School of Health, Community and Education Studies. Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing and Midwifery

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1 School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing and Midwifery September 2005

2 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) CONTENTS Section Subject Page 1 Preamble Introduction to the Placements Office.. Staff Contacts Organising Placements Procedures for the Arrangement of Placements. Extenuating Circumstances. Swap Requests.... Amendment to Placement... Appeal Against Placement.. Branch Swaps. 5 Contacting the Placement Area. 7 6 General Information About Placements Placement Support Mentor and Co-Mentor... Guidance Facilitators. Practice Placement Facilitator Clinical Procedures Student Evaluations Preparation for Practice Sickness Absence Working Hours In Practice Night Duty Bank Holidays Inter-Professional Practice Experience Independent Charity/Voluntary Organisations Making Up Time School Placements Student Behaviour. Unauthorised absence including non attendance.. General Practitioner Appointments Confidentiality. Student Relationships Ambulance Staff Staff Behaviour.. Dress Code.. Student Identification. Personal Hygiene Jewellery, Body Piercing and Tattoos. Glossary of Terms APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2 APPENDIX 3 Northumbria University Mentor Policy Northumbria University Sickness Absence Policy Library Services for Northumbria Students on Placement Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 1 of 20

3 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 1. Preamble Welcome to Northumbria University. We hope your time with us will be an experience that you ll never forget. This booklet has been designed to give you an overall picture of placement organisation and how it affects you. Please read it carefully so that you can make best use of your placement experience. Practice placements are an integral part of your programme. For all students of nursing and midwifery, they constitute 50% of your programme. You will be required to meet and achieve learning outcomes whilst on placement. In order for this to happen, we will have ensured that there are appropriately qualified staff to support you and that the learning environment is suitable to meet your needs. If you need additional support or advice when on placement, please seek support from your Guidance Facilitator or Practice Placement Facilitator. All Placements are provided by colleagues from other organisations. It is imperative that we work closely with the staff within these organisations and that all parties are clear about the roles and responsibilities they have. Our aim is to ensure that students have a meaningful placement experience. As part of this process, you need to understand how your placements are organised; the support provided and the policies and procedures that guide the administrator, lecturers and you, the student. We hope this booklet will answer many of the questions you may have before and during your placement. If having read the booklet you believe we have missed anything, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or a member of the practice placement administrative team. Wishing you all successful and enjoyable placements. Aileen Sullivan Director of Practice Placements Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 2 of 20

4 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 2. Introduction to the Placements Office The Practice Placements Office at The School of Health, Community & Education Studies is responsible for organising any practice placements that are required for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students. The Practice Placements Department has an academic lead (Director of Practice Placements) who has responsibility of working with all staff that may be involved in placements. This will include Practice Placement Facilitators, Programme Managers, Guidance Facilitators and Practice Placement Administrative Staff. The Practice Placements Administrative team comprises nine Administrators, under the guidance of a Senior Administrator. Different Administrators are responsible for specific programmes. 2.1 Staff Contacts For any queries about particular placements please contact the relevant number listed beow, and a member of staff will be happy to help you:- Area Covered Contact Number for Administrator Community Adult Branch (South Tyneside Healthcare Trust only) Midwifery Adult Branch (Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust only) Mental Health Branch Return to Nursing Adult Branch (Gateshead Healthcare Trust only) Adult Branch Placements (City Hospital Sunderland Trust only) Learning Disability Branch Child Branch Adult Branch (Northumbria Care Trust only) Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 3 of 20

5 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) The Practice Placements Office is located in Room M101 at Manor House, Coach Lane Campus west and has the following opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 8.30am 5.00pm Friday: 8.30am 4.30pm Further information related to Practice Placements can obtained by visiting the Practice Placements website: A map, and details of how to get to Coach Lane by bus are provided via the following websites: Organising Placements The term placement refers to those practice areas where a student will undertake patient/client care, with support and guidance from practitioners and academic staff, in order to achieve the competencies as set out in the relevant handbook/portfolio. The Practice Placements office works closely with a team of Practice Placement Facilitators (PPFs), who provide the link between Northumbria University and the relevant NHS Trust or independent sector organisation. Contact details for all PPFs can be obtained by visiting the Practice Placements website. This work assists in identifying the maximum number of students that can be allocated to any individual NHS Trust. These numbers are planned in advance and cannot be exceeded. The Practice Placements office deal with approximately 8000 student placements per year, which are spread over a wide geographical distribution of placement providers. 4. Procedures for the Arrangement of Placements The purpose of the practice placement procedure is to provide a means of dealing with all students in a systematic and objective way ensuring equity throughout the process. Students will be allocated to suitable placements throughout their programme and notified 6 weeks before commencement. This notification will be via University (personal addresses cannot be used). Each placement area is capable of taking a limited number of students at any one time. In addition to this, several intakes will be allocated to one area at any Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 4 of 20

