Student Nurse and Newly Qualified Nurse Information and Welcome Pack

Student Name:
Year and Semester:
Mentor Name:
Placement Dates:

Ward Philosophy

On C3 ward we practice team nursing using Roper Logan and Tierney nursing model.

We feel that it is important to create a warm friendly atmosphere, where nursing care is patient centred and relatives can be encouraged to take part in care. We help patients to make a recovery from ill health at their own pace. We endeavour to take into account the wishes and views of the patient, before making decisions relating to nursing care and act as the patients advocate and maintain patients confidentiality.

An important part of our role is to give the patient knowledge about their condition, helping them understand their illness and interventions required.

We set and maintain the highest possible standards of nursing care, using all resources available, utilizing up to date research, and knowledge from specialist nurses. Patients care is individualised, using appropriate care plans, which are then used as a working document throughout their stay.

We try to provide a supportive atmosphere for staff, so as to encourage growth, learning and research.

Trained staff act as role models to student nurses therefore teaching and disseminating knowledge.

We realise the importance of keeping accurate, concise nursing records and adhere to policies and procedures.

C3 Ward Staff

Snr Sister /Ward Manager / Vivien Bates
Jnr Sister / Toni-Ann Breeze
Amy Charnock
Staff Nurse / Sue Fearon
Staff Nurse / Lisa Millard
Staff Nurse / Michelle Gee
Staff Nurse / Kayleigh Orrell
Staff Nurse / Hannah Graham
Staff Nurse / Leah Carr
Staff Nurse / Heather Dalglish
Staff Nurse / Louise Thompson
Staff Nurse / Jenny Elliot
Staff Nurse / Sheralee Webb
Staff Nurse / Rebecca Edge
Staff Nurse / Bernadette Samuels
Staff Nurse / Karen Kirkman
Assistant Practitioner / Amanda Walker
Health Care Assistant / Rose Nuttall
Health Care Assistant / Emma Aslett
Health Care Assistant / Diane Taylor
Health Care Assistant / Tracey Brown
Health Care Assistant / Joanne Fitton
Health Care Assistant / Sheryl Hennessey
Health Care Assistant / Lee Dube
Health Care Assistant / Nicola Mcgreavy
Health Care Assistant / Kathleen Kramarczyk
Health Care Assistant / Lynn Middleton
Health Care Assistant / Audrey Hurst
Health Care Assistant / Amanda Donnelly
Health Care Assistant / Kirsten Brown
Ward Clerk / Anne Kirby

Welcome to C3

Welcome to c3, whether student or new member of staff, we hope to make your time with us a happy one. This pack aims to give a brief insight into the world of c3.

Type of Ward:

C3 is an acute mixed gastroenterology ward and is part of the Adult division of specialist medicine. The ward has 26 beds including 8 side wards of which 6 are en-suite.

Management of the ward:

Snr Sister/Ward Manager: Vivien Bates

Jnr Sister/ Deputy Ward Manager: Toni-Ann Breeze & Amy Charnock

Specialist Nurses:

Nurse Consultant – Veronica Hall

IBD Nurse – Suzanne Tattersall

Alcohol team- Samantha Osborne, Rebecca Blackwell, Nicola Liggett, Lizzie Thomas

Consultants and Doctors:

We have 5 Consultants on C3.

  • Dr. K Moriarty
  • Dr. G Lipscomb
  • Dr. K Padmakumar
  • Dr. S Singh
  • Dr M. Bhalme
  • The junior doctors are ward based and change every 4 months.

Ward Rounds:

These take place every day at 9.30am

Multi-Disciplinary team Meetings:

We have a multi-disciplinary team consisting of consultants, doctors, nurses, alcohol/liver nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians and social workers who meet every day at 11.45am in the doctor’s office. The MDT are all involved in working together to ensure care is patient centred and all disciplines are aware of the patients needs, and measures are in place to ensure a safe and timely discharge.

Telephone Numbers:

Main Hospital Switch Board – O1204 390390, Internal press 0

C3 external number – 01204 390608, Internal 5608 or 4572

To transfer a call to another number, Press R followed by the number required

To ‘camp’ on to an internal number, Press R # 1

To dial an outside line, Press 9, followed by the number

To bleep, dial 8 followed by the bleep number, followed by the number of the phone you are dialling from, and wait for the call to be accepted

Cardiac Arrest:

The arrest call is ‘2222’

  • When the operator answers state ‘Cardiac Arrest C for Charlie 3’. Repeat the message. The operator will then alert the crash team.

As a student or new member of staff it maybe your role to either

  1. Put the crash call out
  2. Bring the crash trolley
  3. Direct the crash team to the appropriate patient

It is important that you are aware of where the crash trolley is (Near the nurses’ station). Don’t forget to ensure that it is unplugged before moving it.

Every bed has oxygen and suction already fitted, these are checked daily and when a patient goes home ensure that they are in working order with the right attachments.

Remember you can learn alot by watching and assist if required. Also you can help by reassuring other patients and help keep the ward running smoothly.

If a patient is extremely poorly and needs medical attention urgently even though they have not yet arrested, you may be asked to fast bleep a doctor. You do this the same way as cardiac arrest call but state ‘Fast Bleep’ and give the doctors bleep number (If known).

Fire Procedure:

If you see or suspect a fire you must:

  1. Immediately alert others
  2. Break the glass in the fire alarm or...
  3. Dial 2222 – stating that you suspect a fire and the area being ‘ C for Charlie 3’

The fire escapes are in Bay 1 and also the main corridor.

