week I had my final assessment. This involved answering 4 questions based on the care of one patient on the ward. We then have to assess ourselves using the Bondy Scale and the assessor uses this to then look at how we have progressed during our placement. 

This is all in our portfolios. This is handed in once we go back to university where our personal tutor looks through it. They look at any absences, any night duties completed and any issues we may have had. This portfolio is then given back with any feedback and then we take this to our next placement. The portfolio is to last for the 3 years we are at university so it's important we take care of it and do not lose it. As you will then have to find all your old mentors etc and get them to re-sign everything they have written. 

But I am now so glad to be off for Christmas.  We start back early January unlike other courses so it's a short time off but I will be enjoying my Christmas with family and putting my feet up. To say I'm tired is an understatement at this very moment in time!

Merry Christmas to you all. 

⛄

And is hope next year brings the good news you're hoping for! 

My Reading List

As I have wrote a previous post on my books that I had read in the run up to applying, I thought I'd update you on what books I do have now and ones that I don't but I have borrowed from the library and found useful.

In my first year at university, all four branches are integrated. We sometimes have the midwives in on the life sciences lectures but not often.  So we are all learning the same things this year.  Next year it will be different and we will get to know one another a lot more on the learning disability branch.  So our books needed have mainly all been the same until it comes to assignments.  We have all needed to do the same assignments this year but we are told in our assignments that we need to relate it to the branch that we are doing.  So that is where books unique to our branch will come in to it.  

The books I have used so far (in phase 1 / semester 1);

•  Anatomy and Physiology - Tortora & Derrickson

• Nurses! Test Yourself in Anatomy and Physiology - Katherine M. A. Rogers & William H. Scott 

• Health Promotion: Discipline, Diversity and Developments - R. Bunton & G. Macdonald

• Fundamentals of Nursing - B. Kozier et al.

• Nursing Practice, Hospital and Home - M. F. Alexander et al.

I have also read local trust policies and guidelines when on placement.  I have also kept up to date with the local, national and worldwide health news as this impacts us all.  These are in addition to the books I already have or have read mentioned in an earlier post. You can find that post here. However, if you need any help or are wondering about anything else you may think you want to get started on before you start university then please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

P.E.G's, Enemas, Injections and Medications.

I have finished week 4 of my placement, which means I am two weeks away from finishing.

I cannot get across to you how quickly this has gone and how much I have enjoyed every minute of it so far. 

I have been able to spend time in the office and get to understand how the off duty is done, how patient appointments are booked and attended, how transport is booked. I have been able to go to the dentist, I have seen the aids and appliances being made for people with physical disabilities and epilepsy. I have been fortunate enough to really get to know my patients and to be able to understand a lot more from being on a ward placement. I am very lucky in that respect as the others from my year (and branch)  are mainly on community or day centre placements.  I have also been given my next placement which I am really looking forward to. Again, I will be in a hospital setting but this time I am in a children's ward.   So I am sure that will be fun to blog about! 

So this week I have again managed to experience a lot! I was able to go see the orthotics departments where they make the aids and appliances for people.  This is where leg splints, helmets, body braces etc are all made. This is very interesting to see the work that goes into seeing the patient, obtaining their measurements, hoisting them if necessary into bean bags that can mould around their body shape and then making their appliance.  This can be anything from moulded wheelchairs, seats, to specially designed helmets for self-injurious behaviour or epilepsy where they would possibly fall against things on a frequent basis. The staff were able to show me how things are made and on what time scale and how this can help improve a person's quality of life.  It is amazing the work that goes into all these different things that many people may not even think about.  

I was also fortunate enough this week to be able to administer insulin again, so I am feeling confident with that as well as blood sugar level readings.  I have also been administering medications via a P.E.G tube on a frequent basis (again always under supervision).  I have also been able to ensure that controlled drugs are signed off and see how a controlled drug check is carried out by pharmacy staff who come in.  They check that 2 people are signing off the controlled drug at all times, that it is signed, name printed and dated when any controlled drug is administered.  With controlled drugs, protocol is slightly different compared to other medications.  Unfortunately, within healthcare, it is medication administration errors that account for a lot of statistics.  So it is so important that you are good at your mathematics and drug calculations.  It is something you need to do. 

I have also been very fortunate in being able to administer flu vaccines this week as well. I was even more fortunate that the patients consented to letting me do this as well. It has been a very good week for learning this week. The nurses have also commented on how well i've done and how confident I have been for a first year on their very first placement.  This is where I think it does help immensely having any previous experience within the field of nursing you are doing.  Of course, without experience you're learning from the nurses first hand and won't have any bad habits or routines after your previous experience. So it can work either way! 

I have also been able to administer an enema to a patient so I've felt very lucky being able to do that. This was a very first for me so I am glad I have asked every step of the way to do things, as I've done things that they wouldn't have considered me doing with it being my very first placement. The enema is very effective and works within 5-10 minutes for the patient and can provide immense relief for someone. Within palliative care there is a great need for pain relief and as everything begins to slow down, the bowel can get lazy and cease to work where peristalsis is concerned. The faeces are not pushed through the bowel. This results in constipation and can be very painful and uncomfortable for the patient. An enema provides relief from this. 