6 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) given time. Some wards may occasionally need to cancel placements at very short notice, due to changes in service/care provision, which is beyond the control of the placement area or the University. In such cases, the placement office will endeavour to allocate the affected students to another area or Trust. Sections 4.1 to 4.5 describes the process to be undertaken by staff in the Practice Placemetns office regarding the allocation of students to practice placements (taken from the Policy and Procedure for Changing Placement Allocations ). 4.1 Extenuating Circumstances As soon as details of the placements have been released, students may request to change that placement based on any extenuating circumstances (i.e. a relative may be on the ward that the student has been placed to work). In this case, the student must complete the Extenuating Circumstances Form (obtainable from the Practice Placements Administrator) and submit to the Practice Placements office. The form must be submitted within 2 weeks of receiving the original placement allocation After this 2 week deadline, the Practice Placements office will require the support of the student s Practice Placement Facilitator and Programme Manager before a decision on any change to the placement can be made. Requests for change that originate from the student s Guidance Facilitator cannot and will not be considered, unless supported by the Programme Manager Requests from students to be allocated to a specific placement, in the absence of any extenuating circumstances, will not be accepted. 4.2 Swap Requests The student may wish to swap their placement with a fellow student (who must also be willing to swap). In this case, both students must complete and sign a Request to Swap Form (obtainable from the Practice Placements Office and available for download via the Practice Placements website*). The completed form must be received by the Practice Placements Office within the 2 weeks of the student receiving details of their original placement Students will be limited to one swap request per allocation, however, following 2 swap requests, the relevant Programme Manager will be notified, who may wish to interview the student Throughout the programme, the number of swap procedures will be monitored. Failure to disclose information that effects your placement will be referred to the Programme Manager of necessary action. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 5 of 20

7 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 4.3 Amendment to Placement Should a change to a placement occur, the student will receive a memo via the Northumbria University system. It is therefore vitally important that University is regularly checked up to the week before the placement is due to commence Should a change occur in the week before the placement is due to start, the student can expect to receive a telephone call or letter providing further instruction, from the Practice Placements Office It is unacceptable for students to swap or change their placement without prior authorisation from the relevant persons refer to 2.2. Students who do make changes to their placement allocation of their own accord may face disciplinary action. 4.4 Appeal Against Placement Should a student have concerns about a placement allocation, they should immediately contact the relevant Placement Administrator located in the Practice Placements Office (see page 4). The Placements Administrator will investigate the students complaint/request and inform the student of the outcome Should the student be unhappy at the outcome of the Placements Administrator s decision, then the student will have a Right to Appeal. Once written details of the students complaint/request have been made known to the relevant administrator, they will be forwarded to the relevant Programme Manager and the Principal Lecturer for Practice Placements. A meeting will be arranged between the parties to discuss the Appeal. The student will be notified regarding the outcome of the discussion and any necessary amendments to their placement will be made accordingly. 4.5 Branch Swaps From day one, the programme undertaken by the student is specific to the branch they opted to study. The first 12 months are classed as the students Common Foundation Programme (CFP) and the remaining 24 months are classed as the students Branch programme. For Advanced Diploma (Post Graduate) students, the first 6 months are classed as the students CFP, and the remaining 18 months are classed as the students Branch programme Should a student wish to change branch for any reason, they must complete the Branch Transfer Form - this is available from the Programme Area Office, who will process any requests received. It is important to note however that branch swaps can only take place after the student has completed year 1 of the programme (this does not apply to Advanced Diploma students). Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 6 of 20

