Placement! Week...22

Well I'll give you a few updates before I go on to talk about placement :)

First off, I passed both my OCSE and assignment. Not with flying colours but I passed. First time for everything, I can only get better ey!

I'm currently sat at home home (parents house) feeling like utter death. On the weekend it was my cousin's wedding (was incredible btw!) and as we were leaving I breathed in my own saliva (I think). I'd had a couple to drink so all I remember was coughing a lot and I fell asleep coughing. Woke up on Sunday with really irritated lungs and coughed alllll day. Monday I went to a GP and was told that I sounded ok and it is probs just inflammation making me cough, but yesterday (Monday) I started having a runny nose and coughing, so I think my irritated lungs allowed me to get an infection of some sort.

Today I have a temperature, feel awful and my head hurts so much from the pressure of coughing. Bleurgh.

I'm supposed to be at placement today but I had to call in sick, which I'm really disappointed about :(

Anyway, I've been on placement for 5 weeks now believe it or not! I love love love love love it :D

So interesting, hard work and so much fun all at the same time. I've lost 3lbs its such hard work!

People always ask me what I've done/seen, but I feel like I've done so much I can't even list it!

I've had loads of good feedback from my mentors and co-workers so I'm happy :)

Here's a list of stuff I've done so far:

-injections

-dressings

-observations

-washing

-tidying

-bed making

-generally running around for patient's every needs!

-feeding and serving food

-wash a dead person

-speak to family members in person and on the phone

-watch and breast biopsy

-write in patient notes

-admit patients to the ward

-Probably so much more than this, but because I've been away for so long I don't want to go into too much detail, unless you would like me to..?

I love it though, even when I'm literally rushed off my feet it's still amazing!

I've realised why being a student nurse on placement is such hard work, you're expected to:

1. Be a HCA (health care assistant) and do all  basic care

2. Learn and research EVERYTHING because at the end of the day, you are a student

3. Be a nurse, write in patients notes, admit them to the ward etc

Doing all these things makes you run around like a headless chicken and sometimes, your head may be close to exploding!

I hope you enjoyed reading :) If you want to know more about anything I have mentioned, just ask :)

Alex

This Damn Assignment... Week 16

Hey everyone,
I've been away for ages as I've not been at uni and went on holiday! Then we moved into he new flat and only just got the internet! So massive apologises for not giving any updates.

The new flat is lush, I love it. It feels like home, yay *claps*

I called my placement earlier and found out I am working Monday, Wednesday and Sunday 07:00-19:30!! That's 12 1/2 hours! I honestly don't know how I'm going to do it, but at least I just get stuck in, and that means I have 4 days off :)
So excited to start!!

Well at the moment I am procrastinating. I'm sat here trying to start (and finish) my assignment of 1500 words. The biggest problem I have is I never allow myself to get sucked in and just get on with it. I love to procrastinate 'til the last second :(
I'm writing my assignment on respect, they kind of let us do whatever we want, and I really want to do well.

Last week I had my OCSE; a practical exam. I was so so scared! They weren't allow to express any emotion so my heart was racing, I was shaking. it was so scary. I couldn't answer a couple of the questions because I was so nervous my mind went blank :( Should have passed though!

Anyway I need to do this essay.... :/

Speak soon guys :)

Alex x

Where have I been?!...Week 13

I'm so sorry I've been MIA.
I have been on holiday for a week (which was amazing btw) and just haven't blogged as uni has been quite on and off the past few weeks! Currently in my 2nd week off.

I have exams in numeracy, practical exams and a biology exam in a few weeks! Scary; but I start placement in a month, yay!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here! And I move into a new flat on Sunday so will be back with you soon :)

Bye x

Personal Safety... Week 7

The amazing thing about nursing is it has SO SO SO much to do with social skills. And lots of what we cover I think, gah this is just common sense. But it's almost so much common sense, that people with common sense forget it! Haha, sounds ridiculous but when you are taught a procedure sometimes you can forget that you aren't talking to a robot patient. They are real people with real lives.

I am going to try my absolute hardest to NEVER forget the patient.

