Tag: Mental Health Nurse Student

What happens in a mental health rehabilitation ward – a genuine insight

One night shift in a mental health rehabilitation ward

Here’s what happens on a night shift in a mental health rehabilitation ward; or at least within the Trust I worked for.

I was working a bank shift which means I am on the Trust’s bank of staff who are available to cover shifts on the various wards if they don’t have enough staff. Because I was a student I could only work as a nursing assistant (N/A).

In comes Ayo with her big bag and her big blanket, tutting as always before slumping down into a chair, moaning, “Oh Lord, I don’t need this, I worked an early bank shift on Jasmin (ward).”

Working a night shift and then a late shift is not standard practice. Long hours, fatigue, and lack of rest breaks or time to recuperate between shifts are associated with an increased risk of errors. However, it’s very difficult for Ward Managers to keep track of, if staff members do extra bank shifts on another ward, which many of them do. Is it any wonder they’re tired and burnt out when they’re working three to four bank shifts a week elsewhere?

What happens in a mental health rehabilitation unit during handover

Mental health rehabilitation handover
Mental health rehabilitation handover — Pexels

Lisa arrived just in time, as Clare was about to start the handover at nine pm. “Mandy’s not coping with the titration of her Diazepam and continues to scream at medication time. Sasha remains bright in mood and went out with her nurse to buy new underwear today. She asked when Nancy was working next……..” and this made me smile as I’d taken a shine to her too.

“Elsa messed herself today — again, and her clothes were found on the shower floor.” Clare briefly covered all patients on the unit and said her goodbyes. That left Lisa, Ayo, and me working as a support worker.

Ayo was coordinating this shift but before she could even allocate patients and any tasks Mandy was banging on the office door. “I need my medication. I need my medication……” and as I went to speak to her Ayo cried out “No. Let her wait. Everyone have to wait.”

“Ayo, I just want to let her know that she will get her medication soon. It’s not nice that she’s crying and upset. I ………..”

“No!” thundered Ayo and she kissed her teeth, after which she allocated four patients to me, including Mandy and Elsa. As much as I loved working with all the patients, cos they each brought their own joys with them, I noted how I was always given the more difficult patients to work with. Unfortunately, lots of staff on various wards did this but, by rights, being qualified they ought to have taken these patients.

Lisa would be doing medication this night and I was to prepare supper of toast and hot chocolate; no coffee or tea because patients weren’t allowed caffeine before bedtime.

Supper time on this rehab ward

Mandy was given medication first before tottering through to the kitchen, wringing her hands and muttering to herself. “Hello, Nancy. It’s nice to see you again. I’ve had my medication but they’ve cut it down and I can’t cope Nancy. Honest, I can’t. Can I have three slices of toast nurse and will you cut it into quarters for me?” before shuffling over to the large table. I took her hot chocolate over as she was trembling and I could see her ending up with half a cup if she was to carry it.

Edward was next at the counter and he too shuffled away happily with his toast and jam and cup of chocolate. At only forty years old Edward could have passed for fifty-plus as he was always unshaven, his face was weatherbeaten and his grey hair had receded.

Edward had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and since he was seventeen he heard many voices and saw people who were not visible to others. Unless you saw him at mealtimes, you wouldn’t know he was there; he was so quiet. I had to seek him out each week for games night and he came along willingly, as he was actually really good at Scrabble and we both enjoyed the challenge.

What happens at Bedtime

With medication and supper over I went to check on my four allocated patients. All bar Edward were in their rooms and in various states of undress. Mandy wore a long floral flannelette nightgown and ancient slippers and I watched as she carefully folded the clothes she’s just taken off into neat piles. Her room was spotless if not a little cluttered as she collected china teapots of all sizes. and colours. “Night, night nurse. Will you close my door for me?”

Sasha was in bed and snoring lightly. Elsa was struggling with her bra straps so I offered to help. “Fuck off me, you. I don’t need you.” she spat and turned her back on me. “Go on, fuck off.” Then she gave me another of her toothless grins. I think she just liked to test the nurses’ responses. She always made me smile and I told her I’d be back in five to see she was okay.

I did go back because if you say you will, then you must. So many patients are left waiting when nurses tell them they’ll come back and don’t. I think it’s cruel. That just left Edward. He was watching a film in the shared living room, chuckling away to himself. I wasn’t sure if he was laughing at the television or the voices he heard but he looked happy enough.