8 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 5. Contacting the Placement Area Students are asked to make contact with their placement area at least two weeks (unless otherwise stated) before their placement is due to commence, so that they may introduce themselves and ask any pertinent questions. NB: All students are expected to arrange a pre-placement visit to the placement area this can be discussed during the initial telephone contact. We regard it as poor professional practice to expect the Practice Placement Facilitator (see 7.3) to resolve any problems on the student s behalf because the student left it too late to make contact with the placement area (eg, if contact was not made until 2 3 days before the placement is/was due to commence). On some occasions, students will be asked to visit the placement area for the purposes of holding a pre-placement discussion or induction visit. Please note, the Practice Placements office staff do not arrange off-duty rotas. 6. General Information about Placements During your programme of education we believe it is important that every student has a sense of belonging to one NHS Trust. This Trust is referred to as the Home Trust. The Practice Placements staff will always place the student within an NHS Trust that can provide the placement experience necessary for the student to complete their branch of study. If the Home Trust does not offer a necessary type of placement, the student will be allocated to gain placement experience in another NHS Trust. The chart below identifies the availability of home trusts. Listed, are the hospitals that form part of the NHS Trust, alongside any independent or charitable organisation who support the practice placement circuit. Branch Trust Associated Hospitals Adult City Hospitals Sunderland Sunderland Royal Hospital Sunderland Eye Infirmary Monkwearmouth Hospital Adult Gateshead Health Care Trust Bensham General Hospital Queen Elizabeth Hospital Adult Newcastle Hospitals Trust Freeman Hospital Hunters Moor Hospital Newcastle General Hospital Royal Victoria Infirmary Walkergate Hospital Nuffield Hospital Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 7 of 20

9 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) Adult Northumbria Health Care Alnwick General Hospital Ashington General Hospital Berwick General Hospital Hexham General Hospital North Tyneside General Hospital Wansbeck General Hospital Adult South Tyneside Health Care Palmers Community Hospital South Tyneside General Hospital Primrose Hill Child City Hospitals Sunderland Sunderland Royal Hospital Children s Centre Sunderland South Tyneside General Hospital Child Gateshead Health Care Queen Elizabeth Hospital Child Newcastle Hospitals Freeman Hospital Newcastle General Hospital Royal Victoria Infirmary Nuffield Hospital Child Northumbria Health Care North Tyneside General Hospital Child South Tyneside Health Care South Tyneside General Hospital Mental Health Mental Health Newcastle, North Tyneside & Northumberland Mental Health Trust South of the Tyne and Wearside Mental Health Trust North Tyneside General Hospital St George s Hospital St Nicholas Hospital Community and non NHS placements stretching from Berwick to Newcastle and over to Hexham Newcastle General Hospital Royal Victoria Infirmary Bensham General Hospital Dunston Hill Hospital Dryden Road Hospital Queen Elizabeth Hospital Cherry Knowle Hospital Monkwearmouth Hospital Ryhope Hospital Palmers Community Hospital South Tyneside District Hospital Learning Disabilities Northgate & Prudhoe Northgate Hospital Prudhoe Hospital Community Teams & Community Homes throughout the North East Learning Disabilities South of the Tyne and Wearside Mental Health Trust Monkwearmouth Community Teams Learning Disabilities South Tyneside Primary Care Trust Monkton Hall Hospital Community Teams Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 8 of 20

10 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 7. Placement Support The three main support routes for the student whilst on placement are as follows: Mentor and Co-Mentor Guidance Facilitator Practice Placement Facilitator (PPF) In addition, the student will be supported by their appropriate Programme Manager. For the definition of a Mentor and Co-Mentor, please refer to the Glossary of Terms in section Mentor and Co-Mentor All students must be allocated to a person who is qualified to assess them, called, a mentor. Some practice areas will allocate a second person to the student to act as a Co-mentor during times the Mentor is absent. During the placement, the mentor provides day-to-day support for the student and acts as a role model for them. Each student should be supervised by their mentor for a minimum of 50% of their time in practice. If the mentor is not available to work with or supervise the student it is the responsibility of the manager in the practice area to ensure the student works with the Co-mentor, or, another member of staff who will supervise the student. NB: If the student is aware they are being supervised or assessed by an unqualified Mentor, they must report this matter immediately to the relevant Practice Placement Facilitator. Mentors are responsible for the formative and the summative assessment of student learning. They work in partnership with their Co-mentors, lead mentors, guidance facilitators, Practice Placement Facilitators, and other colleagues within the inter-professional services that will allow students to achieve their learning outcomes. The role of the mentor is: To facilitate student learning To supervise, support and guide students To act as a credible role model for the delivery of care To safeguard the welfare of the student by ensuring that participation in care is to the student s individual level of competence Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 9 of 20