So this week I have been very lucky in my learning.  And I have enjoyed every part of it. It feels very surreal that I am nearly finished this placement. I have learnt this week that if you dont' ask, you may not get! Especially if your mentor is not on duty. 

Essay Writing

So I finally got down to beginning my first academic essay of my nursing career. 

It has to be in in February so yes, I have started it!

It is a reflective piece of writing on my time in placement so I have begun to formulate ideas and put them down on paper. From experience, I know many people would think my word limit (1500 words) is not a great deal and the essay should not take long to do. It shouldn't, if I didn't have to reference everything and research how my university and the School of Nursing like to have things written, as well as wanting to get a good mark. Any one can write 1500 words, but it's including what the markers want to see. 

This includes the size of the font, what type of font, the spacing (usually double), the margin size, if page numbers are needed, is my student number needed, it goes on! 

So that took up a good two hours of my time trawling through university web pages and my module handbooks to find out how things are to be done.  Of course I will also be asking those in the years above how things are to be done as well! 

So yes, essay has begun.  This is because as well as this, I have an exam in February.  I hand my portfolio in as soon as we are due back in January and then I have a lot of assignments and exams all in May. So it will be non-stop over the next few weeks. I am wanting to get as much as possible done however, just so I can have somewhat of a break over the Christmas period.  I definitely do not want to be worrying about getting my work done over Christmas instead of worrying about what to wear and who to get what! 

As this piece is reflective, I am going to use Gibbs Model of Reflection.  

(Image from Google images)

Gibbs model allows me to look at my time on placement and formulate and structure my essay.  I have a 1500 word limit so I have begun by doing my introduction then going into further detail.  I have found it best to start while I am in placement as I can then get the information I may need.  With it being reflective I am talking about what has happened while on placement, so I have needed to omit patient details and placement area details, just as I do on here.  I have replaced the patient's name with a pseudonym and I have followed NMC protocol.  I have found it very useful beginning while on placement as the nurses have been a great help.  They have also been able to help me regarding the patient.  As the patient has learning disabilities, I have had to talk to their named nurse and gain consent for me to refer to them in my essay.  This is due to the patient's lack of capacity in the ability to fully consent.  I could ask the patient, but due to lack of capacity, they would not fully understand the extent in to which I am asking.  
I have found essay writing a lot easier if I plan this first and write down key words of what I want to write about. I have then researched my topic and spent a lot of time in the library going through books, journals and articles.  I have then also spent time on placement reading patient care plans before I have chosen which individual patient I am going to refer to.  I have then also spoke to the other student I am on placement with to ensure I have referenced correctly in regards to the patient care plans etc.  I have also looked at local trust policies and guidelines in relation to the patient and their care.  
For a small essay a lot of work goes into it to ensure that you gain the mark you want to. Leaving it late, you quickly realise that the time goes quickly and you will run out of time to get your ideas down how you want them to. 

More often than not its the references that take time and a fair amount of your word count! So try to do them as you go along and it will make life so much easier. It's important to remember that you cannot do draft after draft asking your tutors to look over it and mark and re-mark it. This is university and it requires a lot of self discipline and your own work. 

A Not So Quick Trip To The Dentist

So this week marks the end of week 3 of placement.

I have again done a lot and some days not so much. I have laminated things, I have designed tables for patient information. I have answered phones and replied to emails.

As I am on placement with a third year I have learnt a lot from them. But in some ways this puts my learning to a disadvantage as they get them to do a lot rather than myself. So I have had to speak up and offer to do these things as well. The staff don't want to rush me or pressure me but I have said with my previous experience I want to be pushed rather than just guided.

This has meant that I have learnt from the student but I have also had to say I want to learn more.

Luckily enough though my mentor has been great and I have had plenty of opportunities. 

This week I have been able to go to the day care facilities, I have been to the dentist who specialises with patients with learning disabilities and I have been able to witness how resettling goes for our patients who are moving to the community and I have had my midway review. This is a discussion between my mentor and I and how we believe my progress is coming along or indeed if I'm not progressing.

My visit to the dentist was definitely eye opening this week. I was lucky enough to have the patient to consent to me being in the room during their treatment and the other health care professionals (HCP's) were more than accommodating. I was able to see the dentist, the dental nurse, the learning disability nurse who works in the dental department and the doctor who is there to oversee things and to administer the medications needed. 

The treatment was, what would to be to you and I, a basic check up and maybe a scale and polish. As this patient was very nervous and unsure of the dentist, the protocols involved in the treatment were quite extensive. The patient has a learning disability, and as such is unable to consent to treatment due to lack of capacity and understanding. This means that the patient's next of kin and carers had to be involved as well as others in a multi disciplinary meeting to ensure that the treatment is in the patient's best interests. Then after the meeting and the outcome has been decided, the various HCP's then have to decide how the treatment will take place and when. 

