Welcome to the first of our monthly @WeNurses Student Nurse Blogs! To start us off with something that we are sure everyone can relate to,we would like you to write about....
Refer to the infographic for instructions below or click HERE to find out more about the WeNurses Student Blog. When you have written your post paste it into the “Your blog post” section below (Don't forget to Login in the top right hand corner of this page with your Twitter details as this enables you to post) When you have submitted your post, tweet about it and include #WeSTNblog in your tweets!
The post will close to new contributions on the 31stMarch so check back then to read about your peers’ experiences. April’s topic will be announced on 6th April after the monthly student night Twitter chat!
We are looking forward to reading everyone’s posts!
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@Emma_Michelle
31 March 2016 20:22
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My name is Emma. I attend the University of Chester and am currently in my first year studying Adult Nursing. I have just dyed my hair blue as a result of a mid-assignment crisis (only for the Easter holidays!) I have recently begun a new placement on a respiratory ward in the hospital. It’s my second placement, with the first being with practice nurses, and I was looking forward to something maybe a little more ‘livelier’. I’ve worked in the hospital before, in fact I’m on secondment doing my nursing degree, but I’ve always worked on the gynae surgical ward and have had some pretty rotten experiences when moved to other wards so my anxiety levels were increasing as the morning got on. My sister said to me once that being a nursing student is like starting a new job every so many months and she’s right; it’s a new environment, new people and new tasks and responsibilities to learn. I was on a late shift on my first shift and as I arrived half of the nursing staff, including the nurse in charge, had already gone on their lunch break and I stood there feeling very lost as nobody knew what to do with me. Relief did wash over me when I saw a student, now in her third year, who had spent her first placement with me on my own ward and she introduced me to a healthcare who gladly took me to help her with her observations. I spent the next hour learning that the patients on this respiratory ward score shockingly higher on the MEWS than surgical patients do, that there’s a lot more to oxygen than removing it from a post-op patient or applying it to a patient having a vasovagal, and that it doesn’t take much for a reasonably well-looking patient to lose their breath and struggle with mobilisation. When the nurse in charge returned from her break and came to find me for a late handover of the patients I was already feeling quite overwhelmed. I stayed calm and tried to take it all in my stride. I asked questions, lots of them and to anyone I saw. To be honest, the staff on the ward are absolutely amazing; all are willing to teach and go out of their way to get any information that they do not have for you. Throughout the evening I relaxed, I’ve always hated starting on the late shift anyway because I tend to feel like I can’t get on top of everything as I wasn’t there to start the day from the beginning. When I consider that first day I don’t feel that I would change much about it. It’s always scary going into a new environment and I don’t think that any amount of reading literature could prepare you for the next placement. Every ward has their own routine and their own way of doing things. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, I’m a student and I’m there to learn, and there’s a LOT to learn! I should probably be starting with learning not to be so critical of myself and worrying about how well I’m doing all the time. This team are excellent at praising and teaching and I’m going to embrace that as the placement goes on and make the most of the time I have there. |
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@HannahS_RN
22 March 2016 12:26
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I'm Hannah (@hannahSTN) and I am in the middle of my 1st year, second placement on the MA Adult Nursing at the University of Salford. I have written about my first day on my current placement. Walking in to the neurosurgical ward for my first day of placement I was unsure what to expect – I had worked on a neurology ward before as a support worker and was worried that I would find it hard to not slip back into the same role. I needn’t have worried; my mentor took me under her wing straight away so I wasn’t left to find something to do as I had worried might be the case. After the handover from the night staff we pretty much dove straight in – I had visited the ward the week before for an induction from the ward manager so I already knew my way around. After introducing ourselves to the patients in the 7-bedded bay we were looking after, my mentor logged into the computer and brought up the medication chart for our first patient. She asked me if I felt comfortable to get the medications out if she read the charts out to me and observed. I liked that she asked rather than assumed I would be okay with it, and I said yes. After the medications I had the chance to do the physical observations on each patient whilst my mentor observed and filled in the charts. I was nervous as I did my first set, particularly the manual blood pressure! But I feel like I got into the swing of things after my first two patients! The rest of the day went by in a blur if I’m honest – I couldn’t believe it when it was 7pm and time for me to go! When I got home I sat down and thought back over the