Calling all Nurses / Student Nurse!!!

[OneWayStreetToNoWhere]

I am a student nurse (2nd year) and I am on a year out, due back in May. I took a year out from my course as I had a really bad placement (bullying etc) and I couldn't cope with it, was crying in the bathroom several times a day during my shift. The uni got involved but weren't much help. Anyway been on a year out since sept and now due to go back and finish off this placement (but in a different area) in may. My problem is that whenever I think about going back I get anxious, sweaty palms etc. I have been to a counsellor (for months) to try and get over this to go back, in total I have 29 weeks of placement left to complete before I qualify, thats roughly 1073 hours...(thats how much i am dreading this). Its so hard between essays and academic stuff as well as learning practical skills and trying to fit into another ward and team and feeling like the outsider as well as working long shifts with little contact with family or friends during the day so feel even more isolated and cut off. I have asked my uni if i could do 9-5 5 days a week instead of 3 12 hour shifts but understandably they refused. I have no idea how I am meant to get through the remainder of my course. I also do supply work in the hosp as a HCA and feel the same anxiety whenever I am due for a shift as its always a different ward/don't know anyone etc. Any advice/help? Pleasse! I'm only 20, came straight out of school into this so terrified if i pack my course in, i wont be able to get another job with a different degree.

So you were yet another MH student ignored on the general wards Emma. I'm still hearing that now.

I see a generic MH worker in the future . It is happening in drugs & alcohol services and a regional prison uses untrained staff- several were sacked for bringing in drugs and having sexual relationships w/ prisoners.

Using unaccountable staff with no evidence base and professional identity is going to result in another Jonathon Zito tragedy every few months.

mig- The general ward had an old lady come in with dementia- one of the staff nurses said "here - here is one on of your lot- you go and see if you can get any sense out of her"

I also attended A&E once with a young girl who had self harmed- she asked the nurse what she liked least about her job (young girl- just being chatty and pleasant)- the nurse replied "time wasters"

Some attitudes will never change- especially the old chestnut that MH nurses just like to sit around drinking tea all day, never moving off a chair. Nice.

Oh yes, that is all familiar. I got into such a row when I was close obbing a client on A&E who had self harmed and the staff nurse said to her 'I personally couldn't care less if you lived or died' and walked off. Horrible especially considering many of us end up in A&E because of our 'own actions' like when I dropped a window frame on my head from not doing it up properly. Nobody told me I was a time waster.

Yes yes to the tea,toast, roll up and loaded syringe in the top pocket image of RMNs. Most HCPs have watched us chasing patients around the hospital so we do move occasionally .

Honestly op I would have a good long think about if this is the career for you. There are lots if jobs out there that dont subject you to this type of treatment.

I experienced bullying in various forms in at least half my placements. I have also experienced bullying in various workplaces, both ward and community.

I'm much older than you and not afraid to call it but you need to have a very, very thick skin. I've been in the NHS for over ten years and it still effects me on and off.

I previously worked in the private sector for ten years (not healthcare) and found it far more professional.

I am still affected by the bullying and victimisation I endured after blowing the whistle on patient abuse by a senior ward manager.

I changed trust and even now eleven years later still have weekly nightmares and bad dreams about it.

Bullying is rife in the NHS. Please do what you need to protect yourself. There is some great advice on here.

I don't think you should give up you just want to work in primary not secondary care which is fine. Placements can be awful I had some shockers I still don't know how I got through it. Maybe it would be worth asking your mentor if you could spend a day with the discharge liaison nurse or something similar that would give you something to look forward to and help with your interest in primary care. Also just find someone on that ward who is willing to teach you you can learn a huge amount from a decent HCA make yourself useful don't stand around if there is "nothing for you to do " find something clean a cupboard check the arrest trolley put away the stock go round the ward checking obs updating paterback and waterlows etc if your busy time will pass quick and you will be finished before you know it

Remember that basic care = fundamental care.

Primary care is not exempt from from bullying though just to be clear. In many ways it can be worse, you are in everyday, the teams are smaller and it can be a tight knit community.

I agree bullying is rife...sorry you had that experience mig I can well believe it.

Thank you Super.

Yes sometimes the old sayings are true - that nurses sometimes eat their own young