There are ski sheets available to allow mattresses to be dragged safely by the loop provided.

Continuous fire bell means Fire in C block

Intermittentfire bell means that there is a fire in the hospital but not in your area

Domestic Arrangements:

We have a staff room for staff to have breaks...

Note: Staff should keep this room tidy at all times, and pots washed and not left for others to clean up.

We also have a locker room with a secure code.

Please try to familiarise yourself with the ward layout as soon as possible. Taking note areas such as Treatment room, Sluice, Kitchen and the location of equipment especially manual handling equipment.

Visiting:

14.00hrs – 15.30hrs / 18.30hrs – 20.00hrs

2 visitors per bed

Visitors must not sit on patient beds

Children are allowed to visit but risk of infections should be explained to those with small babies

Children must have adult supervision at all times

Strict protected meal times – unless family are assisting with feeding or with extremely poorly patient, and emergencies.

Shift Patterns:

C3 ward provides 24hr care to a variety of patients.

Day Shift – 7.30hrs - 20.00hrs

Night shift – 19.30hrs – 8.00hrs

Mentorship:

Each student will be allocated a mentor and an associate mentor with whom you will mainly work alongside. However you will find everyone on the ward willing to share their knowledge, if unsure ASK.. (We were all new once)

Please discuss your aim and objectives with your mentor, as they may be able to suggest some specific ones to this ward. Please remind staff of the dates when paper work and interviews are due. There is up to date literature available, but do not remove from the ward.

Preceptorship:

Preceptorship is available to all newly qualified staff. We have a preceptorship pack available. New members of staff will have a supernumerary period of two weeks, while they settle in their new role.

Dictionary

Conditions you may not encounter on other wards. These are just definitions..

Alcoholic: An individual dependant on excessive amounts of alcohol

Ascities: Free fluid in the peritoneal cavity or oedema of the abdomen

Crohn’s Disease: A chronic condition of the terminal portion of the ileum

Colitis: Inflammation of the colon

Colonoscopy: An endoscopy passed through the anus to examine the Colon

Celiac Disease: Gluten entropathy, failure of the carbohydrate and fat metabolism

Diverticulitis: inflammation of the diverticulum

Encephalopathy: Cerebral dysfunction with diffuse disease or damage to the brain

ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde CholangioPancreatography examination of the pancreas and bile duct

Gastroscopy: An Endoscopic examination of the oesophagus reaching to the stomach

Haematemisis: Vomiting of blood

Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver

Hepatosplenamegaly: Enlargement of the liver and spleen

Irritable Bowel Disease: Reacting excessively to a stimulus

Jaundice: A yellow discolouration of the skin and conjunctiva due to presence of bile pigment

Korsakoffs: A chronic impairment of memory with disorientation of toxic or metabolic origin or alcoholism

Maleana: Darkening of faeces by blood pigment

Oesophageal Varicies: Varicose veins of the lower oesophagus secondary to portal hypertension

Sigmoidoscopy: An investigation in which he sigmoid and rectum can be seen

Abbreviations

POAB / Oral Antibiotics
AF / Atrial Fibulation
AXR / Abdominal X ray
ALD / Alcohol Liver Disease
B/O / Bowels Opened
BWO / Bowels well opened
BNO / Bowels not opened
Bx / Biopsy
BM / Blood sugar monitoring
BP / Blood pressure
COAD / Chronic obstructive airways disease
COPD / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CCF / Cerebrovascular accident
CA / Carcinoma
CT / Cat scan
C&S / Culture and Sensitivity
CDT / Clostridium difficile
CSU / Catheter specimen of urine
CXR / Chest X-ray
CSF / Cerebrospinal fluid
DVT / Deep vein thrombosis
D&V / Diarrhoea and vomiting
DU / Duodenal Ulcer
DOA / Dead on arrival
ECG / Electrocardiogram
FBC / Full blood count
FOB / Faecal occult blood
GTT / Glucose tolerance test
GA / General anaesthetic
HB / Haemoglobin
H/O / History of
HV / Home visit
IVI / Intra venous infusion
IDDM / Insulin dependent diabetic
IM / Intra muscular
IV / Intra venous
LVF / Left ventricular failure
LP / Lumbar puncture
MDT / Multi disciplinary team
MSSU / Mid stream urine sample
MI / Myocardial Infarction
METS / Metastases
MANE / Morning
NOCTE / Night
NG / Naso Gastric
NIDDM / None insulin dependent diabetic
NAD / No abnormality detected
O/D / Overdose
O/A / On admission
OGD / Oesophageal Gastroscope
OT / Occupational therapist
OBS / Observations
OPD / Out patients department
PU’D / Passed urine
PCA / Patient controlled analgesia
PE / Pulmonary embolism
PIV / Pelvic inflammation disease
PRN / As required
PR / Per rectum
PV / Per vagina
QDS / Four times daily
TIA / Trans ischemic attack
TLC / Tender loving care
TDS / Three times daily
TBA / To be arranged
SOB / Short of breath
S/B / Seen by
SPA / Salt poor albumin
STAT / One dose
SBE / Small bowel enema
SALT / Speech and language therapy
SL / Sublingual
S/C / Sub cut
USS / Ultrasound
UWSD / Under water seal drain
U+E / Urea and electrolytes
WR / Ward round