Key Student Essentials:

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• Trust badge
• Notebook – reflections and notes
• Pens – a lot of them!
• Fob watch – worth checking the battery before starting a new placement.
• Pen torch
• Small calculator
• Scissors
• Water bottle – a bigger bottle means less re-filling which can be helpful in busy times.
• Diary – to record and plan shifts. A calendar app on your phone can be really helpful too.
• Food – Healthy diet. Most placements have a microwave – check first.
• Placement documents. If your placement has a student pack, bring this along with you.

Tips to Survive and Thrive on Placement

• Organise what skills you would like to achieve during the placement and discuss with peers. Provide PAD docs to prepare
• Use handover to identify any uncertainties and your supervisors. Use the quieter time to research these. It helps to solidify the knowledge with real-life examples.
• Get involved! Do not shy away from trying and be honest with your experience so the health professional you are working with knows how to support you.
• Expect the unexpected! l. Be prepared for things to change and to go with the flow.
• Spend time with the wider multi-disciplinary team
• Use spokes when you can.
• Ask questions. Why are you giving that drug rather than another drug? What are the other symptoms that we should look out for with this condition?
• Regularly reflect on how things are going.
• There will be hard days. Reflect on wins and how you can do better – these are all learnings!
• Do not expect to know everything and be prepared to continually learn.
• Practice regular self-care. Take breaks and give yourself time off to rest and sleep well.
• Utilise the support systems that are available.
• Remember to keep hydrated!
• From: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Selfcare%20Handbook%20v3.pdf
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ADVICE

Managing Anxiety on Placement

Nursing (Adult)

Otto 3rd Year Student Nurse explains how he has managed his anxiety during placement

Video URL: https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/supportinglearnersinpractice/files/2021/08/Managing-Anxiety-on-Placement-Subtitiled.mp4

• Breathing exercises can be found on the NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/breathing-exercises-for-stress/
• Insight Timer is a free app that has a big range of guided breathing, meditation, and relaxing music to help manage stress and anxiety. Specific topics can be searched and new recordings are regularly uploaded. https://insighttimer.com/en-gb

If you have any questions contact the placement team