Welcome Pack
Surgical Triage Unit
Salford Royal Hospital
Contents
Surgical triage unit……………………………………….. Pg 3
Introduction ……………………………………………… Pg 4
Shift Patterns ………………………………...... Pg 4
The Unit Philosophy ……………………………………. Pg 5
Activity on the Unit …………………………...... Pg 5
Learning Opportunities ……………………………...... Pg 6
Learning Resources …………………………...... Pg 6
Link Roles of Nursing Staff ……………………………. Pg 7
Your First Day …………………………………..…...... Pg 7
Uniform/Dress Code …………………………..……….. Pg 8
Useful Information ……………………………………... Pg 8
Spoke Placement Contacts ……………………………... Pg 9
Expectations of Staff towards Students ……...... Pg 10
Expectations of Students towards Staff ……...... Pg 11
University of Salford – Students as Escorts for Patients. . Pg 11
Action Plan …………………………………………….. Pg 13
Surgical Terminology …………………………………. Pg 14
Placement Charter ……………………………………. Pg 16
Placement Evaluations………………………………… Pg 17
Surgical Triage unit
Welcome to STU, We will work hard to ensure your time with us will be both pleasant and instructive. Staff on the unit will endeavour to aid your learning and help develop a sound knowledge around general surgery. The intention of this welcome pack is to provide you with information for your orientation and as a guide to:
· Health & Safety
· An overview of the surgical assessment ward
· Guide you throughout your stay
The surgical triage unit covers general surgery, urology patients and gynaecology patients.
We deal with both inpatients and outpatients and also manage a nurse led clinic, as a result of this the unit can get very busy as we admit, discharge and transfer patients to appropriate wards.
During your allocation you may have the opportunity to undertake spoke placements in theatre, Urology clinic, Gynaecology clinic and A&E, although this will be subject to student allocation at that time.
Introduction
Patients are admitted from A&E. These patients are to be accepted by the general surgical/urology or gynaecology team. Once transferred to the unit the patient will be reviewed and a plan of care formed. Usually, the team will arrange investigations and patients will transfer to a in-patient ward dependant on bed pressures.
The unit as a whole comes under the surgical division. We are situated in the Humphey Booth building in the blue area- Next to ANU.
The unit has a ward manager (Kath Ryan) and a ward Sister (Natalie Blake); a Lead Nurse (Anne Myers) whom are responsible for the area and will provide professional leadership for nursing along with the Practice Educator
Shift Patterns
You will be expected to work the shift patterns that are relevant to each area. On the STU there are various shift patterns, however you will be expected to work the shifts which most closely match you mentors. Team mentoring is practiced on the ward.
Shift patterns consist of Long days and short shifts if required. To be discussed with Mentor if any concerns.
Long days- 07:00hrs – 19:30hrs
Nights- 19:00- 07:30hrs
Spoke Placements:
You will be able to book on to spoke placements whilst working on STU. These would include theatre, Pain team (year 3 only) Early pregnancy unit, Urology outpatients, A&E (for a short period) and work in the units HOT clinic.
The Unit Philosophy
The STU unit endeavour to deliver to their patients’ safe and effective physical and psychological care throughout their stay. We aim to provide an holistic approach to care with the nursing team acting as the patient’s advocate throughout their time on the unit.
We aim to achieve our philosophy by working as a team towards a common goal. We will strive to act in a professional manner at all times, employ new and up to date evidence based nursing practice, question our own practice as to facilitate the maintenance of high standards of nursing care. STU uses Orem’s Model of Self Care
Learning opportunities
You will be expected to participate fully according to your ability and state of training.
On the ward:
· Admission of patients
· Discharge of patients
· Transfer of patients to appropriate wards
· Nursing admissions-
· Medication administration
· Preparation of IV antibiotics
· Clinical observations
· Ward rounds
· Referrals/follow up care
· Opportunities for Health Promotion
· Monitoring/Wound checks
· Surgical clinics
Learning Resources
The unit has internet access, and resources for you to learn. We pride our selves on patient focus. Your patients can be the best source for you to learn. Ask them about their experiences, care and plan.
