STUDENT OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE Great North Children s Hospital and New Victoria Wing are home to the department of paediatric and teenage oncology. This consists of a children s inpatient unit (Ward 4), Teenage inpatient unit (TCU) and an outpatients/day unit for all oncology patients (Ward 14). This department allows second and third year students to gain many skills during their time on placement. Students are welcome to come for a pre-placement visit and this is possibly an opportunity to meet your mentor and associate mentor, who has been allocated to you. Ward 4 and the Teenage Cancer Unit care for children and teenagers from birth to 19 years at diagnosis. They have a variety of oncological problems, including leukaemia, solid tumours and brain tumours. The patient s on the ward are admitted to undergo chemotherapy and for treatment to combat the side effects of the chemotherapy. Ward 14 day unit is situated opposite the ward and cares solely for children s and teenagers with oncology and haematology conditions. It also runs the outpatient service for this patient group with clinics running Monday to Friday. Ward 14 is an open access unit, and deals with planned and emergency admissions. A multidisciplinary approach is taken towards the care given, in which the early input from the team is valued to ensure effective individual care. During your time in the department there will be an opportunity to liase / work with other members of the team. You may already have your off duty written for you and we try to ensure that at least 50% of the week is with your mentor, the remainder will be with another allocated member of staff or your associate mentor.
Ward 4/TCU Shift Patterns Early: 07.30 15.30 (30 mins break) Late: 12.30 20.00 (30 mins break) Long day 07.30 20.00 (2 x 30 mins break) Night Shift 19.30 08.00 (2 x 30 mins break) All students are expected to work 7 ½ hour shifts for the first 6 weeks of their placement as these optimises learning opportunities. You will be required to work nights and weekends as part of your placement as this will give you a good overview of the ward. Off-duty requests can be made and discussed with your mentor. Ward 14 Shift Patterns Ward 14 day unit is open between 08.30-18.30 Monday to Thursday and 08.30 18.00 on Fridays. Full time staff tend to work 4 shifts a week; a students shift patterns will be negotiated with their mentor and the respond to the available learning opportunities. Sickness You must report any sickness or absence from work to the nurse in charge of the ward as soon as possible, similarly with reporting back to work. It is accepted practice to regularly update your ward Sister / mentor with any developments regarding your sickness period e.g. estimated length of absence when known. Infectious illnesses should be reported, initially to your ward Sister / mentor and then if necessary to occupational health. For instance anyone suffering from diarrhoea must not return to work for at least 48 hours following his or her last episode. The University also needs to be informed as per their student sickness policy. Uniforms The uniform policy is situated on the Trust Intranet, and in your Student Handbook. General tidiness and neatness is well accepted in nursing.
Recommended practice is that decorative jewellery should not be worn; this includes wristwatches, necklaces and all rings (except plain wedding type bands), particularly those which are patterned or have stones. This is particularly relevant in paediatric oncology where careful hand washing is the key to infection control. For this reason, nail polish or false nails should never be worn at work. Security Entrance and exit doors to the units are locked and are accessible by swipe entry using staff ID card. This is for the safety of all children, families and staff on the wards. Parents and visitors gain access by ringing the buzzer and waiting to be allowed entry using the door release at the nurses' station. Identification must be sought before access is allowed. Student identification badges MUST be displayed on your person at all times whilst on the hospital premises. Safety You have a responsibility to complete the Trust Incident form should you witness or be informed of any accident / incident / complaint. This documentation is now electronic and is accessed using the Trust intranet, it is known as Datix. The person reporting the incident is individually responsible for ensuring that each copy of the form reaches the relevant safety representative within the specified time frame. You are also responsible for the safe storage of any equipment involved so that it can be identified and retained for safety inspection. Your mentor will assist and guide you through this procedure. We hope that you enjoy your placement within the oncology department and if there is any other information we can provide you with prior to your placement please contact the unit on 0191 282 6004 (Ward 4) or 0191 282 6014 (Ward 14). You will be given an extended POLO on arrival to the unit.