What it's like being on Management (sign off) Placement... Year 3 Week 39

Management or 'sign off' is what your final placement as a student nurse is referred to. This is because on this placement you are expected to manage the ward (coordinate) and then be 'signed off' by your mentor who says 'this student is safe to become a qualified practitioner'.
How exciting! And slightly daunting...

So at my university this placement is 12 weeks long. 8 weeks of normal placement and then your final 4 weeks is considered the 'sign off' period.

By the time you get to this placement you will be shocked at the knowledge you have built up and how capable you actually are. Of course you will make mistakes, forget to do something or make a fool of yourself, that is part-and-parcel of being a student and you will still do this when qualified! No-one is perfect so don't work yourself up over small things.

What you will be able to do by the time you reach the final 1/3 of this placement is the following:
-Manage patients care including = observatoins, BMs, referrals, liaise with Dr's and members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), medications (under supervision), dressings, care plans, note writing and documentation.
-Coordinate the ward with your mentor (admissions, discharges, liaise with outside agencies to get patients home asap, eg. district nurses, recovery at home etc)
-Manage your own workload and act with initiative at all times!

There's probably more because nurses do so much more than what is defined by NMCs code of conduct, as you will find out.

My biggest tip? Be openminded, motivated and enthusiastic. Make a conscious effort to get on with EVERYONE. It really helps to get everyone on your side, it makes your life easier and it makes the days more enjoyable.

If you feel like you are lacking in an area, then read! Do research, ask questions, ask more questions, it's up-to you to develop yourself!

By the time you are on this placement people often 'leave you to it' because you are expected to be practicing your skills not learning them. therefore prepare yourself in the placement prior to this one, try and learn all you can so you are in the position to just perfect your work and learn more about everything else.

It's complicated and may sound daunting but you will be ready! Never be scared to say you don't know something.

Girls and boys you will make it and you will be fine, I can vouch for that! Just try and get on a ward you enjoy with staff you get on with. You will become part of the team after 3 months.

I hope that has helped some of you :)

Take care,
Alex xxx

I'VE GOT A JOB and a 1ST!... Year 3 Week 39

Hello everyone,
I'm so so sorry it's been 5 months. To be honest I'm just spiting myself because this is a wonderful resource to look back on and identify my progress, and by not updating I'm almost losing a section of my progression. Oh well, I'm back now.

I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas!?

As you can see by the title, I am far into my 3rd and final year of adult nursing now. And guess what... I got myself that 1st class degree! I can't believe I've done it, but I am so so happy.
During my A-Levels I was very disinterested and not engaged at all, I ended up with 3 Cs. I was so disappointed and felt very much put down, so to actually put a lot of effort in and achieve a 1st class bachelor of science degree I finally feel like I've proven myself :).
Not only that, but I have 4 weeks of placement left, 1 week of uni and then it's all finally over!

This is from my last post, but I thought I'd put it in here too to give some perspective:
8 weeks of uni - done
1 week A/L - done (went to IBIZA woooo)
9 weeks of placement - done
6 weeks of uni - done
1 week A/L - done
12 weeks placement - doing
1 week uni

And then...FINITO!

The modules I've done this year are as follows, along with results:
Nursing Practice 4 (exam) - 87%
Policy, Politics and Nursing (assignment) - 65%
Transition to Qualified Practitioner (Presentation) - 52%
Academic and Practice Enquiry (Dissertation) - a/w

My strengths are definitely exams and as you can see I managed to improve my academic writing to a 2:1 standard which I'm extremely proud of (since this was and always has been my downfall). I got my presentation mark back last week, I'm happy with 52% because it got me my 1st overall, but the module itself wasn't explained very well and resulted in many of my colleagues failing :(.

Even more exciting news...I've got a job!
I got a job on my management placement ward, and then I got a job back home which I've accepted and will be starting at the end of March (so long as I pass my dissertation). I'm really pleased and so happy that I get to move home. The job is on a gastroenterology and dermatoloy ward with respiratory outliers. It is quite acute and I'm looking forward to learning a lot.

I think I'll make a separate post on my interview experiences and advise for others? Hopefully it will be helpful to you all.

Well I'm back with a super long post but I hope you all enjoy reading!

Take care,
Alex x

Placement as a 3rd Year... Year 3 Week 17

Hey guys!

