Student Nurse Blog Week 6

September 29th 2004

Well, folks, for my class Monday was a study day, so I spent a fair amount of it in the library, reading up on various articles that we had been given during one of our ’Context of Nursing’ lectures.

The Tuesday we spent our time in the morning having another brilliant A+P lecture on the cardiovascular system. I think that the more A+P I do - my favourite subject- the more easier I find it and the more I understand it. In the afternoon we were supposed to find out about our placements, during a session labelled on the timetable as ’TBC’ (To Be Confirmed). However, we were told that the placement announcements had been cancelled until later in the week. I just want to find out where my placement is, so that I can make contact with the ward (or whatever setting my placement is in) and introduce myself. Anyway, in the afternoon we had a lecture on the dying patient. The idea was to investigate looking after a dying patient and dealing with a dead patient before we go on our first placement. This will then help to prepare people, should they encounter such a situation on their first placement - which has been known. I think that about 90% of our intake has had previous experience within the care industry (either private or NHS), so we are quite lucky in that respect. The main points of concern that were raised by us as students were with regard to knowing what to say to the relatives, how to deal with the relatives and the best ways of answering any questions a dying patient may raise. It was a very useful session.

Today we were in our classes again. This morning my class had manual handling, which covered the basics regarding slide sheets (how to ’turn’ a patient and how to move a patient up the bed) and how to help a patient out of bed using a slide sheet. However, again this was very basic for our class, as we had all had very extensive manual handling training as part of our annual requirements from the various NHS Trusts we had worked for. It was good to see how they liked things doing in the Hereford and Worcester hospital settings, though.

The afternoon was a session on CPR. We all watched a video on CPR, before taking it in turns to demonstrate artificial respiration and then chest compressions. This was great fun and we all did so successfully, including the two girls in our group who had had very little previous experience.

I think that the course is now starting to take off a little more, with more practical things in addition to the theory lectures we have been having. In about three weeks time we all go out on our placements. These will run up until Christmas, and then we have one week directed study after Christmas, before going back out onto our placements. I think everyone is very excited about getting into the practice side of things!

Anyway, I now have a RAG (Raise and Give) induction/ initiation/social evening to go to.
Regards for now! Matt





Well hello everyone!

Yesterday was a fairly good day, we had a lecture in the morning in our A + B groups - where they split the 120 of us into two 60 people groups. The lecture was on the Mental Health Act and covered Section 2 and 3 of the Act - Detention. We watched an hour long video of a case study (well, documentary) of a patient who was sectioned under Section 2 and then had the period extended under Section 3, even though he was of no immediate danger to others or himself!

At lunchtime I had a meeting with Amy, who runs the Equestrian Club. I passed her a copy of my timetable for this semester and gave her my mobile number, so she can contact me when the club meets. I then had a meeting with my personal tutor, where we briefly discussed my background, previous experience and expectations of the course. It was basically just for my tutor to get to know a little about me.

In the afternoon we had yet another lecture on Assignment Focus, just to go through (yet again!!) our first assignment. That lasted until the afternoon coffee break. When we came back we were then given our first placement details!! Hurray!!

My placement is on a stroke and infectious diseases ward. Which sounds like it could be a very good experience. I had contact details with the form, so I phoned the ward after the last lecture yesterday to introduce myself. The SR in charge was very good and asked me if I had any preference for the off-duty - I didn’t and told her I could work any shifts they wanted, and asked if I could have the 31st October off, as I was doing a sponsored skydive. She told me I could have the whole of that weekend off, plus the Monday if I wanted - that’s very good!!

Anyway, I have arranged to go along to the ward Tuesday next week to have a look around, introduce myself to the staff, check the off-duty and just get a general feel for the place.

Today my class had directed study this morning, and then in the afternoon we had a lecture on essay writing. At the afternoon coffee break we were all allowed to finish for the day, because we were all happy with how to write various different types of assignments.

So, I am now going to go home, do a little bit of study and then go to the cinema with my friends this evening. Over the weekend I will start reading up/researching for my assignment. On Monday my class has got a directed study day, so I will be revising all of the A+P systems we have learnt so far (i.e. cells and tissues, cardiovascular, pulmonary, etc.) and reading in depth into those areas in my A+P text book.

I now feel very confident on the course so far, the Harvard referencing and assignment writing are very clear and have been explained many, many (perhaps far too many!!) times. I am beginning to be able to link together the various A+P systems that we have covered and have quite a good understanding of these systems. I am also having a good grasp of how the history of nursing how shaped practice and concepts that we see today.

All in all, the course is going very well.

Until next week, I hope you all have a great weekend. Matt

Catch up with Matt in the Nursing Forum

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