11 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) To provide support for the student in achieving broad and specific practice learning outcomes. To provide guidance to the student in formulating learning contracts To plan learning programmes with the student, specific to individual needs To assist the student to develop skills, understanding and abilities through reflection on practice To formally assess the student s achievement of learning outcomes and provide constructive feedback To provide support and assist the student in enlisting other support mechanisms To keep oneself professionally updated in terms of educational changes or reforms and communicate with personnel within the University regarding matters relating to the curriculum To encourage the student to accept responsibility for learning The student and their mentor must meet during the first week of the student commencing their practice placement, in order to discuss the student s learning needs both in relationship to their course learning outcomes and any personal learning that have been identified. This will allow an appropriate learning programme to be planned. The mentor should also ensure the student is inducted to the area which will include aspects of health and safety. The mentor can assist the student in arranging visits to appropriate areas or to spend time with appropriate members of the health care team as found in the placements areas learning zone. A copy of the learning zone and a portfolio of practice learning can be found in the Profile of Learning Opportunities, available in practice placement areas. The mentor and student should then agree set dates and times when they will meet to reflect on practice and review the student s progress, such as intermediate and final reviews. These times should be timetabled into the off-duty to give the mentor sufficient time to undertake these reviews. A copy of the Mentor Policy is available in Appendix Guidance Facilitator This is a tutor employed by the University, whose role and responsibility is to provide support and guidance to students whether they are on practice or theory components of the programme. The guidance facilitator is also responsible for seeing and signing the students placement report after every placement period. 7.3 Practice Placement Facilitator The role of the practice placement facilitator (PPF) is to ensure the quality of the learning environment meets the minimum standards set by the Professional, regulatory and statuary Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 10 of 20

12 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) bodies. In order to achieve this they must work in partnership with clinicians, programme managers, mentors and staff within the university. Broadly the role is to increase the range, quantity and quality of practice placements. Based within acute and primary care trusts across the region PPFs are able to support the needs of students and educators based within a range of settings including local authority and the independent sector. Specific stratagems include the following: To increase the range of practice placements: the PF's work with mentors to identify new opportunities and new services for student learning and to ensure placements reflect the wide range of settings in which students practice. To increase the quantity of practice placements: the PPF s work with placement providers and the practice placement office administrators to develop a systematic method of data collection with regard to the total number of placements offered and provided for Northumbria University students and for students from other universities. This data can then be used to identify current and potential capacity. To ensure quality of placement provision is being monitored, maintained and improved: The PPFs are to build on existing communication structures between mentors, and academic staff to ensure: all parties are aware of their roles and responsibilities. mentors are updated regularly on changes within the university and to the curriculum. the university remains up-to-date with changes affecting local services. To work in partnership with placement providers to measure the quality of the learning environment via the Collaborative review PPFs support mentors to develop a Profile of learning opportunities to raise awareness and utilisation of all learning opportunities within a service, with the purpose of enabling students to gain a broad range of skills. The file will include resources to support independent learning, such as access to specialist practitioners, interprofessional colleagues, library services. Details of the Practice Placement Facilitators can be found on the Practice Placements website at the address below:- Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 11 of 20

13 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 8. Clinical Procedures The School of Health, Community and Education Studies does not have any restrictions on students participation in any technical/practical procedures as long as they are under the supervision of a qualified nurse or delegated to other professionally qualified health practitioner. For further information, please refer to the policy Guidance of Level of Student Nurse Participation in Clinical Procedures policy, available through the Practice Placements Office and downloadable via the Practice Placements Website: 9. Student Evaluations All students must complete a written Evaluation Form when they have finished their placement. In addition, a group evaluation session may be organised at the end of the placement period. The information gathered is used by the Practice Placement Facilitators and the University to monitor the achievement of educational standards. This information is then returned to the Placement area staff as part of a regular review and evaluation of their learning environment. It is beneficial to all parties that the evaluation form is correctly completed and returned promptly following each practice placement. 10. Preparation for Practice All students will receive preparation for practice before attending their placement. The preparation will explore the student s responsibilities for learning at each stage of the programme and assist them in developing skills relevant for the placement. 11. Sickness Absence Please refer to the Sickness Absence Policy in Appendix Working Hours In Practice Practice placement experience will cover 7 days per week, 24 hours per day. Students will be expected to attend for early and late shifts as per the requirements of the placement area itself. Shift patterns, which should provide as varied and extensive a learning opportunity as possible, should be negotiated between the student and mentor. A normal working week is 37.5 hours (of which, 4.5 hours is theory in practice each Thursday afternoon, ie, theory in practice IS NOT to be taken at any other time), but students will be Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 12 of 20

