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Its Jackie
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
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3rd Placement

Elective Ortho. Hmmm. Bones..yuck.

Staff all appear to be friendly enough but have only met a few of them. My mentor is a wee bit iffy, she's young, only been qualified 2 yrs, and only doing her mentorship course next week! She wasn't expecting to have a student so perhaps this explains her attitude.

First week could have been better, I just felt so out of my depth, not understanding terminology. I hate not knowing routine but never felt this bad before. There is another 1st yr student on the ward too who is very quiet and isn't really enjoying nursing but really wants to make a go of it and I feel for her alot. The other student is a 3rd yr, who when I started, was only on her 2nd day herself but she showed me around and explained things and to be honest is more help than the regular staff. The ward is busy but not exceptionally so, I've seen staff with double their work to do who manage with a smile on their faces..lol..

I'm keeping an open mind but am fearful I'm not going to enjoy this placement. I'm dreading going back next week. My mentor is on her course next week so I'm working with 2 different people, the following week my mentor is on nights and I was told It wasn't appropriate for me to do them *sigh* that week I have my link lecturer coming and I will only have worked with my mentor for 3 days and she won't even be there!!

I am being proactive and asking to do stuff but very often she'll say not just now. She's showed me so much paperwork my head is busting with it.

I had expected not all my placements would be as the ones before were, so I'm ok about it. I only have another 5 weeks to go and I can be a strong person when I want to be and I know I'll get through this by doing my best.

Will update when I can

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27/May/2007, 2:04 pm

Its Jackie
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Location: Glasgow
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Re: 3rd Placement

Well my 2nd week started off wonderfully! Was working with another nurse (as mentor on mentorship course) and she was brilliant. The other Staff Nurse on duty helped me loads too, let me do and injection (even though I've done hundreds) taught me all about potassium, what it does, what happens if too much/too little, and how to fix it. The JHO even chatted to me about it. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and learned more in that day than I did in my previous 3! What a difference a great nurse makes.

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30/May/2007, 12:37 pm

Its Jackie
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
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Re: 3rd Placement

Another week over and it was a good one overall.

This week I saw an endoscopy and a colonoscopy. I'm usually a bit apprehensive about asking to be away from the ward as I imagine others are thinking I'm off to shirk the workload. However, after seeing the two procedures I feel able to inform patients of a little of what will go on if they are to have it done, so I know it's a good thing to experience seeing as many procedures as possible.

Had a disagreement with one of the nurses I'm working with about giving clexane at 90 degree angle. She totally disagreed with me and stated it HAD to be done at a 45 degree angle anything more and it would go into muscle. I tried letting her know that guidelines state you can give sub cut jabs at 90 degrees and in some cases don't even need to pinch the skin anymore. She was having none of it and told me I wasn't to do the injection as my info was wrong and she would do it. I told her that was ok, I had no problem with it and that I'd bring in my research on Monday. She told me she's do the same (showing me I was wrong) and we agreed to disagree.

I think she felt threatened that a student dare question her skills, however I did it in a nice way, I know when NOT to be confrontational!! I've since saved the info from the clexane site where it states quite clearly give at a 90 degree angle, in this instance (since she embarrassed me in front of people) I shall take great pleasure in presenting her with the info which proves whole heartedly, qualified or not, she doesn't know it all..lol..

It's also given me something to reflect on once the whole situation is cleared up!

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2/Jun/2007, 2:36 pm

Its Jackie
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
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Re: 3rd Placement

Forgot to update this with the clexane saga! After showing the nurse in question the current guidelines for pre filled clexane syringes she went in the huff, stotting down the ward saying in a loud voice "It's ridiculous that students are told these things before us nurses"...lol.. I just had to smile and think to myself "research my dear - it's ongoing"!

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23/Sep/2007, 2:45 pm

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