The patient is monitored and the procedure is explained to them in a way that they may understand and will reassure them. The amount of paperwork and meetings involved for this patient to have a dental check up is quite extensive. During the treatment, the patient's observations are taken and monitored. The patient is given a small amount of sedative to relax them and make them feel at ease by the doctor who is present during treatment. The dentist and dental nurse then work in tandem to complete the treatment, while myself and the specialist learning disability nurse continue to monitor the patient, assessing their respiratory status at all times and reassure the patient and monitor for any signs of distress. The patient's carer meanwhile, waits in the waiting room. The doctor was able to explain to me the medications used and why they are used for patients that are nervous of the dentist. As the medication is a light sedation that has been decided in a multi disciplinary meeting then the patient is deemed to be at risk but a small one. As the patient has their check up and plaque removed, it is thought necessary that the patient again be referred due to a tooth possibly needing further treatment. This will again involve a referral and perhaps several more meetings before it is decided whether to continue further treatment is in that patient's best interests. Health, age, mental status, ability to consent, their capacity and next of kin's opinion is all taken into consideration within these meetings. 

As the patient received a small amount of sedative, they are given medication to counteract this once the treatment is complete. They are monitored within the dental surgery for a short while before they are deemed okay to leave. The venflon is then removed and the patient is again observed for any signs of tenderness or allergic reaction to anything used in the treatment.

Different sized venflons

Before the treatment can even go ahead, the patient's medical records are scrutinised for anything that may deem the treatment unnecessary or that may affect the treatment whilst it is ongoing, such as epilepsy and any medications they may be on for that. 

So for a check up for you and I that may take perhaps ten minutes. this treatment took just over an hour. 

So next time you take a trip to the dentist, please try and remember that even if you feel a little nervous, you are able to reassure yourself and understand what is happening. For someone with a learning disability, this can be the most stressful time, full of anxiety and worry.  It is remarkable the process that goes into ensuring someone with a learning disability can access dental care.  If you happen to care for someone with a learning disability, professionally or personally, then please remember dental care is very important. Dental care is essential, and if someone has toothache or any cavities, this can impact on their diet, their self esteem, their behaviour and perhaps their relationships.  Even if a person has no teeth, gum care and pallet care are still as important. Oral cancer and differentiations in pallet can indicate a multitude of things. Thus the dentist will still require a visit! 

This week? Remember communication isn't just speech, it is your body language, it is music, games, sexual activity, symbols, gestures, objects of reference. It all makes a difference to that person's day. 

Learning Curve

I've now completed 2 out of 6 weeks of placement! 

And I have learnt so much. It has been up and down, busy, tiring and so much fun all at the same time. 

So what have I done this week? 

I have;

Completed a medication drugs round. 

Completed multidisciplinary notes, care notes and analysed blood results. 

Tested urine using urinalysis dip sticks.

Weighed a patient. 

Completed clinical observations and recorded these on a NEWS chart (under observation, then independently).

Taken a finger prick blood sample to test a patient's blood sugar levels then given insulin via a subcutaneous injection (again under observation as insulin is a medication).

Supported the patients with relocation on the ward. 

Helped transfer patients. 

Administered medication (under observation) via a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube. 

Signed in controlled drugs (again under observation). 

Organised the clinical room.

Photocopied notes.

Answered phones.

Supported patients with dental visits.

Received injuries from patients.

I have enjoyed it all!!

I have essentially been kept busy! It has been a very busy and quite a long week. 

But I have loved every minute of it.

It has such a learning curve this week and I cannot thank the nurses enough for the advice and the support they give regarding my learning. I have also met other staff, from the domestics who clean everywhere, the transport bus drivers, the ambulance crew, the support workers, patient's family members, the administration staff, the doctors and I'm sure others in the upcoming weeks. 

It is important to remember that you may gain confidence and feel comfortable in your role, but never get too comfortable that you let your standards drop. You are there to be assessed and monitored in upholding the profession as well as your university. Your mentor may ask for feedback from other staff you have worked with and had any contact with when they are not on shift with you.  You do not have to work every shift with your mentor but it does help.  It has been stated to us that we have to work 40% of our shifts with our mentor. Luckily, my placement have been really understanding and flexible when it comes to student's shifts. They have us in when they are in, when they think it would be useful for us and when we are able. As they are used to having students in as well, the patients have been more than understanding and usually cooperative with us. 

I say usually as this is a hospital for those with learning disabilities. It does mean that they often have mental health needs and very challenging behaviour.  Due to this, I have been scratched twice now and the patients have actually drawn blood. Now I am not trying to scare you off, but I guess somewhat this is a hazard of the job! It shouldn't be, but due to the nature of the patient's disabilities and mental health needs this may happen.  Nursing students are supernumerary. This means we are never to be left on our own with a patient, always observed and never treated as an extra staff member. This is so you can gain the most out of your placement and learn as much as possible. So as I was scratched, this was witnessed and documented.  It's only small and it will heal! 

