Search

At NHW we provide placement opportunities for Division 1, Certificate 4 and 3 students. We endeavour to place students in areas relevant to their course objectives. Students may be placed in a variety of settings including:

Ground West

General Medical
Medical Assessment and Planning SubUnit (MAPS)
Paediatrics

Thomas Hogan Centre
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Geriatric Evaluationa and Management (GEM)
One West
Critical Care
Emergency Department

Days Stay Procedure Unit (ADU)

Theatre

One East
General Surgical Ward
Midwifery
In Illoura - our off site residential aged care facility                                                     

In any of our Community Based Programs such as:


Shift Times: Most areas work 8 hour shifts with a half hour lunch break.  Shift times for the in patient wards and Illoura are generally:

       Am: 0700 – 1530

       Pm: 1300 – 2130

Health Independence Programs are generally 0800-1630.

You will be given a copy of your roster and shift times prior to commencing placement.

 

Handover

Effective bedside handover practice is a skill all nurses need to develop. You will be encouraged to participate in the handover process by asking appropriate questions of the preceding shift, and, under the direction of your facilitator, giving handover of your allocated patients to the oncoming shift.

During the handover process it is important to

 

 

NHW encourages a “systems approach” for patient handover and documentation. This method ensures all important factors relating to the patient is recorded in an orderly manner and is easily identifiable. Developing a systematic approach for handover and documentation will assist you in ensuring appropriate and accurate information is being passed on.

 

As well as using the systems approach in handover another tool that is useful is SBAR.

 

SITUATION

 

BACKGROUND

 

ASSESSMENT         

 

RECOMMENDATION       

 

This tool is also useful when you are required to handover a patient for a particular reason. For example if you need to handover a patients current condition to another staff member.

We will cover SBAR more whilst on placement.

 

 

 

SMART

 

The SMART initiative at NHW is a new approach to structuring our nursing day to work smarter, not harder.

 

Part of this initiative involves “smart time”. This occurs during double staff time each day and removes nurses from patient care responsibilities to allow for professional development and education.

 

At the moment times allocated for SMART time are ward specific and are often subject to change. There is generally two days per week where there is allocated SMART education where you as a student will be invited to attend. What students may do during SMART time where there is no formal education is to:

 

DEBRIEF

 

Individual debriefing is available at any time from the clinical supervisors who are keen to assist you in any way possible during your time here.

 

Your participation in organized and group debrief sessions will provide evidence for your assessment, so participation is actively encouraged. 

 

You will be informed of the schedule for debriefing sessions in the first few days of your placement.  Debriefing is usually held between 1300-1400hrs.

 

ORIENTATION DAY

 

On your first day of placement you will meet your clinical supervisors and we will talk with you more about the previous topics and how best to approach your placement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOME HANDY POINTS TO HELP PREPARE FOR PLACEMENT

 

·        Plan Objectives for each day – Setting daily objectives will ensure that even on the busiest days, you can identify something valuable you have either learned about or achieved, and you have not just been “caught up in the work, doing tasks”.

If you are struggling to complete your identified placement objectives or “clinical tasks” prepare a list of things you need to do and keep it with you. This way you can enlist your facilitator to assist you in targeting appropriate patients or tasks.

·        Assessments & Assignments– read through assessment tools prior to & during placement. This will help clarify learning direction and performance expectations. Seek out ward staff that might be able to help you with assignments.

·        Treat your placement like a real job – be punctual and respectful, professional in your manner and appearance

·        Ask lots of questions – Facilitators prefer keen & interested students! Ask not just about conditions or procedures but ask why things are being done.

·        Quiet moments on the ward – Read your patient histories and attempt to understand the whole picture. Look up their radiology films and their pathology results on ORION. Check out their risk assessment and see what referrals have been made and why. Sit and chat to your patients, it is amazing what you learn by taking the time to get to know your patients. Perhaps assist other nurses and learn about their patients, make your self part of the team. Review texts if there is anything that you have been unsure of.

·        Make the most of every opportunity – Be alert to what is happening on the ward & seek-out opportunities. Listen carefully in hand-over for technical activities, home visits, procedures or tests and ask your facilitator or supervisor if you can observe or participate.

·        Self Care – remember to look after yourself work. Eat properly, if you are rostered on a late, only the coffee shop is open, it would be a good idea to bring something from home.

Get plenty of sleep and remember to have some recreational time too!

If you are working whilst on placement it is important to keep your professional responsibilities to your workplace in mind and have time off during placement. Discuss rostering and rest opportunities with your clinical supervisor.