14 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) expected to work on all shifts of the duty rota. Some areas use long day shift patterns; where this happens, the following applies: a) Students can opt not to work long days and will therefore work a 37.5 hour week (7.5 hours per day). b) If students opt to work long days, they must not work more than 75 hours in any twoweek period. But hours in total must be worked in any two-week period in order to meet the hours required. NB: Student Midwives use the theory in practice hours detailed above for EBL study days, which occur every 2 weeks during a placement. 13. Night Duty All students will be expected to carry out a period of night duty during their programme. For Nursing and Midwifery students, this will occur predominantly in year 2 for a minimum of one week. It is the student s responsibility to arrange this period of night duty in consultation with their Mentor. Student portfolios will be strictly monitored to ensure this has been adhered to. Night duty experience must not be carried out in year one of any nursing, midwifery or allied health programme. 14. Bank Holidays Bank holidays that occur during a placement are to be classed as a normal working day. The overall programme takes into account all bank holidays (ie, the student will receive 7 weeks holiday instead of 5). Should a placement area be closed during a bank holiday the day must be used for private study associated with the learning outcomes set for that placement and preferably this should be negotiated with the student s mentor. 15. Inter-professional Practice Experience Working in the practice settings may be seen as the most effective way of achieving the goal of inter-professional learning. Students will be expected to observe, participate and finally to engage in inter-professional and inter-agency work during the three-year programmes in order to meet the NMC competencies. In the practice settings, students will have opportunities to evaluate the nature of team working and their own contribution to caring for patients in an inter-professional context. The students are required to meet this specific learning outcome and to provide evidence of having achieved this. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 13 of 20

15 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) Practice environments should endeavour to support students by creating a culture in which inter-professional working is the norm rather than the exception. It is then that students will be able to work within a culture in which teams are set up as coherent, interdependent units and are sustained as such. 16. Independent Charity/Voluntary Organisations Independent Organisations are a valuable source of experiences for students. A student may be allocated to such or placement or go there for a short experience as part of the learning zones. These areas are still supported by a designated Practice Placement Facilitator. As with other placement providers these areas are subject to policies and procedures which must be adhered to. 17. Making up Time If the student does not have sufficient hours to complete the programme (i.e. those lost through sickness or absence) they are required to make up the time at the end of the programme. This is to ensure that students make up the relevant hours and type of experience in order to meet the regulations of the programme and the regulations of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Please note make up time not sanctioned through the practice placements office will not be counted towards your final hours calculation. 18. School Placements There are periods of time particularly for those students doing the child and learning disabilities branch when part of your experience may be set within schools. During this time you may find that the placement area closes for half term breaks - usually one week. During this time the student will be required to undertake a structured project. This project will be facilitated by your guidance facilitator and/or your mentor. 19. Student Behaviour Where the mentor or member of the placement team feel that the student s behaviour is inappropriate, initially, this will be discussed within the practice setting. Only where this initial discussion fails will the mentor inform the PPF there may be a problem. The PPF will then organise a meeting including all relevant people to address the issue, or invoke the risk assessment policy if necessary Unauthorised absence including non attendance Absence from the placement, such as non-attendance which has not previously been negotiated, and is not sick leave, demonstrates unprofessional behavior that reflects negatively Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 14 of 20

16 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) on the student in terms of their professional accountability, ability to communicate, show respect for others and meet the competency requirements. This should be reported to the Programme Manager immediately by the placement staff and or the Practice Placement Facilitator. It will be taken up with the student at the University and could lead to disciplinary action. Absence in terms of professional conduct should also be taken up by the student s Mentor who will expect the student to acknowledge that absence is unacceptable, apologise for their behaviour and provide assurances that the problem will not recur again Private Appointments Students will be expected to arrange these types of personal appointments during their off duty hours. Any time missed will be part of the overall make up time at the end of the programme Confidentiality Confidentiality will be maintained at all times:- Students should never discuss patients/clients outside of the placement area, particularly in public places. Any theory assignments directly related to the placement should maintain anonymity for both staff and patients/clients. Students should also think very carefully about what information is disclosed to patients/clients about themselves e.g. where they live, who they live with etc. There are situations where it is highly in appropriate to discuss any level of personal information with patients/clients please refer to a Registered Practitioner for further guidance. Students must be aware of their rights, and the rights of others (eg, members of staff, clients, relatives etc) to access information Student relationships Students should never arrange to meet patients/clients socially, either during or after the placement. The relationship between the student and the client must remain professional. Whilst students may be friendly they are not friends of the client Ambulance service Students are not permitted to spend time with Ambulance crew staff. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 15 of 20