It's been far too long and I have no excuse as for why! Here's some info on what makes up my 3rd and final year :)

8 weeks of uni - done
1 week A/L - done (went to IBIZA woooo)
9 weeks of placement - doing
6 weeks of uni
1 week A/L
12 weeks placement
1 week uni

*DONE*

How mad is that guys? As for assessments here's what it looks like:
Nursing Practice 4 - 2h exam on subdural haemorrhage and anaphylaxis (30 credits)
Policy and Politics - 3,000 word assignment (30 credits)
Dissertation - 6,000 word literature review (30 credits)
Transition to Qualified Practioner - 10q numeracy exam and presention (30 credits)

3 of my modules will make up my final classification along with my best grade from 2nd year (76.5%).


So, atm I'm on CCU (coronary care unit) which includes a ward setting and an acute CCU. I'm enjoying it and feel like I have a lot of knowledge to gain from the staff and patients. But I do feel I am becoming more capable and the role of a staff nurse is only just out of my grasp.

Hope you are all well and I'll make sure to update you on my progress :)

Really struggling to revise atm because of a lack of motivation, an exam, an assignement and placement all at once! Phew.

Seeya x

Oh my Good God... Year 3 Week 4

1 - I can't believe I haven't blogged in so long

2 - I can't believe I'm technically in year 3!!

3 - I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S NOT BUTTER

Since my placement finished I've been at home just enjoying having nothing to do! I've been working a small amount in the local community hospital as a HCA but mostly just relaxing and spending time with friends and family.
Oh I also turned 21!! Woohoo.

I'm back to Birmingham on Sunday as I start my introductory week on Monday :)

Supposed to have done CAP (consolidation and preparation) work but so far I've done none.....don't tell!

Also I have decided I will be writing my dissertation around the topic of COPD. Scary times ahead everyone.

Anyways I hope you're all well and once I'm back in Uni for my final year I'll give you some more information on what I am actually doing :)

Thanks guys,
Alex x

Finally, coming to the end!...Year 2 Week 49

I only have 4 days left!!!

An 8 week placement in the community is such a long time. It's very repetitive but I'm glad I've had it as a placement because my wound knowledge is so much better now.

Can't wait for it to end now :):) I get to go home!!!

Hope you're all ok, having a really boring weekend sat in the flat on my own....pray for me!

xx Alex xx

Female Catheterisation...Year 2 Week 48

I've had a really good day on placement today :)

Managed to FINALLY do a female catheterisation woohoo!! (Never thought I'd be excited about putting a tube up a lady's who-ha!).

And the nurse I was with today let me take control so I basically did everything minus compression bandaging. I was calling the patients, calling the GP, writing up requests for prescriptions etc. felt like a proper little nurse :):).

Also, I was given a go at compression bandaging yesterday, was interesting! Obviously I was supervised 100% but it was a good experience.

Happy Ali

Still can't wait for placement to be over though haha

Hope you're all okie dokie?

xxAlex xx

This Seriously Annoys Me!!...Year 2 Week 47

When someone asks you to call somewhere about a patients results. They give you no extra info, nothing about what the results you're looking for actually are or what they mean.

I had this today and the receptionist who answered said she had no medical training so didn't know what I was asking for and I'm thinking NEITHER DO I!! So I had to give the phone to the nurse who went far and wide to introduce herself (which she never does usually) and explaining blah blah blah. Loads of info she didn't give me so obviously I wasn't going to be competent on the phone.

Basically she showed me up big time which I didn't appreciate!

The annoying thing is, I'm very capable, and so long as you explain to me what you want me to do etc I will do it to the best of my ability.

So yeah! Shown up and annoyed today.

I have Good News!!...Year 2 Week 46

After getting myself in a serious state about my OSCE results I shocked myself...I PASSED!!

I actually cried (lol) because I'd been telling myself that I failed so passing was such a relief and shock.

I got 100% in my numeracy which is good :)

So now I can confirm that I have passed all assessments of 2nd year and am taking 76.5% forward to my 3rd year. Woohoo! One step closer to becoming a qualified nurse :) :)

Hope you're well.

Xx Alex xX

Working for the Weekend...Year 2 Week 45

I'm working 13:30-21:30 today and tomorrow!
I need the money but it will mean that by Friday I'll have worked for 12 days straight, boo!!

Placement has been good this week, settling in properly now and getting the know the patients :)

OH, I get my numeracy and OSCE results on Monday. I'll let you know what I get but I'm almost certain it's a fail :(

Hope you're all well, thought I'd just drop in before I leave for work.

xx Alex xx

Time Flies...Year 2 Week 45

It's now the 3rd week of my community placement!

My mentor let me go home at 13:00 today couldn't believe my luck! Been feeling so so tired recently, went to the gym on Monday and went for a quick run on Tuesday which is good but this weather is making me want to hibernate! I can't wait for the sun to come out and the air to get warmer so I can go for runs by the reservoir :):)

Placement is going well, doing more dressings now. I just find myself doing silly things when I'm put under pressure when in reality I do know the answer or how to do something properly.