Staff lacking common sense

Just when I was going to join Edward for a while, Ayo called “Bedtime Edward.” and switched the lights out. I said “He’s watching this film, let him see the end. It’s over in twenty minutes.”

“It’s eleven o’clock and it time for bed. Come, Edward. Come now.” Totally ignoring me, she watched as Edward struggled to get out of the chair and shuffle over to the door.

Once everyone was in bed Lisa checked all the downstairs doors and windows then returned to the office. I asked why Ayo wouldn’t let Edward finish watching the film. “Eleven o’clock lights out,” she mumbled, and at least had the good grace to look a little embarrassed.

Unbelievable. We all have very different body clocks and bedtimes, and had Edward been at home, he would have watched the end of his film before going to bed. I was going to make sure that I documented this in Edwards’s notes and flag it up at the next team meeting.

Staff bedtime too

Staff bedtime on mental health rehabilitation ward — Pexels image

It was eerily quiet, pitch black, and unnerving as I went to the kitchen to get drinks for myself and Lisa. On my way back to the office, all I could see in the living area was a pair of eyes peering out at me from underneath a blanket.

I whispered “Hello,” but got no response. I crept forward so as not to startle what I thought was a patient but Ayo shrieked “My Lord. Girl, what you doing? You frightened the life out of me.” There she was, feet up with her slippers lying on the floor, curled up on the sofa. “I havin’ my break. Go. Foolish girl,” and she kissed her teeth.

Off I went with the drinks, shaking my head, stunned. I asked Lisa whether this was normal practice, for staff to sleep while on duty and was told that we each get two hours break but Ayo just sleeps all night. “So that would leave one of us on the floor?” I inquired. If both Ayo and Lisa were on a break that would leave me, an N/A, to be responsible for the unit. “Yes, that’s what we do. It’s okay, Ayo always sleeps” she smiled.

“I’m sorry Lisa but I don’t feel comfortable with that. I’m working as an N/A and I’m not qualified if there’s any emergency.”

Staff ignoring poor practice

“Nancy, she’s done it for years. Even our manager knows,” said Lisa sighing and shrugging her shoulders. However, that night neither she nor I had a sleeping break. We both sat in the office, Lisa looking at holidays online and me reading through my patients’ notes. I really enjoyed finding out more about the patients and while it was quiet I could help update their care plans, number the pages in their files, and generally complete paperwork that’s often difficult to do during a busy shift.

The time went quickly and I was so immersed I didn’t hear Ayo coming into the office. However, I heard her loud yawning and watched as she stretched upwards before dropping herself into the spare chair next to me. I caught a whiff of her stale morning breath and body odour! Offering to make us drinks allowed me to make a swift exit and by the time I’d returned, Ayo had wheeled her chair to another desk.

Six fifty-five and the morning staff were starting to arrive. “Nancy, Lisa, you go on the floor, I do handover.” Which is normal for the coordinating nurse to stay in the office to give the handover, while the rest were outside attending to patients. However, I couldn’t help but wonder how a nurse who’d slept all night and hadn’t asked her colleagues about the shift’s events could possibly give an adequate handover. Again, I asked Lisa who tutted and said “Nancy, you’re just a student. It really won’t do you any good to keep questioning your colleagues’ practices now. They won’t thank you and you’ll fall out.”

Nurses ignoring health & safety

“I don’t want to fall out with them but as I’m a student, working as a nursing assistant surely I have an opinion? And I don’t think it’s safe for patients or staff if others are not doing their job.”

“Nancy, it’s just how it is, how it’s been for years and you can’t change it.”

The Nursing & Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Code of Conduct 2015, sets out professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates. Point 3.4 states: act as an advocate for the vulnerable, challenging poor practice and discriminatory attitudes and behaviour relating to their care. Both Ayo and Lisa had completely ignored all the rules!

Would you be able to highlight where they’d gone wrong? Would you have reported them?

I would later talk this through with the unit Manager.

Note to self: “Folks who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for any more than they do”― Elbert Hubbard

What happens in a Community Mental Health Team

What is a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)?

Community Mental Health Teams are multi-disciplinary
Community Mental Health Teams are made up of multi-disciplinary professionals

Have you ever wondered what happens in a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)? Let’s take a look.

They were developed in the UK to deliver Care in the Community in the late 1980s. This was a British policy of deinstitutionalisation; treating and caring for physically and mentally disabled people in their homes rather than in institutions. 

