If the nurse breaks what's the point in the patient trying?
So I've been so bad at keeping updated recently. I've let everything slip in the last month, but I'm back, focused and in control!
I finished my fourth placement at the end of May, thoroughly enjoyed working in Urology and Vascular. I learnt a vast amount, not just about nursing, but about myself and the nurse I want to be. I found a lot of confidence by taking care of 12 patients whilst on shift. But I also enjoyed taking advantage of my supernumerary student status and spending time talking to my patients.
Working on a vascular ward we had a large number of diabetic patients coming in for amputations due to foot ulcers and diabetes related vascular issues. Now it's obvious having a foot or leg amputated is life changing but when nurses and healthcare assistants rush around doing jobs we can overlook the person wrapped up in the middle of everything. There was nothing more satisfying that being able to sit and chat to a patient for half an hour about their concerns, or general thoughts about the past, present or future, knowing you'd put their mind at rest.
I had one patient day 3 post a below knee amputation, who gave up in the bathroom (not glamorous I know but that's nursing). They were angry at themselves, at their amputated leg and at life. And to be honest they had every right to be angry, life was not great. But what can I say, "yes you have a right to be angry, just give up now, live in bed and lose your independence, it's fine, its normal". As a nurse you see people at their best, at their happiest, but you are also privileged to see people when they are down and out. People see us as their last hope, if the nurse breaks what's the point in a patient trying? So I sat there in a sweltering hot hospital bathroom verbally picking this patient up. I said that the situation he's in is rubbish, that it's not going to be easy but that he will never be alone. I may not be able to surgically fix patients but being there to help them emotionally and psychologically means so much more.
When I work I put my all into it and need my days off to actually care for myself. I eat awfully when working and obviously don't have time to gym. Aside from cooking and gyming on days off I enjoy having days out with my boyfriend, it's often the only proper time we get together. A couple of weeks ago we went to Exbury Gardens, Hampshire. They were in 'high bloom' when we went and it was beautiful. The gardens are part of the Exbury estate.
Bought by Lionel Nathan de Rothschild in 1919, Lionel hired 250 men to clear the woodland and began to design and grow a magnificent garden. In WWII the estate was used as a stone frigate. Once the war was after Lionel returned the gardens to former glory before opening the gardens to the public. The gardens also have a miniature steam railway; anyone that knows me or my boyfriend knows we have a soft spot for steam trains/railways.
The admission was pricey, £16 if you want to ride the steam train, £11 without, but the price is so worth it. We spent a long afternoon here and could have easily spent more time had we had the time! I'd love to go back later in the summer, and see parts of the gardens I didn't get to explore fully!
I finished my fourth placement at the end of May, thoroughly enjoyed working in Urology and Vascular. I learnt a vast amount, not just about nursing, but about myself and the nurse I want to be. I found a lot of confidence by taking care of 12 patients whilst on shift. But I also enjoyed taking advantage of my supernumerary student status and spending time talking to my patients.
Working on a vascular ward we had a large number of diabetic patients coming in for amputations due to foot ulcers and diabetes related vascular issues. Now it's obvious having a foot or leg amputated is life changing but when nurses and healthcare assistants rush around doing jobs we can overlook the person wrapped up in the middle of everything. There was nothing more satisfying that being able to sit and chat to a patient for half an hour about their concerns, or general thoughts about the past, present or future, knowing you'd put their mind at rest.
I had one patient day 3 post a below knee amputation, who gave up in the bathroom (not glamorous I know but that's nursing). They were angry at themselves, at their amputated leg and at life. And to be honest they had every right to be angry, life was not great. But what can I say, "yes you have a right to be angry, just give up now, live in bed and lose your independence, it's fine, its normal". As a nurse you see people at their best, at their happiest, but you are also privileged to see people when they are down and out. People see us as their last hope, if the nurse breaks what's the point in a patient trying? So I sat there in a sweltering hot hospital bathroom verbally picking this patient up. I said that the situation he's in is rubbish, that it's not going to be easy but that he will never be alone. I may not be able to surgically fix patients but being there to help them emotionally and psychologically means so much more.
When I work I put my all into it and need my days off to actually care for myself. I eat awfully when working and obviously don't have time to gym. Aside from cooking and gyming on days off I enjoy having days out with my boyfriend, it's often the only proper time we get together. A couple of weeks ago we went to Exbury Gardens, Hampshire. They were in 'high bloom' when we went and it was beautiful. The gardens are part of the Exbury estate.
Bought by Lionel Nathan de Rothschild in 1919, Lionel hired 250 men to clear the woodland and began to design and grow a magnificent garden. In WWII the estate was used as a stone frigate. Once the war was after Lionel returned the gardens to former glory before opening the gardens to the public. The gardens also have a miniature steam railway; anyone that knows me or my boyfriend knows we have a soft spot for steam trains/railways.
The admission was pricey, £16 if you want to ride the steam train, £11 without, but the price is so worth it. We spent a long afternoon here and could have easily spent more time had we had the time! I'd love to go back later in the summer, and see parts of the gardens I didn't get to explore fully!
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