day – it had gone a lot better than expected, my mentor had been very helpful and supportive and I knew she was going to be a great nurse to work with over the next 10 weeks. From that first day I had learnt that I should try not to let me expectations and worries cloud my thoughts before my first day in a new placement, as things would most likely turn out well! I think I also learnt how I worked best; being given the chance to observe something once and then have a go myself instead of standing back and watching for too long seemed to increase my confidence with new tasks and enabled me to feel comfortable. My advice to other student nurses starting their first day on a new placement, particularly your first ward placement, would be to stick with your mentor and try and figure out your learning style for placement as it will help for the rest of your time there! |
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@Mandyj72
09 March 2016 20:15
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Hi I'm Mandy @MandyJ72, I am about to commence my 3rd and final year at the end of this month studying BSc Adult Nursing at Northumbria University, I am a 43 year old single mum with 4 children and juggle my studies with working and family life. @WeSTNBlog. My first day on placement how I remember it, I went in full of excitement to eventually be starting my new journey as a student nurse, slightly nervous as I was not sure what to expect. I had visited the ward previously and found it was very busy and there wasn't a lot of time for me to be shown around. Once I introduced myself as a student nurse and this was my first placement I was told that as my allocated mentor was on nightshift that week I would have to muck in. I remember feeling very confused and lost to be honest, I had worked as a carer in the community but had never worked in a hospital and although I was familiar with patient care I was not sure how the wards worked, this was an elderly rehabilitation ward and so there was a lot of one to one and two carer patient care. I found some healthcare assistants and introduced myself to them and asked if they could tell me what I needed to do and where everything was, bearing in mind I had no idea what even a sluice was, so felt a little silly not knowing this sort of thing. I remember the ward manager kept saying to me "Are you ok? you look lost!" I am good at communicating with patients so that helped me to join in with washing and assisting people to the toilet, after a while I felt a little better once I knew what they wanted me to do and got stuck in helping people where I could. Most of the day was spent helping patients with their personal needs, keeping their dignity, talking with them, helping dish out lunches although I did not like being given this for bed 4, this for bed 5 and so on, I prefer to call people by their names and still do. When I wasn't sure what to do apart from answer call bells I found myself wandering around looking like a lost sheep, so tried to sit and talk to some of the more anxious patients to keep them occupied and calm. I soon learnt where the sluice was, what it was used for, where all the bedpans and spare bedding were kept. I was able to observe how the physiotherapists and occupational therapists worked with patients to enable them safe for discharge when they are medically fit, and how the physiotherapists determine a patients mobility for safe transfers. On reflection I learnt quite a lot about the ward and what was involved regarding the nurses roles, healthcare assistants roles and other professionals. I certainly had my eyes opened for my future career as a nurse. |
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@NaomiRomrig81
08 March 2016 10:46
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Hi I’m @NaomiFleming81 and I am in my 2nd year studying BSc Adult Nursing at BCU. My only other career path would be ‘Jedi Knight’ but alas I am Earth bound. Below is a reflection of my first day and placement #WeSTNBlog Full of first day nerves I put on my uniform and stared in the mirror. Hair pinned back, shiny shoes, brand new fob watch. The most noticeable thing though was my smile. The last time I had smiled this wide and felt so proud I was trying on my wedding dress for the first time. I couldn’t wait to get started and put the little bit of knowledge I had been given into practice. Keen to impress, enthusiastic to ‘make a difference’. But I was going to a nursing home? I felt a little bit cheated. How can I be a nurse here? It’s hospital! I had no idea how naïve I was to think there was nothing to be learned here. I’d read everything possible on dementia and the advanced communication skills that I would require to care for the ‘Residents’ NOT PATIENTS. I was told on day one “these people are in their home, this is not a hospital”. My mentor was a quiet woman. I thought she must not like me, maybe I talked too much? Maybe I said the wrong things? She later told me that she was listening; to the views I held, to the decisions I made. She didn’t offer her opinions because she wanted to see if I would reflect and re-evaluate independently. I did. Many times. I learned so much. The biggest advantages were having a working understanding of dementia. Observing residents and recognising what was ‘normal’ for them. Being able to differentiate between dementia, delirium and depression. I learned to write and reassess care plans based on ADL. There were ample opportunities to learn about wound care, linking tissue viability to water low scores, nutrition and mobility. I gained an understanding of dysphagia and picking up nonverbal signs of pain. I got to know the people I was caring for, which lead to a natural role of advocacy. I could be confident when highlighting my concerns to the nursing staff and GP’s if I was concerned with emerging clinical signs and symptoms. I knew my patients. I could spot a developing UTI or chest infection like a hawk by the time I left. I built strong working rapports with the families of the residents. Guiding them through their loved ones care and at times the process and aftermath of their passing. The disadvantages I had anticipated did not exist in reality. I’ve quickly caught up in a hospital. On reflection, with my additional experience I can see that my skills to empower patients have progressed. I would do many things differently. My concept of nursing has evolved. ‘To help’, is not always ’to do’ for our patient. This placement shaped the nurse I will be. |
