STUDENT EXPERIENCES IN THE REAL WORLD OF NURSING

Awareness is much more important than money I find it hard to see how posting a photo of yourself without make-up is noteworthy. However, as a campaign that got attention and raised funds, it was highly successful. It is just sad that so many women felt it was such a big deal to photograph themselves without make-up, and one can only hope that, just before they took the photo, they checked their breasts – because that would save more lives than the money raised. Awareness is key – CoppaFeel! is an excellent example of an innovative, fresh charity that is encouraging young women to take charge of their health. Kate Tantam is a research and education sister in critical care at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth

Trivial and vain, but worth it for the awareness There is no doubt that posting selfies on Facebook in an attempt to appear attractive, or show off some kind of cultural capital, is trivial. But turning the selfie into something altruistic by raising awareness of cancer has to be a positive move, and the fact that a donation to Cancer Research UK was attached is crucial. Otherwise it could just be an indulgence of vanity behind the facade of doing good. I posted one of these myself on Facebook. It got a lot of ‘likes’, but I am sure that is just because it made everybody else look good! Florence Winterflood is a healthcare assistant at Royal Sussex County Hospital

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Starting out

AN AWKWARD TALK ABOUT PREGNANCY KEPT ME FROM BEING JUDGEMENTAL My first placement in my first year as a nursing student was on a short-stay surgical ward. One of the patients I helped to care for was a 17-year-old girl who was experiencing an incomplete miscarriage, meaning not all of the pregnancy tissue had been miscarried. Shadowing the staff nurse in charge of the patient’s care, I observed as the nurse gained consent from the patient and her partner to discuss her situation; this was the patient’s third miscarriage which, along with her young age, was causing some concern. During the conversation, it was vital that the staff nurse and I did not lecture the patient, or come across as invasive or judgemental. This meant avoiding making assumptions about the patient, and recognising  and respecting   her choices. We looked at her medical and nursing notes to familiarise ourselves with her history, and to make sure we were aware of any family issues before we spoke to her. When we approached the patient, we aimed for the conversation not to be formal – as more of a chat, it appeared to make her feel more comfortable and enabled her to open up more confidently. Following a detailed discussion, it became apparent that the pregnancy was unplanned. The staff nurse therefore decided to discuss the different methods of contraception available to help prevent another unplanned pregnancy. We also spoke about the patient’s plans for the future, including her career aspirations and her relationship with her boyfriend and her family. This seemed ALAMY

providing information about the signs and symptoms of cancer while getting people involved in donating. Stephanie Cumming is a newly qualified staff nurse on an acute medical unit in Coventry

to be uplifting for the patient, giving her something   to work towards. As the miscarriage was incomplete, the nurse talked the patient and her partner through the medical and surgical options, including the side effects. She chose the medical management approach of vaginally administered tablets to induce miscarriage. The patient also said she had tried contraception before – both the pill and the Nexplanon implant inserted in the upper arm – but had stopped them because they were unsuitable for her. We gave her the option of Depo-Provera, an injection that gives   12 weeks protection, and she was happy   with this choice. As I had never had a discussion like this before, I felt slightly on edge and unprepared. But during the conversation with the patient and her partner, I began to understand and appreciate the reasons for their behaviour, and empathised with them. Reflection showed me how important it is to adopt a non-judgemental attitude towards patients when delivering person-centred care. This is particularly important with vulnerable patients, such as this young girl, who may not have opened up to us and talked honestly had she felt that she was being judged. This is a valuable lesson I will take with me throughout my training and career. Lucy Watson is a first-year nursing student at the University of Salford, Manchester

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Starting out - an awkward talk about pregnancy kept me from being judgemental.

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