New job role

Hi I am in my first year of mental health nursing however I’ve just got a new job with the NHS bank as a nursing assistant and I’m really nervous and scared because I haven’t had much experience due to Covid on placements can anyone reassure me or give me advice on what the role will be like?

Hi I am in my first year of mental health nursing however I’ve just got a new job with the NHS bank as a nursing assistant and I’m really nervous and scared because I haven’t had much experience due to Covid on placements can anyone reassure me or give me advice on what the role will be like?

Hi

I have been accepted to study this degree in sep 2022-so would love to know this too!

How did you find the degree??

Well done on getting a bank job! This will be a great experience for you. What sort of place is it at? General hospital, inpatient MH, community services? I can reassure you that you'll be absolutely fine. In hospital settings, expect to help with personal care, toileting, feeding etc (maybe some post op care on surgical wards too). Concentrate on doing the basics, and just keep reminding people that you're new/have never worked on that ward before and you'll be fine. You'll work out what wards you prefer working on over time.

Hi

Great that you want to do nursing it really does give you job satisfaction by see the results of helping people, I must say my experience was a bit crazy as I started during pandemic and it has been all online learning apart from attending placements. There is a lot of work so expect to have little free time it really is full time I do mine a single parent so may differ for you. Online learning is an advantage of being at home. Placements are really good you get to meet all walks of like and patients with unique situations. Just read as much as you can just little bits and pieces and learn how to Harvard reference lol! That is a pain the referencing! I’m actually doing year 1 as a repeat year as I failed on one assignment by 8% although I had passed exams and other writing they are sticklers for marking you need those marks. I haven’t really met other students due to Covid so it has felt an odd experience but just think of the end goal and really try your best when completing exams and assignments. Covid restrictions may loosen up in your experience hopefully x

I’m going to work on an elderly ward at a local hospital, I feel like I have forgotten everything because I haven’t done placement since April! I just feel so nervous that I’m going to do something wrong and not know my stuff but your comment helps x

Thank you for such a lovely reply!

Ohhh the referencing haha!! I do harvard as we had to do that on my access to nursing and midwifery course.

I also am a mum of 2 and a mature student-age 35.i do have a partner, although hes away alot with work! I am dreading balancing kids, their homework, home, cooking, studying and placements!

One of the degrees i have applied for is blended learning so all study from home but then placements will be the same.

What placements have you had in your first year? Many night shifts ect and based where?

Im excited but also so nervous! Appreciate your advice xx

It'll all come back, I promise. Give yourself time to settle in and you'll be fine. Elderly medicine is mostly feeding, washing, toileting, pressure area checks, keeping them calm... on repeat. All day. It'll be a great reminder of "the basics", and a great learning curve for things like tricks on how to get people to eat/drink (doing this with elderly people with dementia/delirium is great practice) and checking pressure areas/preventing pressure area breakdown.

I’m not going to lie it’s bloody hard work balancing home life and a nursing degree as there is so much to learn and to take as well as remembering everything. Once you find your way of coping/routine it will become easier it took me a while but I got there. I’ve done so much Harvard referencing from a previous degree and I still can’t do it perfect 😂 it’s probably what i struggle most with! I’ve had some really good placements based in Newcastle upon Tyne on mental health wards for over 18s and elderly (dementia) both good experiences as they were totally different age groups. And there’s always another student somewhere close by on the ward so which made the experience easier as they can pass knowledge on and show you around. Where abouts are you studying? Xx