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@NaomiRomrig81
08 March 2016 10:45
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Hi I’m @NaomiFleming81 and I am in my 2nd year studying BSc Adult Nursing at BCU. My only other career path would be ‘Jedi Knight’ but alas I am Earth bound. Below is a reflection of my first day and placement #WeSTNBlog Full of first day nerves I put on my uniform and stared in the mirror. Hair pinned back, shiny shoes, brand new fob watch. The most noticeable thing though was my smile. The last time I had smiled this wide and felt so proud I was trying on my wedding dress for the first time. I couldn’t wait to get started and put the little bit of knowledge I had been given into practice. Keen to impress, enthusiastic to ‘make a difference’. But I was going to a nursing home? I felt a little bit cheated. How can I be a nurse here? It’s hospital! I had no idea how naïve I was to think there was nothing to be learned here. I’d read everything possible on dementia and the advanced communication skills that I would require to care for the ‘Residents’ NOT PATIENTS. I was told on day one “these people are in their home, this is not a hospital”. My mentor was a quiet woman. I thought she must not like me, maybe I talked too much? Maybe I said the wrong things? She later told me that she was listening; to the views I held, to the decisions I made. She didn’t offer her opinions because she wanted to see if I would reflect and re-evaluate independently. I did. Many times. I learned so much. The biggest advantages were having a working understanding of dementia. Observing residents and recognising what was ‘normal’ for them. Being able to differentiate between dementia, delirium and depression. I learned to write and reassess care plans based on ADL. There were ample opportunities to learn about wound care, linking tissue viability to water low scores, nutrition and mobility. I gained an understanding of dysphagia and picking up nonverbal signs of pain. I got to know the people I was caring for, which lead to a natural role of advocacy. I could be confident when highlighting my concerns to the nursing staff and GP’s if I was concerned with emerging clinical signs and symptoms. I knew my patients. I could spot a developing UTI or chest infection like a hawk by the time I left. I built strong working rapports with the families of the residents. Guiding them through their loved ones care and at times the process and aftermath of their passing. The disadvantages I had anticipated did not exist in reality. I’ve quickly caught up in a hospital. On reflection, with my additional experience I can see that my skills to empower patients have progressed. I would do many things differently. My concept of nursing has evolved. ‘To help’, is not always ’to do’ for our patient. This placement shaped the nurse I will be. |
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@Sticky_Kitty
07 March 2016 14:55
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I’m on the accelerated adult nursing course, which means instead of the usual three year degree, all of the content is crammed in to two years. I essentially skipped the first year modules and ploughed straight in to second year. I was able to do this as I already had a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and two years of work experience as a care worker in the community. My experiences had taught me a lot but I wasn’t prepared for hospitals being like a portal to another world. On my first day of placement, I arrived on the respiratory ward like a rabbit blinded by headlights. I was given a brief where-to-put-your-stuff-here’s-the-loo tour before getting straight to it. I was bombarded by a series of what sounded like very bizarre requests; “Can you take this to the sluice?” “Can you dip this urine for me please?” “Just check if that chest drain is bubbling.” “Hey Jennifer, ask Mr Roberts for a sputum sample, would you?” “Do you have a barcode for the blood machine?” “Oh great, student nurse! Are you free for a quick log roll and pat slide?” Soon the words became familiar and I was able to respond with something other than a completely blank expression. I practiced hospital corners with bed sheets (without ever quite getting the hang of it) and I took many observations; blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and temperature. I gradually learnt which numbers were bad and which were good. I learnt how to press the buttons on the non-invasive ventilation BiPAP and CPAP machines to adjust settings, under direct supervision of course. I hated how they called it ‘non-invasive’, it’s the most invasive type of non-invasive you can get. You have to wear a mask tightly over your nose and mouth with straps across your forehead and behind your neck to keep it firmly in place. Depending on the setting, the machine can then push air in to your lungs, increasing the pressure and helping lower dangerous levels of carbon dioxide in your body. Some people had to wear it 24 hours a day until the gases in their blood were the right levels. The combination of the mask and forced oxygen makes you thirsty, your mouth dry, lips crack and where the mask is positioned leaves you vulnerable to pressure sores on your nose. Everyone hated it and I felt so sorry for them. It’s only been a year, but I’ve come a long way from my first day. I no longer enter my placements as if I’m ready made road kill and I’m not scared to ask for some extra help. I hope that in a year’s time, when I’m a qualified nurse, I’ll be able to take hapless students like me and coach them in the right direction. |