As for my other achievements this week.....

I used these...

And I analysed a urine sample that a patient was willing to do with the use of a commode, to look at various aspects and report back to the nurse in charge and the doctor.

And this is what you look for.

 

I then was able to draw up liquid medication into various sized syringes and administer these via a PEG tube. For those who have never dealt with a PEG, the picture below should give you an idea. These are usually in place for people that have no swallowing reflex left or have severe swallowing difficulties.  Usually it is a last resort after all other methods, such as the use of thickener in fluids, has been tried.

I am lucky in that I have experience of PEG tubes before.  More so than some of the nurses I work with. This goes to show, as you go through your training and into your career, you find your niche of where you want to work. So regardless of the branch of nursing you will do, you will always meet a nurse who will have knowledge and skills that you or another nurse does not. This is because you become specialised in your area.  You develop your knowledge and skills and you can hopefully progress within this area.  

For keeping records, a NEWS chart is a National Early Warning Score. This enables health professionals to see when a person may be at risk of deterioration. 

As you can see, they are self explanatory but it is worth reading up on these as a lot of hospitals will use them.  The table below shows the scores and how these will then tally up to give you a final score. The higher the score, or if they score 3 in any one area, then the more at risk the patient.

(All images have been taken from Google images)

Next week I have my midway review with my mentor. The week after I am hoping to do night shifts so I can see how things work at night.  The medication orders and ward organisation are done at night with it being a lot quieter. I am also hoping to get a lot of work done during the night, looking through the patient's Kardex, and looking at how all the medications are organised and how they are ordered through the hospital pharmacy. 

My mentor suggested the night shifts will be very useful for me and will also allow me to do night shifts that we are needed to do each year (3 in year one).

I am really looking forward to the next few weeks. I feel like my confidence has grown already and that I am always learning new skills. Placements are invaluable and I have to thank the staff and patients for being so accommodating. 

Tip for the week?

Be quick on your feet, and make sure those shoes are comfortable! 

And so placement begins...

So I have completed my first week of placement and it has gone so quick!

I had a mad dash into town to go and buy some shoes and I've been wearing them in around the house. I did want some trainers as they're usually a lot more comfortable but needles can easily go through them.

And it is in our portfolios to wear black sensible smart shoes for placement. 

Ironic thing is a lot of learning disability is in the community so I don't even know if I will be wearing them much! 

I rang up my placement again on the Friday before hand just to ensure I had everything right in my mind about how to get there, where to park, if they charge for parking and if I'm needed to wear uniform. 

I have to wear mine so at least I'm getting my money's worth! We had to pay £160 for our uniform so it's always good when you can wear it. 

For our off duty the staff have been really flexible and so helpful as they know students can live anywhere and may not be in close proximity to the hospital. They have asked us what we prefer to work and if we want to do nights etc.  It does state that by NMC guidelines we have to do so many nights each year of the course.  In first year we have to do at least 3. So I am aiming to do that this placement.  That way I can see what happens at night and enable me to hopefully get some work done!  It also means that if I don't get chance to next placement or the one after, that I am covered! 

In my placement I am actually in a hospital so I am really enjoying that. Of all the years I've worked with learning disabilities I have never yet worked in a hospital. It has always been in the community which is what I love to do. But this placement has certainly opened my eyes.

My very first day we had an emergency situation so that was certainly interesting. I have dealt with challenging behaviour, done my first set of observations independently and unobserved. I then recorded this using a NEWS chart. I have done my first bm (blood sugar test) and given my first few insulin injections. I have also been to the dentist this week with a patient and I have had the chance to speak to many nurses who are more than happy to help.  Ive also done my first set of administering drugs under observation and I have learnt a lot! 

It has been exciting and exhilarating having done so much in one week.

My task for the weekend is to learn about the drugs we administer in this ward and how each one works etc. 

I am also aiming to learn about a few others things as we have new patients coming in all the time.  

It has been a whirlwind of a week and my mentor has been really helpful. I have managed to observe an ECG (electrocardiogram) being done, I have been able to get to know the patients and to understand how a learning disability hospital setting operates. It is definitely the most rewarding aspect of nursing, being able to converse with your patients and respond.  Especially if their communication skills are limited. This is where it counts in getting to know your patients.

My advice for the week? 

Be enthusiastic and get involved wherever you can. Most places you will go on placement will have had students before. And if the patients don't mind, observe every chance you get. Everything on placement will help you learn, no matter how small you think it may be.  And all that will help throughout university and into your future career. 

Extra Curricular

As I have been so busy and have neglected all you readers for the last 2 weeks, here are two posts in one day!

Dont all fall over with shock.

Today is my day off!! 

I am working all weekend in my part time job, then I hit placement on Monday. So today I am making the most of it and organising, tidying and all the other grown up stuff that seemingly sucks at times when all you want is to have a pyjama day! 

