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Original poster

Nightmare placement. I need some help please, I don't know what to do.

26 replies

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 01/05/2009 22:53

I'm a healthcare student, I'm training at three hospitals which are all connected together. I'm having a stretch at Uni before I go back on placement but I don't know if I can put up with the bullying that is going on towards some of the students from the staff.
I have had complaints made about me that are unfounded from a member of staff to the course leader, saying that I argue with patients, do unnecessary repeats of procedures without asking the staff first and have been making up my own techniques rather then follow guidelines. I am really annoyed as none of this is true. I do feel really awkward going back, I have tried to talk to the Uni, their response is to continue doing what I am, things will get better next year. I think it's only 2 members of staff out of 25ish but I see this as bullying. I have had one of them say to me before that something I did was 'OK considering', these two are regularly down my throat and I can't work in an environment like this. I have time to make up from being ill so I have to go back for a couple of weeks next month but I don't think I can face it, I can't move anywhere else as I don't have transport but if they contact the Uni again and indicate that I am unsafe then I could get sent to a suitability pannel and could loose my place on the course.
I really don't know what to do. Thanks for any help.

OP posts:
FairLadyRantALot · 01/05/2009 22:57

oh difficult one...were you able to pinpoint them on comments...i.e. ask....friendly... what they mean by that and how you could change and all that....if thy can't back it up it's all bull and insecurity, if they can give it some thought and consideration and find out more....

wrinklytum · 01/05/2009 23:04

Do you have a placement facilitator linked to both Uni/hospital?

Could you see them?

Have you been allocated a mentor?

Could you speak to the ward charge nurse in private about how you are feeling?

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 01/05/2009 23:10

My tutor said there are 2 sides so I told him my side, I've worked in a hospital before so know how to behave with the patients. I really have no idea what they were going on about, I'm wracking my brains. I did do an x-ray that I shouldn't have done though I did ask 2 different staff before and it would have ment a lower dose to the patient. The Uni just seem to do nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 01/05/2009 23:13

There's no mentor, I've seen one of the facilitators, he also agrees to do nothing

It's a radiography department so no charge nurse. The vast majority of them are lovely, there's 2 that change the atmosphere so everyone's on edge. The uni recieved a complaint about the other older student aswell, saying he didn't respect the younger female staff and didn't listen to them.

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wrinklytum · 01/05/2009 23:22

I think it would be best to take a diplomatic route.I would see if you could make an appointment to see the manager of the people in question and say that you were put in a position where you were unsure of the correct procedure,that you asked two members of staff but there must have been a misunderstanding and x y z happened.Ask if you could see the policy or how you should have gone about doing xyz.Ask if you could maybe send day shadowing someone,so that in future you could be absolutely sure you were doing the correct thing.

It is hard sometimes being a student.If I mentor anyone I try to put them at ease and explain stuff.Sometimes people forget how hard it is being a student,especially in a busy and stressful environment.

wrinklytum · 01/05/2009 23:31

I remember having a really horrible mentor once.She took against me because I was a "Degree nurse",and apparently we don't clear up shite sick and pee,nevermind that I had been doing this regularly without a peep (I wouldn't say boo to a goose as a student.)It was hell but I kept my head down until next placement and thankfully a great mentor.Sadly there are assholes in all walks of life.I vowed I would never ever treat a student like that.

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 01/05/2009 23:32

I don't think even saying I did the wrong thing would sort these two out to be honest. The complaint as a whole makes me look dangerous/reckless if you see where I'm coming from. There's no way in hell I'd repeat x-rays without asking them or make up my own way of doing things, nor would I argue with a patient. We are supposto check the requests with the patient before we do them, which I did. When I said the doctor wants your right.... x-raying, he said 'but my left......is painful' so I queried it with the radiographer. She came into the room and spoke to him and he said it was his right.... I appologised and said I misunderstood, in no way was this arguing or accusing him of stretching the truth. Patients do tell fibs sometimes, they can get confused so we're supposto check these things. I just have no idea why she would say I argued with him.