A GP might refer an out-patient, but in-patients are generally allocated to a CMHT prior to hospital discharge. These CMHTs are made up of various multi-disciplinary professionals such as:

  • Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) and unqualified support staff
  • Social workers and Approved Social Workers (ASWs); social workers who’ve undergone specific training in mental health law; the Mental Health Act 1983. This then enables them to carry out Mental Health Act assessments with other professionals.
  • Consultant Psychiatrists, Senior Registrar and/or Senior House Officers (SHOs) who are Doctors undergoing their six months training in a particular area of medicine. In this case, Psychiatry.

Once referred to the CMHT, an assessment would be completed to build up an accurate picture of a person’s needs. The patient might get help from either one or two of the above professionals, depending on their needs.

My first placement at a Community Mental Health Team

How a basement CMHT might look
How a basement CMHT might look — Image by Washingtonpost.com

As a Mental Health Nurse student, I was allocated to Alan, a CPN who would be my supervisor during this placement. I arrived early so I had a coffee and introduced myself to a few of the team while waiting for Alan.

It was eight fifty-five and the team’s overall mood matched the weather that stormy Monday morning. Had they not been sitting at desks, behind the flexy-plastic window, I might have thought they were patients with depression — just staring blankly into oblivion.

I smiled as the front door opened and an older gentleman walked in. He was wearing a tatty tweed jacket, a moth-eaten jumper and a shirt so old, the collar was frayed. His creased trousers looked as though they’d had an argument with his ankles and his black plastic slip-on shoes squeaked as he walked.

Still, his gappy-toothed smile was welcoming. He stuck out his hand, pushed open the inner door with his backside and introduced himself as Javid, a Social Worker.

I explained who I was and he took me down to what looked like a fusty old storeroom. He pointed out his desk, Alan’s desk and the one opposite that I could use, and off he went.

Student Nurse Practice Based Assessments

I went through my Practice Based Assessments (PBAs) to see which ones I might be able to meet — sooner rather than later. Students have a list of evidence-based tasks, to be carried out during placements, which are assessed for competency by their supervisor. This was a lengthy process so I always liked to get a head start and not leave the PBAs right until the end of placements.

While idly thumbing through a patient file, I happened to look up and saw a rickety old bike being chained to the railings outside. I watched from the basement window as a pair of green wellies marched up to the front door. The wellies stomped about a bit before thundering down towards the basement.

The office door crashed open and there stood Alan! He pulled himself up to his full six-foot-plus, puffed out his chest and glared at me. “What on earth do you think you’re doing?” a broad Glaswegian accent rasped. Think Billy Connolly!

“Javid said I could look through……..”

“Is Javid your supervisor? No, he’s not. I am. Javid is an ASW and you. are. a. mental. health. student. Are you not?” He turned on his heels saying “I’ll get a coffee and see you when I come back!”

And this was how Alan continued over the next few weeks; barking orders at me and ignoring any questions, or feeding me wee snippets about his patients.

Depot injections by Community Mental Health Team

Intramuscular depot injection administered by Community Mental Health Team
Intramuscular depot injection administered by Community Mental Health Team

I was surprised one morning when Alan told me I was to run the weekly Depot Clinic under his supervision. This is where patients come every 1-4 weeks to have antipsychotic medication via intramuscular injection.

Some patients prefer this as they tend to forget or refuse to take their daily tablets. Other patients must have medication by injection under a Section of the Mental Health Act 1983. If a patient is known to be non-compliant with medication, Depot injections are often recommended during Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings.

“You know how to administer injections, I presume?” snapped Alan. And without waiting for an answer, “don’t forget to check which side they had their last injection. I’ll countersign the medication charts when you’ve done.” I’d observed several injections during my in-patient placement but I’d never actually administered one. I told Alan and all he did was nod; indicating me to just get on with it.

My first patient was due in soon so I checked her medication chart and spotted the small letter ‘L’ underneath the signature box. I gathered this meant that their last injection was on the left buttock so this time it would be on the right. Injections sites were alternated to stop the buildup of scar tissue on one side.

Administering my first depot injection

Preparing depot injection
Preparing depot injection — image by Pixabay

Sally, a 36-year-old female, appeared sullen and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to engage her in idle chit-chat before stabbing her with the needle.

However, she chatted amiably about me being a new student and asked whether I liked football. The needle was out — and I told her I was an Arsenal fan. “Blinding. Me too. But I ain’t never been to a game.”

I did take her along to a match some years later, but that’s another tale. Anyway, there I was, scribbling my signature on her medication chart when she turned her head to me and chirped “Come on, ‘urry up mate!”

