Multi-tasking taken to the extreme!

Hi everyone,

So as I get further into my nurse training and I'm coming towards the end of my first year and my workload is crazy at the moment, really pushing multi tasking to the extreme. So updating this has kind of gone to one side while I focus on:

1: 1500 word essay for my caring and compassionate foundations skills for nursing practice module (sticking to the word Count is going to be challenging)

2: 2000 word essay on professional practice

3: 20 minute group presentation on an ethical issue relating to nursing

4: medications management exam (and mock next week)

5: medications Osce

This workload is insane!

Most on this only being set 3 weeks ago and due in in the next two weeks. Whilst balancing working and trying to spend time with friends and my fiance.

STRESSED.

Oh yeah and I start my third and final placement of the year on the 18th July on the outpatients department. I definitely enjoy placement way more than theory

I'm still loving my training and after a difficult few months I am pretty proud of myself and my fellow student nurses for getting through this year so far.

I've got this last hurdle of assignments and placements to get through and then a week in Crete sipping cocktails and lying on a beach before I start second year.

It's crazy to think another few months and I'll officially be halfway through my training. I'm definitely someone who has to be kept busy that's for sure.

Soo busy

I have found it a little difficult to have the time to update this lately been unbelievably busy.

Not too long ago we found out the landlord was having to sell our house and so had the struggle of finding somewhere new. That would all be fine except most landlords we came in to contact with heard student and ran a mile or made assumptions, I can't tell you how frustrating it is trying to explain a secondment to someone that's never heard of it. We are finally sorted now though and moving on good Friday. It's mid- placement which isn't ideal but it's life and also means we will be living on Preston so won't be travelling as much... Hallelujah

Certain parts of my life definitely arent running smoothly at the minute, during my last placement I got news that my grandmother is terminally I'll. They estimated 2 months in October.. And she's still going, determination must run on the family.

Uni, work and placements have been great though. I started doing slightly less shifts at work a few months ago because I was tiring myself out completely. 3 days at uni and then two longdays at work followed by a weekend of housework and assignments was insane and not manageable for me. I now only to one or two short shifts at work maximum. I know some people have to do those kind shifts out of need but for me it wasn't practical and I take my hat off to anyone that manages it.

I've just had clinical skills week and it was great felt like I got loads put of it this time. Blood glucose testing, ANTT (aseptic non  touch technique), neuro obs, plus sessions with critical care, continence and pain management nurses. Than finally medications management and practice osce. My favourite was the session in the simulation suite though and practicing a-e assessments and using sample to help identify what could be causing the 'patient' to deteriorate.

A airway
B breathing
C circulation
D disability
E exposure/environment/ everything else

S signs/symptoms
A allergies
M medication
P past medical history
L last meal/ low temperature?
E events

It's my first day on the ward and I felt like I hit the ground running, nothing complicated just yet though, assisting with medication round getting to know the ward routine, obs. It was a great first day and 8 hours flew by.

I've also been assisting with student quality ambassadors from both Bolton and Uclan to promote the role throughout the hospital so that we may get involved in projects and to give a different perspective.

Future plans, exams, and placement looming

So I've been a little bit caught up in revision and some assignment work and as a result it seems like forever since I updated this. I've been pretty busy and the rest of the time mentally tired from revision for my A&P mock exam which is tomorrow. I thought I would take a little break and update everyone on what I've been learning and different things I'm looking to get involved it.

 As far as class work goes e have been steadily working through the bodies systems and trying to remember everything we did in the previous weeks (A&P) and shockingly although I'm snowed under I think its all starting to sink in to the Point where I'm driving Liam (my fiancée) mad telling him about bones and why the body works in certain ways... I can't help it talking helps me learn. In graduate kills we are mostly covering evidence based practice and reflection as well as research processes which is a pretty dry subject for a Tuesday morning but the class gets involved and the group research and feedback work seems to be pretty interesting at times. I think actually doing a research project will be more interesting than learning about it. In foundation skills for nursing module what we are learning seems to be really diverse.. from neurological observations to equality and diversity the the NMC code of practice and most recently medical terminology and acronyms which gave some of the class headaches but i really enjoyed it. Must be the geek in me.

I have to admit I thought it might slow down a little with the volume we have to learn and i would feel a bit less mentally tired, it hasn't. Although that's the case I have found my feet with studying and work and am really enjoying it. I'm also quite nervous about starting placement in 4 weeks but again equally excited.

I've decided to apply to become a student quality ambassador after the session we had this afternoon with SQA's from the first cohort who started in February. These are people who have a desire to 'champion good practice and enhance the quality of patient care' they have been working alongside and liaising between practice areas, PEF's (practice education facilitator), HEI's (Healthcare Environment Inspectorate), students, Service users & patients, carers and other professionals. I think this is a great opportunity and something I'd love to be a part of.

Time flys..

I'm in a little bit of shock with the fact that this is not my fifth week at university, It is literally flying by soo quickly its a little hard to believe. I was told it would but still it's a little shocking! My next six weeks of so will be busy so trying to keep organised. Its going to go like this..

1. 28th October: Mock exam for anatomy and physiology in 3 weeks... AND BREATHE
2. 11th November: The actual exam.
3. 16th November: Clinical skills week (EXCITED)
4. 23rd November: Placement starts.. (even more EXCITED) 
5. 7th December: Graduate skills assignment due
6. 11th January: 2 weeks annual leave (consisting on sleep!)

Its funny really but everyone asks me how its going and and ho I am, and my answer is its great but I'm soo busy and tired but not in a bad way. At that point you can [insert funny look they give me]. I'm tired in a good way because i know its what I ant to do and I'm working towards it although its stressful and hectic, I've worked in healthcare for four years now and stressful and hectic is normal to me. It pushes me and lets me improve the way I do things so I don't see it as a bad thing. 