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Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 01/05/2009 23:35

They have a kitty to buy sweets with, I was told by one that students don't pay into the kitty as we earn shite, they I 'borrowed' a jelly baby and was told off by another ('you're not allowed to eat those if you have not paid'). It's rediculous. I'm waiting to be diagnosed with MS too so I see this going down like a lead balloon. I'd never treat a student like this either.

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wrinklytum · 01/05/2009 23:45

That is difficult.Is it an official complaint against you? wHAT ABOUT THE OTHER STUDENT?It is a shame if you both feel there is a serious question of bullying.Maybe you could both go to see your university facilitator and put in writing both of the issues you have faced if it is from the same people.Trusts have an anti bullying policy (OR SHOULD DO).dO YOU HAVE ABNY KIND OF UNION REPRESENTATION? (cANT REMEMBER IF STUDENTS CAN JOIN A UNION).Strength in numBers and all that if it is happening to several of you.TBH a quiet word with line manager seeing both of you may be first point of call if you get no joy from the Uni and you feel seriously aggrieved by it all.HTH.

wrinklytum · 01/05/2009 23:49

You poor thing re MS.How awful.No wonder you are feeling stressed.Do the uni know what stress you are under?Could you take a bit of time out whilst you have so much personal stuff going on?

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 01/05/2009 23:55

I'm with UNISON and the SoR. I am pissed off, I'm worried what they will say to the uni about me after I've made up the time I need to do though. My personal tutor didn't say much, just reiterated (sp?) what I've been doing, which is basically telling me the correct procedures in placement (I'm doing this anyway), ie, getting a qualified member of staff to check the x-ray before sending the patient off. He also gave me a booklet on how the Uni gets rid of incompetent students which makes me . He did seem to agree that I'd been following radiological protection in what I was doing. They all seem to have the opinion that 1styears have a tough time yet they don't seem prepared to do anything about it. The other student was pissing the staff off to be honest. He's not use to working with other people so they were right in saying this. He just can't see it.

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wrinklytum · 02/05/2009 00:00

Do you have a university tutor who is involved with pastoral care,i.e who is sort of there to look after students but not in an educational way,if that makes any sense?

Giving you a booklet on incompetent students????????Not helpful!

DO the uni know about your health issues?In some respects they do have a duty of care to support you

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/05/2009 00:02

I don't need time off, I'm hardly at Uni. I have told them I'm having some tests, they have known I have post viral fatigue (which it probably isn't) since I applied to do the course, they didn't tell my placement this though, they said I should have done this. I was ill in the last week, I didn't feel ill, I was walking into things and unable to find words for the bones on the x-rays. I had a cold/burning sensation in my face. I did mention it to a couple of radiographers but they didn't say anything. I think it was a flare up, I was really ill the next week and my balance has gone now. Half of my face still feel's cold, it's in my legs and my arm. Nice!

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wrinklytum · 02/05/2009 00:03

Do you have a university tutor who is involved with pastoral care,i.e who is sort of there to look after students but not in an educational way,if that makes any sense?

Giving you a booklet on incompetent students????????Not helpful!

DO the uni know about your health issues?In some respects they do have a duty of care to support you

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/05/2009 00:04

The personal tutor (the one that gave me the booklet) is the one that does all this. He sent me to student services, they won't do anything without a GP letter, as it's taken me over 2 years for a referral I don't see this happening any time soon.

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wrinklytum · 02/05/2009 00:09

Ooops posted twice.I think you DO need to tell someone sympathetic (you say it is just 2 people who are harrassing you) about your health in your work situation

FBGB I hope you don't mind me saying this but I think you need to concentrate on your own well being and put your course issues on hold for the while at the moment.xxxx

bIG UNMUMSNETTLY HUG XXXX

wrinklytum · 02/05/2009 00:11

push your GP,do you have a referral?

