Learners in the Workplace

1. Learners in the Workplace By Stella Cosgrove Practice Education Facilitator

2. A Hindrance or A Help? What do student nurses and other learners mean to you?

3. Student role and expectations • Student nurses undertake their training over 3 years leading to a BSc degree. • They have different learning outcomes for each placement which they incorporate into a practice portfolio • They have to achieve various skills which are documented in a log • You can have a look at these documents to see where you can help

4. A positive learning experience 1) Upon first attending the ward it was clear it was a busy environment and I felt this was going to be a challenging experience for me. The staff on the ward, hca's and staff nurses including my mentor provided great support in helping me achieve the necessary outcomes and helped me adapt to the new setting. 2) I was a bit overwhelmed when I first started the placement because it is such a busy ward but I persevered and with the support of most of the staff I got there in the end and felt a valued part of the team.

5. A mixed learning experience 3) The placement went well but due to shortness of staff I felt that being supernumerary was a term misused. I was placed with HCA's for the majority of the placement and worked with them, my mentor was moved to a new ward, associate mentor was off on a/l - it was a bit hit and miss to be honest. I learned a lot and made the most of it . The main issue was the understaffing. The mentors did not really have the time to sit and go through things effectively it did feel a little rushed at times .

6. A negative learning experience 4) I felt that I was treated as 'another pair of hands' on this placement, spending an inordinate amount of time on escorts to places like x-ray. It proved to be beyond the unit to supply me with gloves and I was forced to spend long periods of time negotiating with other wards to get some. I did form the impression that the staff were overstretched, but I feel that constantly getting the response 'I have not got time', is not consistent with a good learning environment.

7. Negative learning experiences leading to demoralisation 5) Initially my experience on the ward was not very pleasant. The first couple of weeks I feel I was not being used as supernumerary but as a spare pair of hands which continued throughout the placement. Although it did improve slightly I still feel this impacted on my learning opportunities. The attitude of some of the staff towards students was terrible such as asking HCAs did they want help and being told no, and basically being made to feel like a nuisance. My first day we were left unsupervised with no instruction as to the routine of the ward / where or what anything was and no formal induction. 6) Staff made me and other students feel very unwelcome. Certain staff spoke to me and others like dirt. Never in 3 years have I had a placement like that!! Didn’t even want to go in every morning

8. Stress at Work • "The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work.“ (HSE 2005) There is a difference between stress and pressure. Pressure is needed to motivate and enable us to perform at our best. It’s when we experience too much pressure without the opportunity to recover that we start to experience stress.

9. Signs and Symptoms of Stress • Emotional symptoms • Negative or depressive feeling • Disappointment with yourself • Increased emotional reactions – more tearful or sensitive or aggressive • Loneliness, withdrawn • Loss of motivation commitment and confidence • Mood swings (not behavioural) • Mental • Confusion, indecision • Can’t concentrate • Poor memory Wordpress.com

10. Signs and Symptoms of Stress • Changes from your normal behaviour • Changes in eating habits • Increased smoking, drinking or drug taking ‘to cope’ • Mood swings effecting your behaviour • Changes in sleep patterns • Twitchy, nervous behaviour • Changes in attendance such as arriving later or taking more time off. • Signs of stress in a group • Disputes and disaffection within the group • Increase in staff turnover • Increase in complaints and grievances • Increased sickness absence • Increased reports of stress • Poor performance • Customer dissatisfaction or complaints • Difficulty in attracting new staff

11. Stress and its direct impact on you • The Body Map Photobucket.com

12. How can you make a difference? • Be welcoming and friendly • Understand they are only learning • Not assume they know – Always assume they know nothing • Get to know their name • Become familiar with their learning outcomes and offer to help • Help them become part of the team