I was with the community midwife yesterday and had another antenatal clinic but also went on a couple of visits. Was lovely to feel a pregnant belly and the baby move! I can't wait to do my midwifery training.

And guys, I'm almost certain I failed my OSCE. I have never felt like this about an assessment before but I genuinely think I have :( trying to prepare myself for the worst. Booooo.

Anyway, I hope you are all well! There are so many readers but where are you all coming from??

Love,
 xx Alex xx

2nd week of Placement...Year 2 Week 44

I want to make sure I drop in on at least a weekly basis whilst I'm on placement :)

I went with the clinical case manager (community matron) today, was interesting! Basically it's a paperwork heavy job. Not something you'd want to do while in the early stages of your career that's for sure!

I had to go back to the house with dog poo and more on the floor...lets just say the smell was stronger than I remembered, I wretched.


Also, I am so so worried that I failed my OSCE. I forgot to handover that my patient needed more regular obs and an urgent medical review due to a NEWS score of 8, I keep thinking that must be counted as dangerous practice... I am so scared to fail because the retake is on my 21st birthday when my boyfriend is supposed to be organising a couple of days away! wahhhhh :'(

Pray for me!

x Alex x

Don't drink children...Year 2 Week 43

I went out last night with friends and I think its fair to say I am suffering the consequences today...

I have told work that I'm available for a late shift tomorrow as it's a Sunday so the rate is good, but I seriously cannot be bothered!!

Back onto placement as of Monday, quite looking forward to it actually. Good sign :)


Hope you're all well

x Alex x

Final Assessment of 2nd year...Year 2 Week 43

So yesterday I had an OSCE (objective structured clinical examination).

I didn't want to write about it right away as on the day of any exam you are over-thinking your performance and I was getting myself into a bit of a 2 and 8 (state).

I will give you an in depth intro into exactly what we had to do:
I had a patient who had ruptured his spleen following a blunt trauma. He had a splenectomy and was on a PCA (patient controlled analgesia) following his op.
I was asked to complete a full ABCDE assessment, pain assessment, form a NEWS chart and handover using SBAR (situation, background, assessments, recommendations).
Then I had to answer questions regarding morphine, PCAs, and a couple physiology ones too.

Airway: is it patent? Any noises e.g. wheezing, crackling etc

Breathing: Resps? Use of accessory muscles? Bilateral inflation? SpO2? O2 therapy?

Circulation: Heart rate? BP? CRT? Urine output? IV access?

Disability: AVPU? Blood glucose? Pupils? Pain?

Exposure: Temperature? Skin appearance? Urinalysis?

A 'NEWS' chart is an early warning system that uses all of your observations to create a score, the higher the score the more abnormal your observations.

So I did all of this, and calculated a NEWS score which I think was right but when you are so nervous in the moment you just never know what you may or may not have done wrong.
I forgot a couple of things for the SBAR such as; regular moniterinng and immediate medical review.

The difficultly with this kind of assessment is you just don't know if you have passed or failed. Because if you are deemed dangerous then you fail instantly.
I don't see why I would have failed but you never know :(

Also I did something really stupid. Instead of taking my time and looking through the file at the doctors review, what medication he was on, what operation he had etc I just ploughed straight on and didn't realise they were there until the end. I'm hoping they weren't of much importance regarding what I had to do...

Only time will tell! I'm hoping I got around 60%.

I'll let you guys know :)

Hope you're all well,
Alex xx

Community Placement...Year 2 Week 43

Hiya guys hope you're all well?

Sorry for being MIA, went home for Christmas and really been valuing my time with friends and family :).

So I started my community placement last week and so far I absolutely love it! The staff are all so lovely and friendly, plus it's so chilled compared to working on the ward. Which is something I'm really enjoying as it's coming to the end of my 2nd year and I don't want anything too demanding before I start my 3rd year.

The thing with community is you care for people in their own home, so it's a totally different environment and often enough; it's not really suitable for medical practice.
For example: I went to visit a woman with my mentor, she was morbidly obese and bed bound and her husband was not one for 'cleanliness' shall we say. Long story short the floor and the husbands feet were covered in dog hair and poo and the dog weed and pooed on cue for us! How pleasant.

The main thing with that kind of nursing is to remember to not be judgemental; people live their lives in many different ways and just because that may not be how you would choose to live doesn't mean it's wrong.

I also cleaned and dressed a mans leg ulcers. They were in such a bad way the exudate was horrendous! Was fun though :D haha.

Anyway I will be sure to keep updating you with anything new or exciting that happens :)

Take care my lovelies xx