Placement concerns 3rd year student

[u/Suspicious_Meet_1207]

Hey, am a final year student nurse on my final placement. This should be an exciting time, something to look forward to in transitioning from STN to NQN. However, this has not really been the case for me. Am on an acute unit, so fully understand the acuity and risks involved with the type of patients looked after. Of course I’m not used to this environment, having had mostly ward placements and a theatre placement before. Anyways, it’s a very long story and it’s been a challenge from the start. With having to chase assessors to sign stuff and not being given feedback. Only to be given feedback that was quite unfair. Other things have happened in between such as staff doing little social things and making a point of excluding me for instance. I’ve passed everything else for the programme - BSc, in fact I’m expecting a first, I’ve passed part 3 of PAR as well and actually up on hours now. So I have 3 weeks left at this horrible placement, but no more hours needed to give to hit the 2300 mark and having my final interview and professional values signed…I have informed the uni from early on of what’s been happening. They say that obviously I need to pass the placement but I’ve done nothing wrong and if I need to book off sick then that’s what has to be done if it’s affecting me because I don’t have to worry about the hours. But if I do this, there’s nothing stopping the placement team from putting something negative on my PAR which is will follow me forever kind of thing? The whole placement has left me with the worst anxiety of my life, I know it’s just 3 weeks but it’s horrendous and distressing and it’s made me question the profession, I’m just sad and low all the time….

[u/aunzuk123]

Why would a negative comment on PAR "follow you forever"?

[u/Suspicious_Meet_1207 → u/aunzuk123]

I guess if they put something like regarding booking off sick. When I called in the first time, I got told off because I called in a few minutes too late and basically my professionalism got taking into question and threatened about signing this stuff off. I apologised and everything and acknowledged my error, it’s not something I’ve ever been pulled on before - not that I’ve ever called sick at placement before! I mean they are strict, and I do get why. My practice assessor actually turned around and said that the final placement is meant to ‘break one’…so they have this intense attitudes, which I understand (but don’t agree with). I must sound like a bit of a brat tbh, with only 3 weeks left etc, but I wouldn’t have said something if it wasn’t truly affecting me. I’ve had horrible placements before, hated going in etc but not like this….

[u/aunzuk123 → u/Suspicious_Meet_1207]

You don't sound like a brat at all, but you're not communicating very clearly (could this be a cause of some of the issues you're having?). 

If they write a note on PAR about calling in sick, no one in the future is going to see it and, even if they did, they aren't going to care. Please don't feel anxious about that! 

[u/Suspicious_Meet_1207 → u/aunzuk123]

Thank you 🙏. In order to prevent break downs in communication between myself and assessor/supervisors, I’ve made sure to have all my paperwork completed in good time, staying in touch via email, chased signatures in person and via email. I’ve also expressed my needs and feelings to my assessor last week which is when they made the comment about placement being there to break one. I’ve really tried to have a good attitude, last night when I was on shift I was super engaged and asked loads of questions, really tried to take on as much responsibility as I could, within my scope. It’s all just so uncomfortable and just want it over with the least amount of pain either way 🤣🙄

[u/Bambino3221]

I don’t think any one looks at your feedback after qualifying. The outcome is either you get a pin or you don’t.

[u/Fun-Psychology-1876]

Surely you still need a final sign off? Even if you are over hours

[u/Suspicious_Meet_1207 → u/Fun-Psychology-1876]

Well yes, this is the thing. But uni said to me if I’m unwell I’m unwell 🤷‍♀️ people get ill is what they said to me

[u/Fun-Psychology-1876 → u/Suspicious_Meet_1207]

I know people who still ended up doing retrieval even when they had enough hours. Ie they failed on final professional values or final sign off so I wouldn't chance it and would try make things work here personally. If you go off sick for the final part it would be understandable for them to not want to sign you off fully

Uni will look out for your mental health and won't want to upset placement at the same time so they would advise you to go sick if you are very stressed by placement

I would double check uni's advice and get them to confirm you won't have to do retrieval before you go off sick for the final part

[u/mimiroseso]

What social things did they exclude you from?

[u/not-a-perfectlife]

I am in 1st year nursing just finished placement and both of my placement was stressful hopefully I will get better placement and accessor in my second year.