17 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 19.6 Staff Behaviour Where it is felt by a student that a member of staff's behaviour has been inappropriate, the student must in the first instance report and discuss the matter with their Mentor/Placement Manager or Practice Placement Facilitator. If they feel this is not possible, they should inform their Guidance Facilitator, Programme Manager or the Director of Practice Placements. A copy of the University's Interim Risk Management Policy and Whistle Blowing Policy is available for download via the Practice Placements website Dress Code The Student must follow the uniform policy of the placement provider. In addition, it is expected that students will dress in a way that supports the perception of personal and professional integrity as this will have a direct effect on the nurse/client relationship and subsequent nursing care, reduce the risk of cross-infection, and maintain staff and patient/client safety. The values and religious/ cultural sensitivities of clients/patients in relation to dress should be remembered and due respect given to this, in particular when visiting their homes. In some placement areas (such as Learning Disabilities/Mental Health for example) it may be inappropriate to wear a uniform. Religious requirements regarding dress will be treated sensitively and will be agreed on an individual basis with the Programme Manager. Care must be taken to avoid dressing in such a way that could be seen as politically, culturally, ethnically or sexually provocative or inappropriate. When on a hospital placement it is normal practice not to wear a uniform outside the hospital. Whilst on community placement, students should be aware of their public appearance and may not go into shops or public houses whilst in uniform. In settings you are familiar with where uniforms are not work but students will dress informally, but smartly - please ensure the placement provides a uniform policy. Hair should be tidy but can be loose as long as it does not inhibit vision or is a risk factor for the student. Jewellery should be discreet and conservative. Earrings should be limited to one pair of studs or sleepers/small rings. Shoes should be practical i.e. no high heels/strappy unstable sandals. The following should never be worn: a. Torn, dirty, or generally untidy clothing b. Shorts or short skirts Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 16 of 20

18 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) c. Low neck blouse or T-shirts d. Anything transparent e. Long scarves around the neck f. Inappropriate (high, unstable or loose fitting) footwear g. Tight or revealing clothing If clothing is lost or damaged whilst on duty the local Trust/placement area policy should usually apply. Need to check this. Any student considered inappropriately dressed may be sent off-duty and will be reported absent until they return to duty appropriately dressed. Any such absences will need to be made up. If inappropriate dress is a persistent problem for a student, the Programe Manager will be informed which may in turn lead to disciplinary action Student Identification Photo/identity badges stating name and identification must be worn. Patient/clients have a right to know who is looking after them (Patient s Charter). To minimize risk when patient handling this is the only badge that may be worn whilst on duty. University identification cards must be carried all the time for hospital security purposes. You may also be required to hold a Trust identification card Personal Hygiene Fingernails should be clean, short, and without nail varnish to prevent clients being scratched. It is possible for a varnish chip to enter a wound and cause infection. Perfume and aftershave should be discreet and not overpowering as patients/clients can find strong smells nauseating. Hair should be clean and well groomed, and away from the face. If hair falls below the collar line it should be tied back without adornment. Sharp points e.g. in hair fastenings, ribbons, scarves and hats are a source of infection and a safety risk and are therefore not to be worn with uniform. Male students should be clean shaven, or if a beard or moustache is worn, this must be well groomed and of moderate length Jewellery / Body Piercing and Tattoos No jewellery except for wedding rings is to be worn with uniforms. Students who have ear piercing may wear a plain gold or silver stud or sleeper. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 17 of 20

19 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) Jewellery, even wedding rings, has been found to attract micro-organisms. Studs or rings through the skin can also introduce infection. Rings with stones are hazardous and can scratch patient/client; the stones may become dislodged. Jewellery that is hanging e.g. necklace, dangling earrings could be dangerous for the nurse/midwife with clients. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 18 of 20

