So, a quick recap of what has been going on since September........
- Assessment - Presentation. I did this on the role of the Health Visitor. I feel it went really well and the time I spent with the Health visitors on placement really helped me to put together a thorough presentation. I actually enjoyed presenting much more than I thought I would.
- Assessment - 3000 word essay on Using Evidence and Making Decisions. Didn't really enjoy writing this essay....really enjoyed the taught content however, found it really difficult to pull all the information together in a way that fitted the marking criteria for the essay!
- Safe Medicate - 100% First time!! Fabulous! :)
- OSCE - Practical Medication exam. Drugs I was tested on: Nitrofurantoin, Paracetamol, Bisocodyl and Sodium Valporate. Didn't go too badly but I totally forget to talk about the cautionary labels for Bisocodyl!! Resit in February!! Nevermind.....I now know these drugs inside out! :)
Results due in at the end of January......Hopefully the only resit I will have will be the OSCE! :)
So on to placement. Have just spent the past 10 weeks in the Emergency Department. Absolutely loved every minute. Was totally exhausting but I learned so much that the 12 hour shifts whizzed by! A few highlights include:
- Taking part in CPR.
- Mastering the art of chin thrusts to maintain an open airway.
- Triage of patients in Majors - Learning to ask the right questions!!
- Lots of time spent in Resus - invaluable experience of gaining confidence in recognising a deteriorating patient.
- Great mentor.....she had loads of time for me and enthusiasm.....makes such a difference to a placement!
Back to the current day.....Enjoying the Christmas holidays with my lovely family! I know this time is precious....next year I am sure I will be working over the festive season so adjustments will need to be made!
Plan for the next few weeks ahead.......knuckle down to my dissertation. 12 weeks till the deadline!! Arghhhhh! Only in uni one day a week so going to have to be strict with myself and treat every day as a working day so I'm not scrabbling around towards the deadline trying to finish this 10000 word essay! ;-)
Anyway, as I bring this post to an end (It's New Years Eve....time to play some games with the kiddie-winks!).....I would like to wish everyone a fabulous New Year!! 2015....the year I (hopefully!) qualify as a Staff Nurse!! :):):):):)
