Anxious about Work placement

Does anyone know what the minimum hrs are they have to give you on PPT? I dont start for 2 weeks and i forgot to ask.

I hope you get in fast and can start working asap.

As for the feeling of queezyness, I am an RN1 in Aged Care, I've been a nurse for 10 years, but still get very nauseated at the smell of adult poo and can't be around it when the carers are changing their residents, even the skips gross me out.

The carers don't get what my problem is, but I guess everyones sensory system is different, and some things gross people out that doesnt gross others out.

Don't let it put you off though. It's a very rewarding career! Good luck!

hello carol. im currently doing a cert 111 in aged care and a cert 11 home and community care dual certificate, it gives you more qualifications and options for work...are you able to do the home and community care one ?
im in victoria and it gives me the choice of working either in an aged care facility or in home care, or even in hostels etc ...both privately or council run organisations.
just an idea that may help you with your work options.

Hello Said..That question has come up in a previous post, when someone was hoping to do their hours in community service.. On my placement we did half our hours on the pm shift which is a different world to the am shift. We did get a taste of both world,. but to be honest do your placemen do the day shift. Do have some annual leave coming up, that is all I can suggest to you or take unpaid leave.

Good that all is going well for you Carol and your shifts sound ideal.. I prefer the arvo shifts as well still busy, and challaging especially if you are working with dementia residents.. But to do workplacement as a student you do learn more in the am shift..

Most of the staff have been really good so far but there are a few that are not good to work with at all. One yelled down the corridor the other night to me and a trainee that 'we need to hurry up as there's heaps to do' thing is it was only 8.30 and your not meant to start night pad changes till then anyway. I just find her nitpicking at the littlest things. Ive heard other staff complain about her. I just found her yelling like that really rude and unnecessary.Its not like it was 9pm and we hant even started pad changes. If she does it again,should i say something? I was reading the staff minutes in the staff room the other day and it was mentioned that there's been reports by new staff saying they're being bullied. The other night me and a trainee had to do all the pad changes and the tea run while the 2 other ladies fart assed around on the computers. tht just really annoys me as other staff have been great and everyone/s meant to share the workload. The trainee i worked with told me the other night her and agency were made to do it all as well while the other 2 did god knows what.

Carol...I am not defending the fat arses but maybe this could be another perspective to things -

1) Sometimes, we start our rounds early...including medications because we anticipate that it make take a little bit longer to get to the bottom of the barrel. This is common when I note some pts deteriorating or has had an acute history that is not fully resolved and would impact the normal routine if we need to provide additional attention. In cases like this, I would have my team give out some medications earlier. By that I mean medications that are once daily or are sufficiently spaced between the last dose if BD or tds. Sometimes, even with an early start we can fall behind.

2) For every shift, some of us have to log into the computer and assign cost for funding purposes or for management to chart the development of the workload. In cases like this, again I would assign or be assigned to "work" the computers whilst others do progress notes or man the floor.

There will always be a bully on the floor and I am sorry to hear that your place seems to have more than its fair share. I think a lot of people are a product of their environment. I remember working in age care and the pace is forever on the go. Management says use the hoist and etc but staff continue to use unauthorised lift methods. I think the problem stems from two sources. Firstly, the RN in charge is not forceful to push for equipment to be used whilst at the same time advocate for more staffing if required to execute the workload within a specified time frame, all safety concerns taken into account. We knew back then if we use the hoist, we would not be able to complete our work on time and management knows it but turns a blind eye. As far as they are concern, its the money they make that counts.

Secondly staff, especially those who have been there too long to be remembered, tend not to change their habits. So the pressure mounts for recruits and trainees and newbies to follow or get stuck with needles like a pin cushion,

Work at your own pace and be safe. Do the right thing and if the oldies complain, stick them with a report to management in writing plus keep a copy. Management would be compelled to initiate some changes because already there is a black and white c/o of non compliance. Because they get audited annually, they must show prove that they have taken action. You might need alliances within the place, so that you have a chorus of voices on this. Good luck Carol

Heya Carol, Remember to be safe. PCA and AIN work can be pretty physical and the last thing you want to have is a back injury...simply because from then on...its only downhill. I know a lot of AINs and PCAs who injure their backs OVER time. They usually get away with 10 to 20 lifts but the muscles get strained bit by bit and then it gives..by then its too late. Hate to see you bullied into doing things you feel uncomfortable. I think you are spot on when you made up your mind to follow the plan.

When I gave the example of giving medications, I meant for it to apply laterally too..lol. I do night shifts and we have pad change rounds which i help an EEN do. Again if we foresee a heavy round, we push forward some of these pad changes by an hour or so. It might sound silly because the next pad round would probably be over saturated but we always hand over to the morning shift that we have done things a bit early so that they know to move their pad rounds up by 1/2 hour to even things up a bit...lol.

I am impressed that you are chasing your studies and enjoying your work...good on you. I always have this myopic idea that I am the only stale cheese on the block (mature aged student) chasing a nursing qualification and all the more so, being MALE...lol. People like you restores my faith in humanity for willing to uproot their stable lives to do something so altruistic.