20 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) 20. Glossary of Terms Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) A process by which individuals can claim and gain credit towards a qualification based on evidence of prior certificated learning. Accreditation requires a process of assessment of evidence of prior experiential learning in order to confirm the validity of the claim. Assessment formative Determination of the extent to which a student has achieved the learning outcomes for the programme as a whole, or a substantial part of it, but which does not contribute to a grade and/or award. Assessment summative Determination of the extent to which a student has achieved the learning outcomes for the programme as a whole, or a substantial part of it, contributing to a grade and/or award. Collaborative Review Assessment of the learning environment by appropriately qualified individuals against the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Quality Assurance Agency and Department of Health standards. Competence Describes the skills and ability to practise safely and effectively without the need for supervision. Consortium A grouping of purchasers and providers of health services which includes representatives from general practice, local authority social services and the independent and voluntary sector for workforce planning and commissioning non-medical education and training. Lead /Link Mentor An experienced mentor who facilitates communication between themselves and the Practice Placement Facilitator, to benefit the practice placement area. Mentor A mentor is a nurse, midwife or specialist community public health nurse, who facilitates learning and supervises and assesses students in a practice setting. They must have current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and will have been prepared in order to meet the NMC requirements. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 19 of 20

21 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) Co-Mentor Newly qualified nurses and midwives who have consolidated their learning from their pre-registration programme, can be a Co-Mentor, under the supervision of an experienced Mentor. Whilst undertaking the Facilitating Learning and Assessment in Practice Settings (AC631) module, they may take part in the mentorship of a student, under the supervision of a mentor who meets the requirements of the Northumbria University Mentor Policy. A mentor must confirm any assessment decisions undertaken by the Co-Mentor and ensure that student s designated Mentor countersigns documentation. In order to enable access to support/assessment it is possible that a student may have more than one mentor (holiday leave, shift pattern, period of sickness etc). The student will however have someone who is his or her designated mentor, and who will have the ultimate responsibility in the support/assessment process. The other mentors will be known as the co-mentor. NB: Based on Consultation on a standard to support learning and assessment in practice and Module AC631 guidelines. In all instances, the mentor/teacher must be registered in the same part of the register as the student they support. Menu of Learning Opportunities (MOLO) Period of practice experience designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to experience care settings that are out-with their chosen branch. Multi-professional team A team composed of members of different health and social care professionals. Portfolio of Learning and Outcomes of Assessment A record of learning and outcomes of assessment demonstrating progress in the development of knowledge, skills, attitudes and understanding relevant to the educational programme being undertaken. Practice Placement Manager The Practice Placement Manager refers to the individual who has responsibility for a ward, department, nursing home, community etc. Placement Portfolio This document contains information regarding the learning opportunities available in that placement area. Information regarding the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes relevant to the educational programmes that the practice area supports, be they pre-registration or post-registration. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 20 of 20

22 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements Information Booklet for Pre-Registration Students of Nursing & Midwifery (Sept Issue) Recordable Denotes educational programmes leading to qualifications which may be recorded on the Professional Register. Shared learning A planned approach or strategy within curricula leading to sharing of knowledge and experience between groups. Opportunities where two or more professions within and across health and social care study together (Barr 1994). Supernumerary status A student on a pre-registration nursing programme is additional to the workforce requirements and staffing establishment figures, therefore although they make a contribution to the work on their practice placement area they are not part of workforce requirements. Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 21 of 20

23 APPENDIX 1 School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements MENTOR POLICY FOR ALL NURSING AND MIDWIFERY STUDENTS In March 2003, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) changed the status of the mentorship standards from advisory to mandatory. This means that no Nurse, Midwife, or Health Visitor can mentor a student, unless they meet the requirements as set out in this policy for the following programmes: 1. Community Health Care Studies. BSc (Hons) 2. Midwifery Studies/Registered Midwife BSc (Hons) 3. Nursing Science (BSc Hons) 4. Nursing Studies/Registered Nurse/Dip HE or Advanced Dip HE (all branches) 5. Post Graduate Diploma (Adult and Mental Health branches) 6. Nursing Studies/Registered Nurse/BSc (Hons) (all branches) 7. Return to Professional Nursing Practice 8. Return to Professional Midwifery Practice In order to facilitate student learning, we need to ensure that appropriately qualified and experienced professionals assess students. This policy has been devised using the guidelines from the NMC. 1. Definition of a Mentor An appropriately qualified and experienced first or second level nurse, midwife or health visitor who has undertaken preparation to develop skills in facilitating student learning, supervising practice and assessing the student level of attainment related to the student outcomes of the programme. They should also provide guidance and support. In order to achieve this they must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the content of the student learning experience. 2. Criteria to be a mentor In order to be a mentor you must meet the following criterion: Be a first or second level nurse, midwife or health visitor with current NMC Registration Have completed at least twelve months full time post-qualifying experience (or equivalent part-time) and completed their period of preceptorship Have completed at least one of the following programmes of preparation:- * Northumbria University modules PP126 and PP127 * APEL process against the outcomes of Modules PP126 and PP127 * AC631- Facilitating Learning and Assessment in Practice Settings * Advanced Diploma/Degree in Practice Education * ENB 997/998 * Completed an approved UNN 2 day workshop, as a qualified practitioner prior to * City & Guilds 730/7307 * D32/33 * Completed a one day UNN approved Mentor Workshop after May 2004 and before September * Participate in regular updating to demonstrate mentor development in line with required standards at least every two years. In addition to the above, other qualifications may be deemed suitable following discussion. Your Practice Placement Facilitator will advise. Document Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 1 of 2