I just wanted to let you all know what I have been doing, or attempting to do in my spare(ish) time.

I started rowing at the university and thoroughly enjoyed it. However with other commitments i have not been able to carry that on as yet. As I have mentioned before, I volunteer with St John Ambulance.  These past two weeks I have also had an exam in that as well. I was being assessed on my first aid skills and ability to use a defibrillator.  As I am sure you can understand, it has been a very busy few weeks.  The exam for SJA was an all day exam of training and assessments.  This may seem a lot but it is worth doing if you can.  Those in St John do notice a surge of people joining in September time to look good on applications and then dropping out later in the year.  However, St John will allow you to learn a lot more.  I have learnt a lot more about First Aid as well as ECG's and treating patients.  We do a lot of courses in our weekly meetings just for information for everybody.  This has come in handy especially for my university course.  So I am glad I am doing it.  

As well as that, I have also been elected as a course representative for learning disabilities.  So this means that I have had to attend meetings for that and try to keep everyone on the course updated with such things.  The university is looking into various ways to improve the application and interview process for nursing, hence a lot of our input is required.  

It is good to do though as everything always looks good on your curriculum vitae. There are possibilities to go on from here and represent your area with the RCN. They have elections each year and then every several years depending on the post.  This is something that will keep you busy but will also allow you to keep updated with what is going on in the nursing world.  

Then on top of that I have also been working part time to try and ensure I have an income! The bursary does help, but for anything for social activities and unforeseen bills etc, a little extra income is always good.  As i start placement on Monday, I will need to fund travelling to that until I finish and I can then claim this back from the bursary department.  This will mean keeping very organised and documenting mileage, keeping receipts and looking at parking costs.  I did look at public transport, however due to location it just is not feasible. 

Then, I have joined the university gym to try and keep fit and healthy.  You will feel so tired at some points, so I find staying in shape and exercising is a good way to maintain a good sleeping pattern and keep your energy levels up (along with a good eating plan!)

Sometimes it is impossible to go or you just have so much else on ( revision ) but it has helped in meeting others too.

To summarise, I feel like a very busy bee! 

On the other hand, I know if I'm not busy, usually that means something needs doing and I am probably avoiding something. It's good to keep organised and keep on top of things.  And above all, talk to people if you do start to feel overwhelmed..  There are plenty of other students going through the same thing and may just feel the same way.   

Must dash, vets appointment to attend now! (For the rabbits, not me!)

Phase 1 - Complete!

Apologies for the long gap in updating you all!

But that's my first phase of university done. The last two weeks have been a little mad. 

We had our presentation and exam to do, then found out in our tutorial we had to prepare another presentation. Just to keep us on our toes! 

So yesterday I had a presentation, an assessment and then an exam. It has been rather manic these last two weeks getting together with my group and then revising and preparing things as well as sorting out an order I had done for everyone. So it's been a busy couple weeks. But I've thoroughly enjoyed it! 

I hae been in touch with my placement and I have organised my hours with them and if I need to wear uniform or not. I have collected that last week and I have collected my name badge. I have my fob watch and I have a little notebook to put in my tunic pocket as well. So I'm all organised. I'm just going shopping on the weekend to get some food in for lunches while I'm on placement. 

It's has gone so quick it's unbelievable. I have learnt so much already and there's a lot more to come!

It has seemed so stressful but so worth it. I'm still awaiting my score on our presentation but for my exam i got a first so im happy as whoever Larry may be with that!

It has gone so quick and it is worth noting, revise as you go. It soon sneaks up on you all those deadlines that you have and what you need to do to keep organised.  University has had such an impact on a lot of people and it is sad when we see people having to leave to return next year due to unforeseen circumstances.  However, as it has gone so quick you do need to take everything on board and a little more. 

Make the most of it as I am sure before I know it, I will have finished first year! (Thinking positive) 

I start placement on Monday so I am sure that will be eye-opening.  I cannot wait.  A few people are a little nervous and dont know what to expect. This in itself is to be expected, especially if you have not had any sort of care experience before. It can seem a little daunting.  But you do have staff on placement to help you as well as the university staff.  So if you do struggle with anything, all I can say is make the most of the help available to you.  That's the good thing about doing a nursing course. The staff and others know that you're human. You can only do so much and you can only cope with so much. To have that support there is fantastic.  

So here I am, looking forward to another 6 weeks of work on placement, completing my portfolio and making sure I can get my skills and competencies ticked off. I have been told to read up on anything I am interested in and asking if i can observe and assist in procedures if I feel I am confident enough to do so. So there is my homework for placement! 

I am going to be trying to do as much as I can when i can and make the most of the 6 weeks. As if the last 6 weeks (7 if you include induction week) are anything to go by, I expect it to fly in. 

Good luck to everyone submitting applications, it is stressful and even more stressful waiting and not knowing.  But that in itself is a learning curve for you and how you cope under pressure and waiting for such a long time.  So make the most of the free time you do have. It is a luxury when you get any at university! 

