Showing posts with label nursing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nursing. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Head's like scrambled egg!
Today was my first shift at my new and LAST EVER placement for my nurse training! I have already posted about what kind of placement it is, so I'll just summarise my day!
Patients were lovely - felt threatened by one, but let's forget that for now - and the staff made me feel ever so welcome. They are all fantastic, the Consultant is funny and kind, and I really think I'll get on well there.
I have a lot to learn over the next 12 weeks but it is an amazing opportunity, I will be doing the medication rounds in a few weeks, leading the multidisciplinary team meetings and becoming keyworker for certain appropriate patients! I can't wait!
I always feel conscious that I am "in the way" on placements sometimes, especially when staff are busy, so I always try and keep as busy as possible. Spent some time with a patient in the art room, helped with a very tricky Simpsons puzzle (I am rubbish at puzzles!) and sat in the garden with a few patients and the other student nurse and had a laugh with a few other patients. I really like spending time on the ward and am definitely not one to sit myself in the nursing office and do nothing!
Had a blood pressure training presentation this afternoon and I stayed behind with the lecturer so she could show me how to confidently take them manually. I have only had one other inpatient placement which was 2 years ago so am not as confident with them as I should be, but I feel much better now! She showed me some good tips, like trying to find the exact location of the pulse in the arm before placing the stethoscope, and pumping the cuff up without the stethoscope first to guess the systolic range until you feel the pulse disappear with your fingers, then you know how tightly to pump up the poor persons arm!
Doing an early shift tomorrow, 7am til 3pm, and the same on Friday, then weekend off! I'll update my blog accordingly :)
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
My plans for 2012 :)
This year is my last year at university and I will (hopefully) end up at the end of the summer a qualified mental health nurse! There are several places I would love to visit before being tied down in a full time job, and I thought I would share them with you.
My mum bought my boyfriend and I a 3 night trip to Dartassa, Morocco, and we are going in June. I am looking forward to it, I have been to Marrakech before and althought it was a bit of a culture shock I really did end up enjoying myself.
My Grandad goes to Gambia, Africa, almost every year as he helps to support a village there. On his last trip he paid for a new water well to be dug so that the villagers did not have to commute miles in the hot sun for water. He is going again in November and wants me to accompany him, which I would love to do! The flights are around £400 and the accomodation is a mere £100 per week, so I am definitely tempted to go with him if I can gather the funds together!
My Dad lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, and I would love to go and visit him a second time. I went last April for 3 weeks and loved it! It really is a beautiful country and my Dad treated me to a trip to Queenstown, which has the most gorgeous scenery I have ever seen! Here is a photo of me in Queenstown:
I am seriously considering going on an international nursing placement at the end of my course. I think I would go for 2-3 weeks and the destinations I have been reading about are Tanzania, Ghana, Sri Lanka or Nepal. Prices range from about £1000 for 3 weeks, which does not include flights, so I would have to save up a lot of money, but I really think it would be an amazing experience. They offer hospital placements and allow you free time to explore and go on safaris! They have special safe houses where everyone on the placement stays and offer free local language lessons. I have always wanted to do something like this but money has hindered me, as they are expensive. This is something I need to research a bit more and decide if I can afford!
Morocco
My mum bought my boyfriend and I a 3 night trip to Dartassa, Morocco, and we are going in June. I am looking forward to it, I have been to Marrakech before and althought it was a bit of a culture shock I really did end up enjoying myself.
A donkey we saw in Morocco chained to the spot, at the dye pits
Gambia
My Grandad goes to Gambia, Africa, almost every year as he helps to support a village there. On his last trip he paid for a new water well to be dug so that the villagers did not have to commute miles in the hot sun for water. He is going again in November and wants me to accompany him, which I would love to do! The flights are around £400 and the accomodation is a mere £100 per week, so I am definitely tempted to go with him if I can gather the funds together!
New Zealand
My Dad lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, and I would love to go and visit him a second time. I went last April for 3 weeks and loved it! It really is a beautiful country and my Dad treated me to a trip to Queenstown, which has the most gorgeous scenery I have ever seen! Here is a photo of me in Queenstown:
And finally an international elective nursing placement, destination undecided
I am seriously considering going on an international nursing placement at the end of my course. I think I would go for 2-3 weeks and the destinations I have been reading about are Tanzania, Ghana, Sri Lanka or Nepal. Prices range from about £1000 for 3 weeks, which does not include flights, so I would have to save up a lot of money, but I really think it would be an amazing experience. They offer hospital placements and allow you free time to explore and go on safaris! They have special safe houses where everyone on the placement stays and offer free local language lessons. I have always wanted to do something like this but money has hindered me, as they are expensive. This is something I need to research a bit more and decide if I can afford!
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