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@Lizbennett89
07 March 2016 14:18
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Ok so, as you can imagine, I'm in my first year and about to embark on my first placement. Nerves are through the roof. I have zero previous experience in healthcare as my background is early years and education and so my initial thoughts the night before my first day were, 'what the hell have I let myself in for?!'. I sucked up my nerves and strolled in to the school nurses office, with my friend from uni, ready for action and eager to get this experience rolling. However, my enthusiasm was short lived. Don't get me wrong, the lady who greeted us was lovely, the nurses in the office couldn't have been more welcoming and the overall atmosphere was of a hardworking yet happy team. Yet, once the initial introductions had been completed, the remaning 7 hours of my day were spent reading through various bulky folders and if I'm being completely honest, twiddling my thumbs. My mentor wasn't in on my first day so me and my friend were 'babysat' by a member of staff who was far to busy preparing a court case to have the time to do anything with us. I have to say we did exchange some 'this is going to be a bit naff' glances at this point . When we got in the car to drive home, the first thing I said was ' I hope it's not like this for the next 8 weeks!' The day had been a huge anticlimax considering my get up and go attitude that morning and I honestly thought I was going to be bored stiff for the entire placement. Thankfully, first impressions weren't the bee all and end all in this case and after a slow first few days, things got more exciting and I've ended the placement having made new friends and learnt an awful lot which will help me safeguard and care for my future little patients ?? |
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@PUNC14rasutton
02 March 2016 23:57
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My first day on placement didn't go exactly as I planned. I walked on to the ward, introduced myself to the first staff nurse there. The deputy matron hadn't passed on that I was starting today, luckily the staff nurse welcomed me to the team. Small community hospital, 12 beds, what could go wrong? For me, everything. The first patient I met ran over my foot with their Zimmer frame, and then asked me to take them to the toilet. That's fine, I had been a community care assistant before I started uni, how hard could it be? Considering there had been Norovirus on the ward a few days ago, the welcoming news that this patient had literally made it to the toilet in time, the loose bowels had not settled in this 'clean' ward. The staff nurse asked me what type the patient had had, I looked at her and said 'Type??'. What did this mean, I read the 'student nurse bible' aka the Royal Marsden Clinical skills book, I had no idea, she laughed it off and said 'On the stool chart, what type of movement did she have?' I again looked puzzled, the stool chart, did this mean the type of seat she sat on, is this a joke?.. She showed me the Bristol Stool chart, and it all came clear. See, in the community, we didn't use these, we just simply said that the patient had their bowels open and that was that. After confirming the type, and later finding out the patient has dementia, we needed to move them to a side room, but you guessed it, there were none available. There were three side rooms, two with patients on end of life care and one with ESBL in their urine. We needed to establish what we were going to do, no way could we have a patient with type 6/7 stools in a clean bay. With the advice from the local major hospital. Because the ESBL patient was continent, they could move into the main bay. The patients swapped places, after a deep clean in the side room. The patient who moved into the side room was becoming more and more confused, they had formed a bond with me and proceeded to tell me that their doctor is still expecting them to go to work, even though they were 85. With the confusion and the fact the patient appeared to calm with me, I stayed with them for an hour or so, reassuring her that all was well and talking about the past, the mood turned from despair to laughing and joking about the time their son was chasing the dog in the garden and ended up in the garden pond. I learnt the importance of ensuring the patient was safe, maintaining dignity and most importantly felt heard. I also, most importantly learnt what the stool chart meant, and how to differentiate between types. I learnt the importance of communication and empathy. I learnt that I was human, I put myself in the patients shoes, where was I? I was in a hospital I only arrived at 5 hours before, it was my first time in the area and my first time in a clinical environment where I wasn't the patient. It was easier to empathise with them, or maybe it was me with the dementia! |
