Hi, I just found this thread and I need some advice as well. Some context: I'm a first-year nursing student, and I'm repeating my first year. I started in Sept 2016 and left on intermission in Jan 2017 due to mental health issues (severe anxiety) and back pain. I rejoined the course in Nov 2017 and I restarted my placement.
Before Christmas, I tried to reattach a patient's PCA to her cannula (the PCA was paused, I wasn't going to touch that. I wanted to reconnect the tube and then find my mentor to restart the infusion). My mentor and the ward sister spoke to me about it and said that they'd have to fill out a Cause for Concern form in my practice assessment document and speak to the University, but that it wouldn't be too big a deal. Sister said everyone makes mistake and it's the only way we learn. So I tried not to worry about it too much.
I just came back to uni this afternoon and found a letter from the Director of Studies' office about a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the incident and they've recommended that I speak to an advisor in the Students' Union for 'impartial advice'. I'm really worried now because that makes it sound much more serious than Sister said it would be.
I also have an email from my course leader, saying that an occupational health appointment has been arranged for me due to 'health difficulties' I've been having on placement (my back pain flared up again and caused some issues for me. I've since seen a physiotherapist and I've been given exercises to help with the pain. My back is better now). Apparently, the trust also requested the appointment so I could be assessed, and the outcome will be discussed 'before I'm in a position to return to placement'.
I'm really quite worried about this now; I'm afraid that, because I declared mental health issues when I originally registered (and I told my mentor too, in case I had an anxiety attack while on placement), they might question my mental health. Is that a possibility? Some advice would be greatly appreciated.