Week 4

So another week is over and done with!

It is so shocking sometimes how quick the week seems to go. 

I have completed another weeks work and trying to get my group together for our group presentation that's due in 2 weeks.

It is worrying that no one is going to do the work but you need to remember you are all there for the same thing and that you all want the marks. 

This week we have covered our clinical observations and practiced them in our practical classes. If there is anything I can recommend, learn the average values for your clinical observations. For example, what is the typical blood pressure for an adult, what is the normal temperature range for a child, what is the typical respiration rate for adults compared to children?

And if possible practice your clinical observations and gain confidence in doing so. I have found that St John Ambulance have been so good in this and helping me when it comes to first aid and talking to patients. It's not just knowing what to do, or what the average ranges should be, but how to talk to your patients and how to keep them reassured and have confidence in you as a health practitioner. 

Being able to converse with your patients and have them reassured that yes, you are a student, but you are trying your best to become the best nurse you can be. 

This is especially important in learning disabilities. People with learning disabilities may not give you more than one chance to take their temperature or their blood pressure. They may not fully understand why that blood pressure cuff is getting tight on their arm. So you have to find ways around this. It may not always work or may not always be successful, but if you can understand why and how your patients may feel then you are one step closer to becoming that proficient and professional nurse. 

All I can say is that it may be hard going in your first year, especially the first semester, but it is so worth it.

I'm due to go on placement in the next few weeks and I'm on a ward. I am really looking forward to it and I cannot wait to look back and reflect and see how this will have an influence on me as a person and as a nursing student.

Assignments, Deadlines and More.

So i thought i'd do a little post on what assignments we have this year and the deadlines to give you an idea of what the workload involves.

We first began just learning the basics, covering chemistry, biology, a small maths test, then law and ethics in nursing.  Then we have covered evidence based nursing, the NMC and its importance and then after that we have covered a whole lot more! 

As the structure of my course is six weeks in, six weeks out, it goes really quick. In a little over two weeks i will be out on placement.  Mad to think that! 

But before i head out on placement, i have an exam and a presentation to do. Then once i am back from placement i have another exam and a written assignment to do.

While i am also on placement, i have a portfolio to do and this needs to be kept up to date and signed off by my mentor to say i have covered certain aspects detailed in the portfolio.  

So as well as all the work we cover in lectures, we then have a lot of reading to do in our own time.  As i have one day a week off from the course i use this day to catch up on what work i need to do and write up all my notes and go through them again.  As it's so easy to just take down notes and not have any of it go into your head.  Its important you do your own work and own reading as the lecturers will not tell you what to do and when.  This is university, you are an adult and you are expected to use your initiative.  

So once i have done my second placement, i will have another exam, another presentation and another assignment.

Please don't think this sounds like a lot, it is and it isn't.  If you do work in your own time and keep on top of things this should all go by so quick! It should then come naturally for your assignment dates and doing the work. Although it doesn't seem like it, if you have done the work and the revision then the assignments, exams etc shouldn't seem so bad.

So overall, November I have a presentation and exam. Then February an assignment and an exam. Then the rest is in May.

Then I am also assessed on each placement I attend. Due to NMC guidelines you have to pass each segment of the year to progress into your second year. 

It may seem like there is a lot of work but if you do even just an hour each night and keep yourself organised then it really shouldn't be too hard for you to get the work done. 

Best of luck to all you new applicants and those holding places. Nursing is definitely a career that will keep you on your toes. No day is the same as the next and there will be days you hate it and days you love it. And trust me, the days you love, more than make up for those bad days. 

Week 3

Well that is another week that has seemingly flew by. 

After all them days, weeks and months of waiting and being so excited to start the course it really is going so quick!

We learn something new every lecture, if not every week.

I feel like the library is my new best friend for the next 3 years and that we will be in a love / hate relationship for the duration. 

This week has been interesting.  We have learnt a lot about the law and ethics in relation to nursing and what it means to be a nurse in making decisions for those who are vulnerable. This all related to capacity and consent.

So a lot of reading articles and journals this week.

We also had a self directed learning assignment (not marked) to do for our tutorial.

This was to enable us to realise what we had learnt over the past three weeks and what we need to improve on. So that was very helpful. Now we have a group presentation and an exam in three weeks so i need to get myself organised and revision notes sorted for that. Its going so quick its unbelieveable when it feels like i waited so long to get here after finding out i was accepted.

I am hoping this blog is helping people who are applying for Sept 2015 entry.  

I would never want to put someone off nursing as it is an amazing career to enter into.  However, i know not everyone is suited to it or can handle the sights you may see, the decisions you may have to make or the hours you may have to do.

Nursing is a tough, challenging and extremely rewarding career. As it has been said many times before, it is a vocation, a profession and 'a calling' for most people. Unfortunately we have had people drop out of the course already due to struggling with family issues or other problems,  Luckily the university is very understanding (as most will be) due to the nature of the course. Some of these people are hoping to start back next year if circumstances are better.  You do get up to five years to return to the course so it is flexible. 