But today we had a lecture on personal safety, how to talk someone down from a rage and how to prevent the rage from happening in the first place! I love what I'm being taught but they only teach you something once, and don't revisit it, so I am going to have to go over EVERYTHING.

But I suppose that's what uni is all about, no spoons to feed me any more!

I'm going home tomorrow and I cannot wait :D
I miss my boyfriend family and best best friend so much, will make it all the better to see her again :)

That's it for now folks!
Alex

My First Assignment! (and my first tattoo!)...Week 7

So I had a lecture today on the basis of our first assignment which is exciting! Its not due for another 2 months but it is best to start these things early as lots of reading around the subject is necessary.
I have the day off tomorrow and hope to begin reading around the area I choose to write about. Oh yeah, I need to choose that first!

I stayed at uni this weekend and actually really enjoyed myself. Got my first tattoo on Saturday and I love it! Something my boyfriend of 4 years drew me...

A heart with roses coming off the side, and it looks slightly wonky at this angle, but it just depends on how I'm sitting and where my leg is as to what angle it is at. Oh well nothing I can do about it now! haha

I have wanted a tattoo for over a year, and when I saw this drawing I knew this was the tattoo I wanted. It really wasn't even that painful either, I was expecting a lot worse!

I know this is a nursing blog so let get back to the nursing side (what is this 'nursing' all about anyway?).

All my flatmates have started placement this week so my flat is a very quiet and lonely place as they are all either at work or in bed exhausted!
Makes me even more desperate to start placement! They started their courses in September '11 whereas I began in April '12 so our timetables are completely different.

Oh yesterday we had a lecture on nutrition which was funny, feeding each other yoghurt whilst sitting in the most uncomfortable position is so so funny! We brushed each other's teeth in the first week, haha what a way to introduce yourself!

Anyway, ta ta for now!
Alex

LaLaLa Boring Lectures!...Week 6

So my past few days have included many hours of boring (and potentially pointless) lectures.

We've learnt about how to reference, which I guess is very important and I did learn a bit. Also how to search for journals etc and today we learnt how to write an essay properly!
But I did study English Literature A-Level so think I'm pretty clear on that!

Honestly, if you live in halls at uni, make sure you socialise! It's no fun being stuck in your room all day doing bugger all. Luckily my flatmates are lovely and I have been spending a lot of time with them :)

Other than that not much has happened this week, its been pretty chilled, but next week is a bit busier.

I'm spending the weekend here, the first time! Hopefully it wont be too boring but I'm sad I can't go home as I am missing my boyfriends nephews 1st birthday :(

Anyway! I'm about to watch some 'One Born Every Minute' as I am obsessed with babies! hahaha

Bye guys :)
Alex

Patient Handling Training...Week 6

So today I had my 2 1/2 hours of patient handling training! Which I very much enjoyed! One thing I must say is...all the staff that train nurses and healthcare workers are just so charismatic and lovely! The person we had today was hilarious and being taught in a fun environment definitely helps you take on board the information.

We learnt the proper ways to move and carry objects and patients. It's so surprising all the bad habits we have as humans! The majority of us don't even sit or stand properly! So learning the best ways to help a patient to stand, move them in bed etc. etc. was eye opening! Studies suggest that 1/3 of nurses will end their career due to injury at work through bad technique and poor posture!

Fingers crossed that isn't me, I will try my hardest to stick to the advise we have been given, but when moving a patient up the bed it hurt my shoulder a little so I can definitely see how easy it is to injure yourself.

I've been dying to write another blog post but I told myself no, not until I have had another lecture! haha

Also, I couldn't sleep last night (once again) and only got 3 hours kip :( so I had a nap from 5-8pm and am hoping I'll be away with the fairies around 10-11pm!

I bought a couple of books at Tesco today, one called 'District Nurse' and another called 'Tales of a Midwife', I do not like fictional novels, I much prefer autobiographies and factual things so these should help me read more and give me some background info on my profession !
Not to forget a lovely diary I bought, as I have so much spare time I want to write down what I'm thinking for most days, will be lovely to look back on once I am qualified :)

Anyway guys, thank you for reading this!
Lots of Love,
Alex