24 APPENDIX 1 3. Role of the Mentor The role of the mentor is multi-faceted and includes the following as minimum guidelines: Communication and working relationships enabling: The development of effective relationships based on mutual trust and respect An understanding of how student integrate into practice settings and assisting with this process The provision of ongoing and constructive support for students Facilitation of learning in order to: Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the student s programme to identify current learning needs Demonstrate strategies which will assist with the integration of learning from practice and educational settings Create and develop opportunities for student to identify and undertake experience to meet their learning needs. Assessment in order to: Demonstrate a good understanding of assessment and ability to assess Implement approved assessment procedures Role Modelling in order to: Demonstrate effective relationships with patients and clients Contribute to the development of an environment in which effective practice is fostered, implemented, evaluated and disseminated. Assess and manage clinical developments to ensure safe and effective care. Creating an environment for learning in order to: Ensure effective learning experience and the opportunity to achieve learning outcomes for student by contributing to the development and maintenance of a learning environment Implement strategies for quality assurance and quality audit. Improving Practice in order to: Contribute to the creation of an environment in which change can be initiated and supported. A knowledge base in order to: Identify, apply and disseminate research findings within the area of practice. Course development which: Contributes to the development and / or review courses. If you require any further information please contact your practice placement facilitator or your question to hs.hces-mentors@unn.ac.uk. References Nursing and Midwifery Council (2002) Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of Nursing and Midwifery NMC Nursing and Midwifery Council (2003) NMC QA Fact sheet 0/2003 Document Last Updated 19 July 2005 Page 2 of 2

25 APPENDIX 2 School of Health, Community and Education Studies Practice Placements SICKNESS ABSENCE POLICY (NEEDS TO BE UDPATED, VIA SUE MOORE) 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. This policy sets out the rules and procedures which apply to the notification of sickness absence: the potential effects on course completion and bursary payments and any necessary subsequent action by Programme Managers and Guidance Facilitators This policy is not concerned with unauthorised absence. Such absence will be dealt with under the provisions of the UNN Disciplinary Procedure. 2. GENERAL POLICY 2.1. All students are required to notify their absence owing to sickness and to produce where required, evidence of incapacity (see 3.2) Failure to comply with notification or evidence of incapacity could result in the loss of bursary payments and disciplinary action, including discontinuation from the course Guidance Facilitators and Course Leaders will monitor the sickness absence of individual students and in accordance with the pattern and level of sickness of these individuals, will initiate and follow procedures relating to persistent short term sickness and long term sickness absence (see 3.7). 3. POLICY PROVISIONS 3.1 Notification Students are required to notify either personally or through a relative or friend, their absence owing to sickness before 10AM by contacting the School Administration Office at Coach Lane Campus (messages can be left on ) AND, when on placement, the person in charge of the ward or equivalent. When notifying such absence, students are required to give the following information: i. full name ii. Programme/branch and month/year of cohort iii. Current unit and (if appropriate) current placement iv. Date of first day of incapacity v. Estimate how long they think they will be absent If a student does not attend placement for a planned span of duty, the practice staff should contact the School s dedicated telephone-answering ( ) service for sickness related messages Seconded students in addition need to adhere to the relevant Trust Policy Evidence of Incapacity If a student is absent for more than three working days, then on the fourth day, he/she must again notify the Administration Office and Practice Placement (if appropriate), giving further details of the nature and probable duration of their illness. Document Last Updated July 2004 Page 1 of 3