A handy pocket guide to help mental health student nurses prepare for their practice placements.
Mental health nursing placements can be daunting – you’ll be working in a variety of settings and supporting individuals with a range of mental health problems. There are new colleagues to work with, and newly learned nursing theory to put into practice. This pocket guide is designed to make your placements much more enjoyable and less stressful.
From
absence policy to
personal safety, via
least restrictive practice, it’s full of practical detail, hints and tips.
- Written by a team comprising an experienced mental health lecturer, a Practice Education Facilitator and two recently qualified mental health nurses – this guidance is really produced with you in mind.
- Pocket-sized format – carry it with you at all times.
- Space to make your own notes – be it uniform policy, new terminology, or just the names of your new colleagues!
Pocket Guides is a series of handy, pocket-sized books designed to help students make the most of their practice learning experiences.
Table of Content
Getting there
1. Preparing for placement
2. Uniform
3. Absence policy
4. The NMC Code
5. Person-centred care
5.1 Least restrictive practice
6. Consent, confidentialityand safeguarding
6.1 Consent
6.2 Confidentiality
6.3 Safeguarding
7. Guidance on using social media
Settling there
8. Induction and first day
9. Working with those supervising your practice
10. Common documentation
11. Communicating with colleagues
12. Communicating with patients
Being there
13. Personal safety
13.1 De-escalation
13.2 Hand hygiene
13.3 Infection control and sharps policy
13.4 Moving and handling
14. Fundamental skills
14.1 Assessment
14.2 Drug administration
14.3 Drug calculations
14.4 Observations
14.5 Skin assessment
14.6 Urinalysis
15. Basic Life Support
16. Common medical emergencies
16.1 Anaphylactic reaction
16.2 Falls
16.3 Sepsis
16.4 Stroke
16.5 Seizures
17. Common groups of medications
17.1 Antipsychotics
17.2 Antidepressants
17.3 Anxiolytics
18. Pain assessment – pain tools
Moving on from there
19. Reflection and action planning
20. Common terminology
21. Quick references
22. Further reading
About the author
Maxine Womack is a Deputy Ward Manager in Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust. She started working in mental health in 2007. When she first started working in mental health Maxine was a domestic assistant in the private sector. She soon realised that working in mental health was what she wanted to do and so she then transferred her job role to a Support Worker. Maxine then commenced her Nurse Training in 2015. And qualified as a nurse in 2018. She currently works as a Deputy Ward Manager on a Male Rehabilitation Unit.