Placement survival guide for Nursing students

Placements are such an exciting yet daunting experience as a Nursing student. You are exposed to the real world, immediately getting the opportunity to interact with the public and put your nursing skills into practice. Nothing can prepare you for the 13-hour shifts but you will get through it!

Here is my survival guide for when you start your Nursing placements!

Push yourself 

By pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I made friendships with the staff which would make the shifts enjoyable as well. I liked working with the play facilitator on one of my first wards, as I got to see how play could be used in a hospital to distract and cheer up the patients. This then led her to giving me the opportunity to volunteer and show the Aston Villa footballers around the ward at Christmas time… a memory I will never forget, seeing the children’s faces light up getting to chat to the footballers and receive presents! Push yourself to learn as much as possible and gain as much from the placement as you can. 

Utilise your varied placements

Something I have loved is the variety of placements I have had which have included non-hospital based ones such as a nursery and a health visiting placement. This was helpful to show me the different avenues you can go down with this career. Placement allocation is random, and despite this being daunting for not knowing where you will be placed, it is incredible for the experiences you will come across and be exposed to. I never thought I’d want to work with babies, but after my most recent placement on the neonatal surgical ward, I feel I may have found my passion. Opportunities to go to surgery are very educational and intriguing so I would recommend to take the chance if you can! I have been able to go to scoliosis surgery, cardiac surgery and an oesophageal atresia repair which have all been eye-opening.

Get prepared!

Fuelling for shifts was definitely an element that I overlooked. A proper meal for your lunch break as well as plenty of snacks such as fruit and chocolates definitely helped to create a better balance to sort my cravings. For a night shift, I switched my routines to eating a proper meal before I started and then having a bagel and snacks when I got my break in the early hours of the morning. Pick foods you will look forward to eating otherwise you’ll spend the entire shift preoccupied with what you’d rather be eating than learning new skills. Figure out what works best for you, whether it’s a fizzy drink to boost your sugar and caffeine or fruit pastels in your pocket for easy access; make sure you have enough energy!

Prioritise your wellbeing

Make sure you look after yourself during placement. It was a massive jump from university life and other jobs I had worked before. Talk to your friends and family, carry on with your hobbies and sports, and prioritise your physical and mental wellbeing.

Remember, you are making a real difference!

Something very special in paediatric nursing is the bonds you create with the child and their family. Knowing that you are making a real difference and seeing how you can transform a family’s hospital experience is indescribable. Whilst on the infant cardiac ward, I was fortunate to follow a family’s journey as their baby came to the ward aged just five days old. During this 6-week placement I spoke to the family every shift, trying to reassure them and listen to their concerns. This helped them to put more trust in me and reduce their anxieties of having their baby being cared for in hospital. I played with the baby’s older sister when she came to visit, trying to distract her from the overwhelming setting of a hospital. These moments showed to me how special this career can be.