I am have been thoroughly enjoying the course so far.  I will admit though, parts have felt a little tedious. If you have worked in healthcare before, the first few weeks may seem a little repetitive.  You have to cover the basics before you move on, so this means more first aid, moving and handling and infection control training. This means that you are now covered by the university to go out on placement. 

I did get my name badge this week so i was rather excited at that! It has my name on and then 'Nursing Student' underneath. Feels very surreal! We collect our uniforms at the end of the month in time for placement too. Cannot wait to put it on and get out there.  We also have our portfolio to collect around the same time.  This has to be completed during our placement to say we have covered certain topics and then be signed off. 

I do apologise if i go off on a tangent but there is so much to cover and try and tell you all! 

Especially with learning disability nursing.  There is not a lot out there, yet there are a lot of people out there with learning disabilities that need support guidance and qualified and knowledgeable professionals to enable them to be all that they can be. 

Learning Disability Nursing is a fabulous and very rewarding career, and i cannot imagine myself doing anything else.

Week 2

Hi everyone!

Massive apologies for the lateness!

I did swear to myself i would keep on top of the blog, but my oh my is nursing a busy course!

I have just finished Week 2 of my course already and it is flying in. In 4 weeks i will be finishing classes and getting ready to start placement.  We have our placement details already and i am so excited! 

Of course due to protocol i cannot give any details of where i will be but i am really looking forward to it! 

It is crazy how quick the weeks are going and how much we are learning, so it is so important to keep yourself organised and motivated.  Unfortunately there is a drop out time at Christmas and the summer apparently where we will see a dip in numbers, but this is to be expected.  It is not an easy course nor is it simple.  We are learning a new topic or subject every lecture and we are expected to keep up.  This means a lot of reading in our own time and a lot of work.  I have spent at least an hour each night doing work to ensure i keep up with the workload.  

Luckily, i have a Wednesday off in this semester. So this means i can spend Wednesdays organising my work, revising and writing up notes.  This is so helpful as it is definitely something you need to do. 

I have used these Wednesdays to ensure i can keep up.  We had a class test today and we have one next week. These are usually fairly informal to help us learn where we need to revise more and where we are going wrong.  We do have an assignment and an exam before placement, then an assignment and another exam after placement as well as two portfolios we have to complete every week.

So whoever said nursing was easy was wrong! The academic side is great though as you can see where we need to learn and why.  I am really looking forward to placement and seeing how that goes.  Especially as university tries to accommodate according to your experience.  So we are asked to fill in a form that details where we have previously worked and how long for so they can organise our placements according to that. 

Then we have our practicals.  

These are a class once a week that we have that allow us to learn how to wash our hands following the 7 step procedure, we learn moving and handling, first aid, how to give injections, the aseptic technique, clinical observations, the list goes on.  It is helpful to show us how these things are done and allow us to get hands on experience. 

So as you can tell, they keep you on your toes when you are doing a nursing degree. However, if you have fought so hard to be there and you want to be a nurse. Nothing is to trying or too hard.  As you know the end goal is all completely worth it. This is what will keep you going when you are sat up at 2am writing assignments and proof reading! 

So, if you want to be a nurse and you know this is something you will work hard for and will remember that it is the beginning of your career, then you will remember it is worth the hard work and juggling! 

Best of luck to you all applying this year, it is amazing.

Induction Week (Welcome Week)

So Welcome Week,

Or Fresher's Fortnight as it was known, flew by!

It was so much fun though.  Plenty of freebies, pens, pizza, sweets, popcorn...it goes on.

Take full advantage of this when you can in Freshers, those free pens come in handy!

It was a whirlwind though. Met plenty of people from my course through all four branches (Adult, Child, Mental Health and Learning Disability).  We had the local radio station down at the university doing giveaways, we had the society fair where you can sign up for all manners of societies depending on your interests and how much free time you think you may have.  It was a lot of fun.  

As i am doing Learning Disability Nursing, or in fact nursing in general, our Welcome Week was induction week.  This meant that we were in a lot of lectures and tutorials to allow us to get to know the structure of the course and general health and safety stuff that we need to know. It did mean that we may not have had as free a week as some other students, but nursing is full on from the word go essentially.  So be prepared to work hard! 

We had classes on health and safety, fire training, introduction to each module and information on how the course is structured.  We were told how to use the library, how to search for resources, how to access our university email and how our placements worked.  

Of course this sort of information will be individual to the university you attend and how the course is structured. 

Welcome Week passes so quickly and i cannot believe how mad it was. Finding your way around campus and finding everyone, meeting up with people and organising how you are going to study is crucial.  As once lectures get underway it is fast paced and it is important you keep up with everything.  

It was a fun week and one in which you see many student going out, getting to know one another and discovering university for the first time.  As i had already been to university, this Welcome Week was very different! The difference in the younger Freshers to the older ones is somewhat evident when you can see people coming in first thing in the morning for lectures! 

