Its Jackie
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Location: Glasgow
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1st placement 2nd yr
Breast care ward.
Initially I was a bit dissapointed but I only knew it was a surgical placement and I hated my last surgical. This is the year we get our critical care placement so lots of my friends are in A&E, HDU, ICU, CCU, some of the others got their community placement. So hearing I had my surgical I was not impressed. However, having sneaky texts during class time to Pauline, I was reassured after finding out it was the breast care ward.
I'm excited to have something specific to see/learn about/do etc. I'm also a bit concerned about the emotions of it all. I spoke with the staff and she says that the women on the ward only visited their GP's about 4 weeks ago, and in that time, have had their mammogram/biopsies etc, a diagnosis of cancer and then they are in for a mastectomy/lumpectomy, quite frightening for them and I'm assuming many of them won't have come to terms with their diagnosis prior to surgery.
It's only a small 10 bedded unit that sometimes has overflow from general surgery. My first week is Monday - Friday and I've heard on the grapevine that the ward is closed some weekends. I have such good luck with not working weekends on my placements .lol.. (not that I have an issue with working them). Still haven't done any nights yet so hoping I may be able to do a week of them here.
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29/Oct/2007, 5:11 pm
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Its Jackie
Diary Dude
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
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Re: 1st placement 2nd yr
Ok the end of my 1st week!
So the first day, as per usual, was spent, hanging around and holding onto my mentor's apron strings! I have two mentors one of which is the Senior staff nurse, I haven't met the other one yet. All the staff are lovely and it's overall a lovely ward to work on.
I've been surprised by the acceptance of some of the women I've nursed so far. So far, most of them have been older than 60. They appear well adjusted and accepting of their condition although I'm aware for most of them it's early days, many of them have a "well it's this or die" attitude.
Today I felt quite comfortable being on the ward, there's still times when there's not much for me to do, when the nurses are doing referrals and phone calls etc although they do involve me in it. I feel able to care post-operatively for the ladies and I'm just about up to scratch with their care plans and other paperwork. One nurse wanted me to take the lead with a patient returning from theatre on Wednesday but as it was only day 3 I really wasn't comfortable with my own abilities. However, after now seeing it and completing it under the supervision of one of the nurses, today I felt able to do it myself and just have it checked.
I'm concious that my level of attainment has to be level 3 which basically means I'm starting to use my own initiative and carrying things out safely  So I have been making the effort to be pro active and get in there and do things I know I can do.
All in all, today was a fantastic day, although it's only been one week, I already think I've changed my mind about surgical!!
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9/Nov/2007, 5:21 pm
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mazza1998
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Re: 1st placement 2nd yr
Sounds like a really interesting placement.
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10/Nov/2007, 2:53 pm
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Its Jackie
Diary Dude
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
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Re: 1st placement 2nd yr
So far so good, yeah it's turned out to be really interesting!
Ok 2nd week. I cared pre and post operatively for a lady having needle localised wide local excision! phew the names throw me!! I saw her have her needle/wire inserted and did her checklist with her checking she knew what she was going for in theatre. I cared for her post op and updated the care plan/moving and handling thingmy..lol..oh other stuff that you need to update when a patient returns from theatre but I'm not good at remembering the names of them! I updated her nursing notes and even handed the patient over to the late shift. This was one of my other great fears, I hate talking in public and even though I've worked with these people for a week I still don't really feel comfortable with them, they are lovely, it's just me. However I managed it, so that's another fear conquered!! One of the nurses stopped me halfway and I thought oh **** what have I said..lol..she says to me "Jackie I don't know what's redder, your hair or your face"..ROFL *beamer*
However, despite how outside my comfort zone I was I did it and felt so proud of myself for not saying no!
So...currently, I think, this could turn out to be the placement where it finally started to click for me AND I think I might just like surgical! I already don't want to leave!
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12/Nov/2007, 6:35 pm
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Its Jackie
Diary Dude
Global user
Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
Karma: 5 (+5/-0)
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Re: 1st placement 2nd yr
I'm now in my 4th week, time is flying by. I am sooo soooo loving this placement so much, and I will shed buckets of tears when I leave. I really feel I'm progressing so much and my confidence is definitely improving. I'm now able to admit the patient, care for them pre and post operatively by myself, of course I always get things checked by someone but basically I'm on my own with it. Another first for me was taking a drain out, it wasn't rocket science but all firsts are major achievements.
I've done a few drug rounds now and after doing them all the time on my last placement I feel pretty comfortable doing them.
Today, myself and another student were "left to it".lol...the staff were all in another room on the ward saying farewell to a member of staff. To be fair there wasn't much to do, but we managed all the post op care, questions, phone calls etc ourselves, we knew someone was within earshot if needed but we were so chuffed we managed..lol..
Talking with doctors is something else I fear but I'm slowly getting there, but I feel able to answer their questions if I know the answer rather than waiting on someone else to do it.
So all in all, an absolutely fab placement where I've learned loads.
Only next week and Monday and Tuesday of the following week to go!
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30/Nov/2007, 11:40 pm
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Its Jackie
Diary Dude
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
Karma: 5 (+5/-0)
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Re: 1st placement 2nd yr
I've completed a couple of straight forward discharges. It's not the paperwork that fazes me this time, it's making sure I've given the correct info and being able to answer any questions that worries me. However, now I've done it a couple of times that's me! I'm able to admit the patient, care for them and discharge them, albeit it when there have really been no issues and everything goes to plan, but it's a start and I'm proud of myself. My mentor is really pleased with my progress and says she's seen such an improvement in my confidence, which we are both aware of the fact that's my problem! I'm working on it though and I know I've become more confident in doing things but still have things I need to work on - but that's ok, I've another year and 3/4 to work on it!
One incident today left me a bit ....not upset...but pissed off really..lol..I'd called up to book something and got some jumped up nurse who musta been on her period or something who took great delight in having a conversation with someone else about what I was asking for...about how it wasn't her job and why on earth weren't we doing it..etc etc...anyway I explained we'd called somewhere else and was told to call this number, basically I was following instruction! Anyway she was really rude and Sister ended up calling her back and making a complaint, with her ending up in her sisters office..lol..oh lordie. Anyway she apologised (through Sister)but it's made me realise that although we all have bad days we can't go about being snappy with others. When I qualify I am going to TRY so hard to remember what it's like to be a student when I'm speaking to one.
Anyhow, it's given me something else to reflect on for my portfolio!
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4/Dec/2007, 6:33 pm
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