Non-motoring > NHS training help Miscellaneous
Thread Author: sooty123 Replies: 15
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 20:55 
 NHS training help - sooty123
I'm asking on behalf of my gf about a NHS trainee problem. She is training to be a nurse and does placements as part of the course. She's been placed at a unit that deals with patients that have mental health problems, but hasn't been trained to deal with them if things turn violent. She's been attacked once, although she was unharmed, now another member of staff has been hospitalised. She's got a panic alarm and that's it.

The staff there don't think it's right for trainees to be there. It's been raised before at the university and the answer was 'grow up.' No-one will take it seriously until one of them (trainees) are attacked badly. I know there are some NHS workers here. Anyone know what the next step should be?
Last edited by: sooty123 on Sun 5 Feb 12 at 20:58
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 21:27 
 NHS training help - Zero
Each patient should be risk assessed, and noted on the care plan.

The risk assessment includes all aspects of the patients well being (suicide, self harm, etc etc) as well as risk to other patients and care staff.

Your GF should be fully conversant with these care plans or pathways. If patients attack staff unexpectedly then the care plan needs to be reassessed, and risk mitigated.


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New Sun 5 Feb 12 21:29 
 NHS training help - R.P.
There must be a specific RA for the student nurses as well. That must be signed off by managment and union reps.
Last edited by: R.P. on Sun 5 Feb 12 at 21:31
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 21:32 
 NHS training help - Zero
>> There must be a specific RA for the student nurses as well. That must be
>> signed off by managment and union reps.

The RCN in this case.
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 21:58 
 NHS training help - sooty123
what's an RA? I think that's the problem zero, the risk isn't being mitigated.
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 22:04 
 NHS training help - Zero
RA is a Risk Assessment.

Its more likely to be a failure in the Risk Assessment, both in the care plan and the student placement.

If she has an issue that's not being covered by her mentor or course leader, then she ask the RCN to intervene.

But its a short placement, unless she is going to specialise in that branch of nursing.
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 22:18 
 NHS training help - R.P.
She should have had access to the Risk Assessment as part of her induction for the post and it should be readily available now. It will be a written document, I would imagine that the NHS will have a nationally (or at the very least Trust) approved document which will be a generic one and a site specific one.
Last edited by: R.P. on Sun 5 Feb 12 at 22:19
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 22:22 
 NHS training help - Zero
More than access, she has a responsibility, through her mentor, for updating the care plan in the light of new assessed risks.
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 22:27 
 NHS training help - sooty123
thanks, yes it is a short placement but something could happen at anytime. I'll ask here to see if she got a chance to see the ra. No it's not even her area of nursing. I'm not sure what value she will get out of it.
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 22:34 
 NHS training help - sooty123
thanks, yes it is a short placement but something could happen at anytime. I'll ask here to see if she got a chance to see the ra. No it's not even her area of nursing. I'm not sure what value she will get out of it.
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New Sun 5 Feb 12 23:12 
 NHS training help - Lygonos
She'll potentially get more value out of 4 weeks in a different area of nursing, than 4 weeks in her own area - much steeper learning curve.

There isn't any area of nursing where you can avoid exposure to people with mental health problems.
Last edited by: Lygonos on Sun 5 Feb 12 at 23:14
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New Mon 6 Feb 12 03:11 
 NHS training help - Iffy
...There isn't any area of nursing where you can avoid exposure to people with mental health problems...

My experience of a week on an elective surgery ward supports that assertion.

One might expect punters who were in for hips and knees to be fairly well-adjusted mentally and most were, but some were not.

Seems to me sooty's gf has to look out for herself - any problems, sod the patient and leg it.

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New Mon 6 Feb 12 06:55 
 NHS training help - sooty123
'There isn't any area of nursing where you can avoid exposure to people with mental health problems. '

Avoiding isn't really the issue, more a training issue so she can look after herself if attacked.


'Seems to me sooty's gf has to look out for herself - any problems, sod the patient and leg it.'

Hopefully so, but someone who has been there years got taken by surprise and ended up in A&E.

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New Mon 6 Feb 12 06:58 
 NHS training help - Bromptonaut

>> One might expect punters who were in for hips and knees to be fairly well-adjusted
>> mentally and most were, but some were not.

Hip replacements tend to be an age thing though Iffy. Not just arthritic but damage from falls too. A few of those are going to be suffering from dementia of one type or another; goes with the territory.
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New Mon 6 Feb 12 08:32 
 NHS training help - smokie
Nothing useful to add but my daughter trained to be a nurse and chose the mental health route. It struck me that it was quite some time after she gained her first permanent post (i.e. months) before she was properly trained and equipped to do the job, but I didn't ask her all the ins and outs. She was working on an admissions ward, where people were brought in having been sectioned etc and there were very real cases of severe violence.
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New Mon 6 Feb 12 23:10 
 NHS training help - Dutchie
Just a little input talked to daughter about this tonight she is a CPN Mental health nurse.


Daughter said the mentor should look after the trainee but any nursing she will come across people with all kinds of problems.

I understand your worries but its' the job I'm afraid.
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