Overall, Welcome Week...enjoy it!

1 more sleep..

So I have one more sleep until university begins. 

Funny isn't it from how when we are children we count down in sleeps and this continues on into adulthood!

But i have had some panicky moments over the weekend thinking "What am I doing?!" and "Will it all be okay?" "Will I cope financially?" "Will i get on okay with everyone?" "Will I pass?" 

All common questions that I believe probably go through everyone's mind when they start university, never mind nursing  After leaving work after having been in a full time role for 5 years it is going to be a little shock to the system I think, even if I have been to university before!

It is somewhat surreal knowing that tomorrow I begin university and I learn to become a nurse. After all the waiting, the applying, more waiting, the preparation, it's finally here.  I am so glad we have social media as well as i have managed to find classmates and meet up with a few people to attend occupational health and enrolment with. I think this has helped settled people a little and realise that everyone will be feeling exactly the same at some point or another.  The girls i have met have been lovely and the age range is varied.  The youngest is 18 and I think the oldest so far is in her forties!  So proof that no matter your age or experience you can succeed in getting into university if you apply yourself right.  

So in preparing for tomorrow I have been out this week and bought a new school bag 

Nothing too exciting, but I went for practical! I wanted a bag I know I can carry my books, my notes, lunch, water bottle and anything else in there. So its a 35L bag, so I am hoping that is plenty of room.  I didn't want a shoulder bag as I will be walking to university and I know in the long run I need to look after my back, especially in this line of work.  

I have also been messaging family and friends for any tips and any help they want to throw my way! So luckily I have an amazing family who are buying me some books so I have them to hand.  I have only asked for three which are fundamental for the three years of the course.  (I have found this out from asking others on social media from the same university I am attending) I have also bought some new highlighters, note pads, lever arch files and various other bits and bobs.  Hopefully this week I'll find out what else may be needed. But i'm sure another post on my organisation will follow.  

My partner is currently building us a desk and shelves in the study. So hopefully I can get some photographs up of that when it is complete.  He didn't want to buy a desk, they weren't big enough or wide enough or sturdy enough.  This is what happens when you live with someone who is a mechanical engineer apparently! At least he is practical!

As well as the desk building and bag buying, I have also printed off my timetable that is available on our student portal.  I have been reading through past exam papers that I have found and I have looked at what books I need from the library.  This last one is well worth doing if you can.  I have found one book which I need and all 10 copies are on loan.  So it is obviously a popular book! I have reserved this so hopefully I can have this soon. Mainly because we have an exam on our timetable already and I want to be prepared.  

So instead of counting down the days, it has now come to that point where we have gotten into hours.  When I was posting in May it felt so far away and that it would never come round.  But sure enough here it is and it feels like this summer has flown by.  

This time in three years i'll be waiting on my NMC registration and my PIN coming through. But first, a lot of hard work and dedication ensues! 

Occupational Health

Last week I had my occupational health appointment at the university.
Luckily I started my hepatitis b course back in March as I knew I'd need it. I got this free through work, but if you go to your doctor sometimes they make you pay for each injection. But the hep b course is 3 injections. You have your first one, then another a month later, then another one five or so months later. You can have the accelerated course which takes place over 3/4 months.
I was due my last injection this week so it's has fallen quite good! So I had my injection, then the nurse then checked over my hands, arms and elbows to look for any skin conditions that could be irritated by frequent hand washing. I was asked a few questions to ensure what I had put on my form hadn't changed. Then i was done! Now i have an appointment in a few weeks to have a blood test to see if the Hep B course has worked.  This will test my immunity and see if i may need a booster.
So now it's just waiting until we start.
I had my last day at work on Friday which was a little sad but also a very good day knowing I'm moving onto something I've wanted to do for years now. Work were lovely and so supportive of my leaving to do nursing.  It's nice to have that support around you. I think it makes such a difference.  I was given flowers, a gift card, a bottle of wine and a card. I got many hugs from the students (service users of the facility) and many requests to come back and visit! So im hoping i can pop back in and keep them up to date with how things are going.
It's exciting knowing I'm about to embark on a new chapter in life that is the beginning of my career. The anticipation is amazing. But I'm sure In a few months after I'm so tired from working and revising my mood may be a little different! But I have this blog to look back on and to remind myself of just why im doing this and how hard it's been to get here.
Reflection is something you have to learn to do, and do well, for your course. So a blog is ideal. Of course I didn't start this blog primarily for that, but for the gap I've noticed in the wealth of information that is out there.
Despite trawling books, blogs, journals, Internet site after site and asking many people, there isn't a great deal of information relating to learning disability nursing. I can only hope that this blog is informative and can help others in deciding what branch they want to go and study and practice in. People do change their minds and life paths change, sometimes due to reasons beyond our control. However, after being in this field for the past 4 years I can say it's something I love doing and enjoy going to work. Not waking up with that dreaded 'Monday feeling' is great!