Ward 10 – Student Nurse Orientation
Welcome to Ward 10
Ward 10 is a 24 bed surgical ward sub specialising in colorectal surgery. Patients
are admitted from the waiting list, from the outpatient clinics, as urgent referrals from
GPs, Consultants and Specialist Nurses and transferred through from the surgical
emergency receiving ward. The age range and dependency of the patients varies greatly
offering a wide range of nursing experience. The average length of stay for patients is
approximately 8 days. The registered nursing staff are each allocated a caseload of
patients for the shift and try to work with that group of patients where possible for
several days to provide continuity of care. The morning ward rounds commence at 8am
with the registrars returning for an afternoon round at approximately 5pm. The
consultants come around on an ad hoc basis throughout the week but on Friday morning
following their CPC meeting there is a ward 7 team meeting followed by a ‘Grand
Round’.
Ward 10 currently operates a 3 shift system with all registered staff working
Early shift – 0700-1500
Late shift - 1300-2100
Night shift - 2030-0730
Off-duty requests can be made in the off-duty request book kept at the nurses station.
Guidelines from the University of Dundee for student off duty are:Year 1 & 2 – 2 late shifts per week
2 weekends per short (5-6wk) placement
4 weekends per long (10-12wk) placement
Year 2
- Night duty is 70 hours ( 7 nights over 2 weeks)
Year 3
- May be rostered to work 2 out of 4 weekends.
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Please be advised it is not permitted for students to work more than 5 days in one week
in order to have a longer period of time off. If Abertay students are making up time then
there are guidelines on the maximum number of hours that can be worked in a week in
order to protect the health and wellbeing of students.
Notification of Sickness/Absence
Please follow University guidelines for contacting School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The clinical placement will also contact the University and leave a voicemail informing
them of your absence.
Students cannot choose to make up sick time on current
placements – this is calculated by the University.
Study Time
If you have study days allocated by the University please show your mentor your letter
and the off duty will be altered accordingly. Only study time approved by the University
will be granted on the clinical placement.
Senior Clinical Staff in Ward 10
Senior Charge Nurse:
Jess Malcolm
Charge Nurses:
Jenny Brown
Reagan Gray
Consultant Surgeons:
Mr. K. Campbell
Ms. S. Koch (based in PRI)
Mr. M. Lavelle-Jones (part time)
Mr. C. Payne,
Mr. D. Smith
Prof. R. Steele
Mr. C. Vijayaseker
Ms. Z Vujovic
Ms. D. Ziyae
Mentors
Your will be allocated 2 mentors for your placement as all our staff work day/night
rotation. We aim for you to work with your mentors as much as possible but if they are
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not available you will work with another registered member of the team. It is acceptable
for you to work 3 shifts per week with your mentor.
Your Mentors are:
Learning Opportunities in Ward 10
You should discuss with your preceptor what you hope to gain from this placement and
make a plan of how this will be achieved. The following are examples of the learning
opportunities that can be experienced in ward 10.
1. Patient Admission:
Participate in the pre-admission assessment clinic
Become competent in working with the core data documentation
2. Pre-Operative Care
Develop knowledge and skills relating to the management of patients
Undergoing a range of surgical procedures.
3. Contribute to the ongoing nursing assessment of patients.
Demonstrate competence in use of SEWS chart, MUST, Pressure Ulcer
Prevention and assessment etc.
4.
Post-operative Care
Develop knowledge and skills relating to the management of patients
Following major surgery – includes management of Airway, Breathing,
Circulation, Wound Management, Fluid Replacement, Monitoring, Pain
Management.
5. Pain Management
Includes oral analgesia, PCA, PCEA
6. Develop knowledge and skills relating to care of stomas
7. Care of the patient in end of life.
8. Discharge Planning.
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There will be opportunities to undertake a wide range of clinical skills and work closely
with colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team. Specialist teams who work closely
with the ward team are:
Colorectal Specialist Nurses
Dietician
Acute Pain Team
Occupational Therapists
Hospital Acute Palliative Care Team
Physiotherapists
Diabetic Specialist Nurse
Social Work Dept
District Nursing Staff
Pharmacist
Following discussion with your mentor there may be opportunities to visit X-Ray,
Endoscopy and Theatres but this placement is primarily to gain experience in the acute
surgical ward.
Developing Experience
On coming to the ward we appreciate you may be apprehensive and find the
terminology and workload overwhelming. We do not expect you to know everything
but hope that you will take advantage of the many learning opportunities that will arise
during your placement. For year 3 nurses who are undergoing their management
placements we aim to prepare you for the role of the staff nurse and expect that by the
time you leave us you will be competent in taking responsibility for a group of patients
(with support and supervision from registered staff) and in communicating with the
wider multi disciplinary team.
We hope that you find your time in ward 10 informative and enjoyable. Please do not
hesitate to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your mentor or any
member of the nursing team.
SCN J Malcolm
Reviewed September 14
Review Date September 15
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Orientation Check List
Please complete the following during your first week in placement
Student Nurse
Signature & Date
Telephone
Cardiac Arrest & Fire – 2222 – state ward &
hospital.
Bleeping a member of staff
Switchboard & how to transfer calls
Fire Procedures:
Locate fire points
Locate extinguishers
Locate fire exits
Knowledge of ward layout
Location of emergency buzzers
Location of Resus Trolley & contents
Outside ward 10
Location of ward emergency box
Use of Nurse Call System
Use of oxygen and location of mobile cylinders
Use of suction and location of portable suction
Location of Policy Folders
Location of Medical Staff Offices
Location of Ward Secretaries
Location of Operating Theatres
Location of Pharmacy
Location of Blood Fridge
Identify Learning Needs and Set Objectives
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Mentor
Signature & Date
How Are You Doing?
Preliminary Interview
Date:
Signature_______________________
Intermediate Interview
Date:
Signature ______________________
Final Interview
Date:
Signature ______________________
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