Placements: opportunities to learn

Primary school nursing

This placement often consisted of seeing healthy children and, at first, I couldn't understand what I would learn from spending time with them. The answer was mental health. It is vital to talk to children about mental health from a young age. If we teach them the key skills they need to learn about managing big emotions, this can set them up for a mentally healthy future. I also gained an understanding of what some children as young as six were going through. This included anxiety about their home life and the beginning of unhealthy food behaviours and thoughts. The school nurses were key to setting up the foundations of good mental health. I gained so much knowledge of mental health and how to discuss this in an age-appropriate way with children, ensuring they could use this knowledge in the future.

Surgical/general ward

As a first-year student I learnt some essential skills in this ward, including observations and how to do a beautiful corner tuck when making a bed! I now fully understand why we are so rigorous with cleaning and why it's important to learn such key skills. Observations are needed for a patient in hospital because these notes are where you can see progress or deterioration. However, alongside these key skills, communication skills were one of the most important things I learnt in this placement, particularly communicating with children and their families before surgery. For example, I learnt distraction skills – in one case for both a young patient and their queasy dad. I also learnt how useful it can be to be a helping hand. If a parent wanted to change their child's bedding, because it was one way they had control of a difficult situation, I could help them by being an extra pair of hands and a calming voice to soothe nerves and worry.

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

I have written about my NICU placement before (Petchey, 2024). I gained more valuable skills here, in observations and the use of equipment. These included understanding the difference between a full-term baby's vital signs and those of a very much not full-term baby. I saw health issues including neurological, respiratory and bowel issues and I learnt to interpret a small number of X-rays. What I also gained was a greater understanding of different family types and cultures. I also learnt to manage my own feelings. I became attached to some families and I had to learn how to process my emotions.

Community nursing

In this placement I learnt a great number of physical skills, including taking a manual blood pressure and performing a venepuncture. I also gained experience of working with children who are neurodivergent. I was able to spend time working in a special needs school and learn how to work with the children, keep them safe and cared for. I had the joy of watching them learn and play. I gained knowledge about seizures; I had no idea there was so many different presentations. I also saw nursing in palliative and end-of-life care that allowed the child and family to have the physical and spiritual care they needed. Showing patients and families respect and care was one of the most important things I learnt.

Secondary school

On this placement, I felt like a detective, deciding whether a child who had a physical ailment needed to go home or to hospital and caring for a child who was anxious and really needed a listening ear.

I learnt how to read social cues better and to notice the words that were not being said. I also learnt empathy and that trust is key. Sometimes it's important just to be a friendly face who reminds them to hydrate but also tells them they are more than those nasty voices in their heads.

I have had to deal with broken bones and cut lips. But the biggest thing is mental health and safeguarding. Working with a team who only want the best for students, both in their physical and mental health, was inspirational.