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/05/2009 00:16

Thanks for the (unmumsnettly) hug.
I'm feeling alot better at the moment. I've joined a gym to improve my balance, I've got an appointment for Wednesday (private, long story) so I'm not too stressed about it. There's nothing I can do so I tend to just get on with things. The course takes my mind off it all (apart from the placement).
There are alot of really nice staff, they do outweigh the nasty ones.

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Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/05/2009 00:22

I do have a referral I have three! My dentist has referred me to maxfax so they can do some blood tests because he (rightly) thinks my GP is crap. He doesn't know about the leg/arm problems as these are a recient thing, I saw a different GP last week (monday), I told her about the tingly/ pins and needles in my feet, she faxed an urgent referral there and then. The hospital is moving to a new premesis, I called them last week and they had lost the referral, said it would have to be checked first when it did turn up to see if it really was urgent, it could take a few weeks, longer if they didn't think it was urgent so I made a private appointment for Wednesday. They have now located the referral though and the consultant is grading it so who knows. These things are a mystery!

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wrinklytum · 02/05/2009 00:29

Oh sweetheart xxxx

I really hope your appointment goes well.Why are you focussing on MS?Are you seeing a neurologist?It could be that there is a much simpler less frightening reason for your symptoms but it is good you are getting it checked out xxxx

Once you have had your appointment I am sure whatever the outcome you will IN SOME WAYS feel more settled in yourself about everything.2 years ago my dp became ill,at one point they misdiagosed him with lung metasteses,it turned out he had a rare autoimmune disorder,but the worst was NOT KNOWING.Ditto with my dd who had global delay,it all happened at once.Once you know what the problem is,however bad,you can start to deal with it.Stop thinking about your course,think about you.It may be something simple like post viral fatigue,it may be something else but until you know for definite the uncertainty is terrible.Cut yourself some slack until after your appointment,then you can deal with the extraneous stuff xxxxxx

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/05/2009 00:36

The dentist has sent me to max fax, the GP has sent me to a neurologist.
I trained as a nurse for a couple of years before getting ill. The symptoms are very much like MS, they have been coming and going, there's been so many it's like a text book history, blurred vision, mood swings, fatigue et all. I really don't think it's PVF, the tingling and pins and needles don't fit with it, nor does the cramps and muscle weakness. There really isn't anything I can do at the moment.

Thankyou for listening. I really appreciate it.

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wrinklytum · 02/05/2009 00:42

No problem,tis the weird and wonderful world of mn!I thought I was trying to answer a q on student bullying but then it takes a different turn!

Take care,fbgm,and keep posting.I have put a watch on the thread so when I come back to mn I will keep looking to see how you get on.Sometimes it is easier talking to a faceless person on a screen...been there done that re dp and dd!!!!

Does your dh/dp know about all this stress or are you a LP?

Keep posting,I am usually around late eve if you need to talk,though I was absent for a bit as dd had a load of appointments and it got hectic.

Get some sleep xxxxx

Original poster
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 02/05/2009 00:47

I don't have one. It's just ds and I. I have told my sister, not anyone else though. I'm not stressed about being ill, just about placement. I have to work so hard at remembering to do everything and not screw anything up. The last thing I want is to endanger a patient so I'm really careful, that's why it's pissed me off.

Night.

OP posts:
wrinklytum · 02/05/2009 00:48

Night,take care xx

FairLadyRantALot · 02/05/2009 09:32

Have read now the rest of the thread, and it does sound like it's them at fault. Which doesn't make it any easier, of course....
Uni sounds unhelpful, sadly it doesn't surprise me...we have just come back from Placement ( I am first year OT student, and was lucky with my Placement), and some of the things fellow students have expeirenced with their educators, etc....disgraceful, and even more disgraceful how unhelpful Uni has reacted

I would write everything that happens down, with date and time, and what happened, and what is said...at least you then can show this, etc...