The nursing team will always be ready to help and answer questions. The unit also has medical students and junior doctors leaning so we have plenty of opportunities to develop your knowledge.
A multi-disciplinary team works within the unit including Consultants, Registrars anaesthetists, advanced practitioner’s, clerical staff and the nursing team. On the ward there is a Practice Education Lead – Nicky Fishburn EXT: 65387/65375 or ., Contact: 0161 295 6480
Your first day
You will be greeted by a member of staff and introduced to your mentor or Practice Education Lead
You will be oriented to the unit and introduced to the staff on duty. You are expected to bring your welcome pack, which you should have obtained on request prior to commencement of your placement. You are advised to read through and complete this as necessary. Ensure you have your student documentation and any supporting evidence required e.g., evidence of having completed essential training.
Your off duty will be done 1-2 weeks in advance where possible and this is negotiable with your mentor. Various shift patterns are employed on the unit. There is a notice board in the office which may contain information useful to you during your placement.
If you need to contact the ward for any reason our number is:
0161 206 4942
or
0161 206 4965
Uniform / dress code
When you are on the ward you must wear the uniform provided by the university. Please ensure your uniform is clean and that you are presentable. There is a uniform policy within the Trust, which you are expected to adhere to. This can be provided to you on your first day on request. However in brief your hair must be worn up off your collar if it is long, no false nails or nail polish to be worn, jewellery is restricted to a pair of ear studs and a plain wedding band (no rings with stones are permitted).
Useful information
Switchboard – 0
CRASH/FIRE – 2222
Location of fire alarms/extinguishers/assembly point – see page
Policies/Protocols – SYNAPSE
International Association of Ambulatory Surgery www.iaas-med.com
British Association of Day Surgery (Internet) www.daysurgeryuk.net
NMC Student Guidelines http://www.nmc-uk.org/Students/Guidance-for-students/
The Hub and Spoke Policy can be found on the Pre-Reg Website in the ‘Mentorship & Assessment’ section under ‘Policies and Guidelines’.
There is a staff canteen (close to the ward) and within the Hope Building where food and refreshments can be purchased. There is limited locker availability on the ward. Handbags, coats, personal possessions are kept in the office at the individuals’ own risk. Please leave valuables at home
Students will be supervised by their named mentor either directly or indirectly for at least 40% of their time on placement. Mentors are allocated their students more than one week in advance. We endeavour to roster students first day on duty to coincide with their named mentor.
Expectations of staff towards students
1. Students will arrive punctually on a shift and inform the nurse in charge and university as soon as possible if they are ill or delayed. Students are expected to provide a contact number on commencement of their placement-A Contact number should be placed in the back of the off duty
2. Students are expected to show initiative to learn and participate in care whilst acknowledging any limitations in their knowledge and competence
3. Students are expected to develop competency in core clinical skills as identified by their university. Students may be exposed to skills outside this framework but these should not be considered essential.
4. Should any personal or professional problems arise during placement, these must be raised as soon as possible with an appropriate member of staff to prevent the problem escalating
5. Students must adhere to the uniform policy as set out by their university/place of work
6. Students will, wherever possible, work the same shifts as their mentor or mentor team; this should be a minimum of 2 shifts per week.
7. Students should bring relevant documentation (assessment of practice documentation, action plans, profile) on a daily basis, for use at appropriate/planned times
Expectations of students towards staff
1. Students can expect to be welcomed as ‘part of the team’ by staff
2. Students can expect an appropriately timed orientation to the unit including layout, routines, staff, policies and procedures, fire evacuation plan and receive a welcome pack
3. Students will have a named mentor and will be introduced to them and their mentor team as soon as possible
4. Students can expect to receive their ‘off duty’ at least one week in advance
5. Students will receive continuous feedback on their progress, and any problems/issues as perceived by staff will be raised with the students as soon as possible
6. Students will not be regarded as ‘an extra pair of hands’ and their role as learner will be respected
7. Students will have the opportunity to learn and participate in new skills whilst acknowledging any limitations in their knowledge or competence
8. Students will be made aware of appropriate learning opportunities before/as they arise
9. Wherever possible, initial, mid-point and final assessments will be carried out in time
10. Students will be made aware of their role during emergency procedures such as fire evacuations and crash calls
University of Salford policy
Students acting as escorts for patients/clients
The School Management Committee has requested that a policy statement should be produced to clearly outline the School’s position with respect to students acting as escorts for clients/patients. The general view of the School Management Committee (SMC) is that students must be supervised in the workplace at all times.