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS TEAM MEMBERS WHO CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES Use of the telephone: - Making / answering calls Ring back / transferring calls Ward clerks Support workers Bleep system Use of ward computer: - Patient blood results Hospital Intranet Internet access and email Communication including the use of play / recreation with: - Patients Doctors Ward clerks IT department Nursery nurses/hospital Play Specialists Parents / carers / families Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) working: - communication with: Ward & Day Unit nursing staff Medical staff Paediatric Oncology Outreach Team Sargent social work team Other MDT members Examples of team members: - Dietician Pharmacist Physiotherapist Occupational therapist Dentist Chaplain
Other directorate wards / departments MDT Directorate Management Team meetings: - see ward weekly calendar Patient Placement: - Admission / discharge Allocation of beds Use of cubicles - 'traffic light system' Doctors Ward clerks Patient transfer within directorate Patient transfer to local hospital Recording observations: - BP / Temp / Pulse / Resps Height / weight Blood glucose Oxygen saturation Urinalysis Patient hygiene: - Mouth care Skin care / doctors Pharmacy Tissue viability Pressure care Fluid balance and nutrition: - Accurate chart recording Monitor fluid intake Monitor output of waste, catheter care Support staff Nursery nurses Dietician
Monitor dietary intake, use of TPN and nasogastric tubes Giving and checking of medications: Oral, S/C, I/M. I/V Care of peripheral / central venous devices Patients / parents / carers Doctors Pharmacy Aseptic technique Accessing IV devices and blood taking Administration of blood products Infection control: - Isolation of patients Barrier nursing Trust / Unit policies Infection control Hand washing Pathophysiological process: - Infection Screening - specimen collection Source of infection Transmission Treatment Doctors Microbiology Pharmacy Infection control Normal / disturbances in electrolyte balance
Moving and handling: - Use of aids and devices Medical devices: - E.g. Syringe drivers, infusion pumps ward nurse facilitators Occupational / physiotherapist Nurse Support workers Legal and ethical: - E.g. rights of the child, child protection, parental responsibility Family centred care, partnership Doctor Nurse Nursery nurse Consent - theatre, investigations Preparation for the above Specific needs for teenagers and young people
Health Care Professional - Student Outcomes: Child and Adolescent (CA) Haematology/Oncology Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Nurse Practitioners Date of Visit: During the allocated time spent with the Nurse Practitioners, the student will discuss the objectives that they would like to achieve. What do you expect from the day (please complete before attending): Preparation for the day : Access the online Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Study Guide via the learning zone on the trust intranet homepage and read through it. Furthermore, at the end of the placement visit the student will: Outcome Understanding Discussion Understand the role and function of the CA HSCT Nurse Practitioner What patient group is the focus of the CA HSCT Nurse Practitioner Understand the difference between autologous and allogeneic transplantation. Develop an understanding of the patient/family transplant journey.
Have an appreciation of the philosophy of this Specialist service Philosophy of care Working with the multidisciplinary team within all care settings Appropriate preparation for the child and families pre and post transplant. Reflect upon their own practice within the Speciality Application of theory into everyday practice and using the process of reflective practice Have an understanding of linking theory with practice Using evidence based practice Application of clinical guidelines to drive practice forward
Discussion Points Comments Name of student: Signature of student: Name of Nurse Practitioner: Signature of Nurse Practitioner:
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM Occupational Therapy Radiology Speech Therapists Nursery Nurses Hospital Play Specialists Support & Domestic Staff Child Protection Clerical & Secretarial Chaplaincy Children's Community Nurses Clinical Nurse Specialist NURSES WARD 4 TCU WARD 14 DOCTORS CLIC Social Care Team Tissue Viability Physiotherapy Dietician Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nurses Stoma & Local District Continence Community General Advisor Therapy Radiotherapy Hospitals Child and Teenage Oncology Services Review March 2012 PICU GP Teenage Cancer Trust Charitable Organisations Psychologist Psychiatrist School College University Other Wards & Departments