I seem to be following my own advice so far, I've stayed organised (for the most part), I've de-stressed (usually with a very bubbly bath and a glass of Malibu and lemonade) and I know why I'm doing this. I'd say I'm more determined to get through it and because a Nurse as planned. The support from family friends and work colleagues has been great I couldn't be happier with the people in my life.

Just for context my route into nursing is innovative not just because of my secondment with Spiral health but also with the fact that the University of Bolton in partnership with Lancashire teaching hospitals is the first to offer non-commisioned nursing programme

Practice, Placement and Prevention

So, I'm now close to completing my third week at university and definitely starting to feel a lot more settled when it comes to my routine at home/work and studying. So far so good. I think what's helped me the most is the fact that the course is well organised so that we have a a module a day meaning I can organise my personal study so that I expand on class work.

We spent our second week at Royal Preston hospital having the trust induction which I was expecting to be a Very long day but actually wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. It was good to get some background on the trust and its history especially if I'm going to be completing my placements within it. The second day was definitely my favourite after receiving my student nurse ID bade and getting measured for our uniforms we got to find out where our first placement is. Can honestly say I was pretty excited, and yes also nervous. It's on a surgical unit and I geeked out a bit when I got home and did a bit of a Google search to get an idea of what to expect when I start it.

Wednesday was for infection control and although it was not a lively day I know how essential it is and its definitely stuck.. we learnt soo much about super-bugs I'm pretty sure I can touch anything without washing or gelling my hands... I actually had to resist the urge to ask a woman leaving the ladies in the city centre in front on me to wash her hands. I would've been rude I know but after finding out how fact bacteria can spread and make people seriously ill it was a struggle.

The third week we had our normal classes at Bolton, I enjoyed my session on Monday where we spend time in the skills lab attempting manual blood pressures (no one really found it easy) it was a lot harder to concentrate in a busy area an hear everything you needed to with the stethoscope but it was realistic. On a ward its not going to be quiet to this is the learning curve we are on. I know that not all nurses do BP manually any more but the ones that do and definitely the nurses that spent their whole career doing so deserve a pat on the back for their concentration skills.

I'm finding that I'm still pretty stressed but in the good way, like its spurring me on and motivating me to do well. I'm feeling pretty lucky at the moment with the people I have in my life and the support I'm receiving from them. My family, friends and work colleagues have probably listened to my concerns and little things that I'm nervous about a million times over and have been great.

I don't know if its just me but the fact that my cohort is smaller than some universities it really helping to put me at ease, its comforting to know that there ate 30 other people doing the same thing along side me and have similar stresses and worries. It's a real team atmosphere. Along with that my lecturers seems to be pretty approachable and really willing to listen and try to problem solve for me this is great when i have an issue i need to talk about it otherwise it'll seem 50 times bigger than it really is to me.

So my first week as a student nurse kind of went by in a blur and was definitely slightly overwhelming. After all it is what I've been working towards for the past few years after starting work as a care assistant back in 2012...

The night before just about anything important I do and (especially this) I get a serious care of butterflies, so its understandable that come Monday morning at 6:30am I felt like a walking zombie... If zombies can still get excited. I wonder round the house trying to get ready and pack everything I think I'll need into my bag while getting anxious about the train I have to get and countless other things I am sure to encounter for the first time on my first day.

I'm far too tired and excited to eat so my usual two cups of coffee sets me on my way and I leave the house to get my train and wonder how many others on my degree course will be travelling from the Blackpool/Preston area.

I have umpteen questions in my head about the course and placement and study resources and expected reading materials and the list goes on. After the 40 minute journey to Bolton (which felt surprising quick) I get the university and head to the building which holds the health classes assuming this is where the funny little T3-010 number is on my timetable only to be told by the receptionist that that is in a building on the other side of the campus. Just my luck. Problem being that when i get to said building climb the 6 flights of stairs to the third floor I find the room has been changed and surprisingly I'm actually in the first building I went to, meaning I narrowly make it to my first session on time.

FIRST IMPORTANT RULE: even when your early and organised, prepare for the worst case.

This session was mainly the class getting to know each other and exchanging silly little facts about themselves so to ease the tension and probably everyone's nerves. Afterwards we were introduced to our personal tutor Maddy and out main lecturers for the semester as well as programme leads ect. The were friendly and welcoming but if I'm honest I didn't really take in all their names. 

Our modules are outlined a little as is our timetable but the main thing I take in and have a bit of a freak out about is the fact I have an anatomy and physiology exam at the beginning of November.. I haven't done any theory based science since my GCSE's which I finished in 2008... (and breathe). Well, pretty sure I need to get organised and fast..

SECOND IMPORTANT RULE: find a simple way to de-stress it'll be needed for the next three years.

I was prepared, at least in theory for the stress and the fact that the course would be full on by some of the lovely nurses I work with, but knowing about it and then actually feeling it were two different things. 

The best way I know how to keep calm and feel prepared is to get prepared, so when I got home I ordered a desk, chair and bookcase so I could have a quiet area to study in the house.. I'd highly recommend this. 

I have to say the come the end of Wednesday I was shocked and a little relieved that induction week was over. I had things to looks forward to this weekend.

Friday was the Spiral Health celebration ball (Spiral Health being the company I work for, which has definitely been the best experience I've had working in the health care sector and coin-dentally the company helping me to achieve my ambition to become a nurse) and I had never felt more in need of a bit of pampering and getting dressed up, a large class of wine and a bit of dancing and great company. 

                                                                                                                                                       

 THIRD IMPORTANT RULE: Make time to have fun and remind yourself why your doing this!