Background
Student nurses are allocated to practice placements in order to gain the necessary practical experience to enable them to achieve the required learning outcomes and competencies demanded by statute.
Students are not employees of the NHS and must never be regarded as an essential part of the workforce in terms of the delivery of care to clients/patients. It is the responsibility of the Trust to ensure that sufficient numbers of appropriate staff are available at all times in order to care for the clients’/patients’ in their care in a safe and competent manner.
Students exposure to clinical situations must be guided by their education needs and not determined by the needs of the service.
Statement
At no time must first year students be utilised as the sole escort for clients/patients who are required to leave their care base for any form of investigation or treatment or social care activity. This includes client/patient transfers to and from radiography department and theatres.
First year students may accompany qualified health care practitioners who are escorting clients/patients in order to observe investigations and treatment as part of their educational programme at the discretion of their mentor.
Students in the second and third years of their programmes may act as the sole escort for clients/patients who are required to leave their care base for any form of investigation or treatment or social care activity at the discretion of the student’s mentor.
Students at any stage of their programmes may accompany a client who is required to leave their care base for any form of investigation or treatment or social care activity if the client would normally be permitted to go to the department/activity without being accompanied by a member of staff.
Over the next few pages are checklists for achievement whilst on spoke placements. Please ensure you have these with you and ensure they are signed and dated accordingly. They are evidence for your portfolio.
On the next page is a weekly action plan. It may help you to structure your placement time and achieve your aims and goals. Please photocopy the page for subsequent weekly uses.
Action Plan
Week:
What would you like to achieve this week?
Using your preferred learning style, how are you going to achieve this?
What resources are you going to use?
At the end of the week – did you achieve the goals you set?
COMPLETE REFLECTION
Surgical Terminology
Prefix / Meaning / ExampleA / Without or not before / Aseptic
Ante / Before / Anteversion of the uterus
Anti / Against or opposite / Anticoagulant
Ecto / On the outside / Ectopic
Endo / On the inside / Endometrium
Hemi / One half / Hemiplegic
Hyper / Above or Excessive / Hypertensive
Hypo / Beneath or Deficient / Hypotensive
Inter / Between / Intercostal
Intra / Within / Intra-abdominal
Pan / All / Pan-endoscopy
Retro / Behind / Retroversion of the Uterus
Sub / Under / Sublingual
Prefix / Meaning / Prefix / Meaning
Adeno / glands / Mast / breast
Arterio / artery / Nephro / kidney
Arthro / joint / Oculo / eye
Broncho / bronchus / Oophro / ovary
Cardio / heart / Opthalmo / eye
Cele, coele / sac / Orchio / testicle
Cephalo / head / Osteo / bone
Cervix / Neck of the womb / Cervical / Neck, or the neck of the womb
Chole / bile / Oto / ear
Chondro / cartilage / Phlebo / vein
Cole / colon / Pneumo / lung
Colpo / vagina / Procto / rectum
Costo / rib / Pyelo / pelvis or kidney
Cysto / bladder / Rhino / nose
Encephalo / brain / Salpingo / fallopian tube
Entero / intestine / Thoraco / chest
Gastro / stomach / Trachelo / neck
Glosso / tongue / Tracheo / trachea
Hepato / liver / Uretero / ureter
Hystero / uterus / Vaso / Blood vessel
Ileo / ileum / Vesico / Urinary bladder
Kerato / cornea
Prefixes related to body parts
Achieving excellence in learning and care...
Placement Charter