“All done Sally.” Ha! I’d given my first real injection and she didn’t even notice. Her eyebrows shot up then I got a wink and a smile of approval as she buckled up her jeans.

“You’re alright you are. She can come ‘ere again Alan.” She gave me a knowing look and glared at him as she left the clinic. Not a word from him, just another of his withering looks as I passed him the chart to countersign.

My first Community Mental Health home visit

Community Mental Health Teams work with patients in their own homes
Community Mental Health Teams work with patients in their own homes — Image by Pexels

A month passed and Alan continued to arrive late every day. One morning, Javid asked if I’d like to go out and visit some of his patients with him, and I jumped at the chance.

We arrived at Anne’s house to see her in the front garden barefoot and wearing a flimsy but colourful kaftan. She twirled around on the grass, head back and arms outstretched as she sang. Julie Andrews popped into my head and I fondly remember Anne whenever I hear “The Sound of Music”.

Anne grinned when she saw Javid and waved him in with a dramatic curtsey, then called the children in for lunch. Four skinny under-twelves trooped into the living room and hungrily snatched up huge doorstep sandwiches.

The kids danced, skipped and jumped all over the two mismatched sofas as they munched. They sang silly songs and clapped loudly, dropping crumbs everywhere. Their likeness to the much-loved Von Trapp family didn’t go unnoticed.

They were clean, wearing all manner of clothing; some too big and some too small, all barefoot, but they looked happy and were both well-spoken and well-mannered.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder and mood swings
Bipolar disorder and mood swings — Image by Crazyhead comics

Anne had a diagnosis of Bipolar disorder which used to be known as manic-depression. Someone with Bipolar has episodes of mania (feeling very high and overactive) and periods of depression (feeling very low and lethargic).

Unlike simple mood swings, each extreme episode (high or low) of bipolar disorder can last for several weeks, or even longer. Bipolar disorder is treated with mood stabilisers such as Lithium or Valproate, which were all originally made for treating epilepsy.

Community Mental Health Assessment

Javid asked Anne if it was okay for me to complete a mental health assessment, done by observation and direct questioning, assessing things like:

  • mood, behaviour and appearance
  • thought-form for speed and coherence
  • thought content for delusions, suicide, homicidal or violent thoughts, obsessions and perception
  • cognition for orientation to time, place and person, attention and concentration

Finally, I assessed her insight to gauge whether Anne knew her incessant chatter, thought disorder and her behaviour wasn’t normal, given the weather and both her and the children’s appearance. However, she didn’t believe she was currently unwell “This is nothing.” she chirped. “You’ve seen me worse Javid.”

Javid smiled, then we stood to bid our goodbyes, and I couldn’t help but giggle when Anne and the children burst into song “So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu. Adieu, adieu. To you and you and you.”

Sitting in his car, Javid talked me through the visit and agreed that yes, he had seen Anne worse. “Really?” I asked. He nodded and chortled. However, he said he’d check to see if there was a bed so that he could plan a voluntary hospital admission over the next few days.

Javid said that Anne would use all kinds of delaying tactics but would eventually agree to voluntary admission. “She knows she has a chronic (long-term) diagnosis and she’s well known to services. She’s aware that if she doesn’t go voluntarily, she’d be admitted under Section 3 of the MHA 1983”. This means patients can undergo coercive interventions, such as enforced medication, seclusion and restraint.

Mental Health documentation to be completed

CPNs have to complete lots of documentation
CPNs have to complete lots of documentation — image from Pexels

After a few more less-exciting home visits Javid and I returned to the CMHT around four-fifteen, just in time to complete our documentation.

Alan threw me a look of utter disdain as he snapped his briefcase shut and headed for the door. Thank God for the weekend!

Alan’s lateness carried on, his behaviour remained erratic and his lack of interest or guidance was getting me down. There were days I was in tears, despite the admin girls telling me to ignore him, and making me laugh.

Every day Alan was late I went out on visits with Javid or other staff who’d asked if I’d like to accompany them. I was gaining so much experience as some staff were supportive and fed back to me my strengths and small areas that I could build on.

My Practice Based Assessment

Most of my PBA’s had been completed I and was pleased with the evidence I’d attached. I’d made sure there were no names or numbers that could identify individual patients.

The staff I’d worked with wrote on my PBAs that I was really intuitive and empathic, that I had excellent communication skills, and had been proactive in achieving the high standards I’d set myself. Overall they said they were impressed. All I needed now was for Alan to sign them off as having been completed.

The arrogant shit refused! He hadn’t seen me complete any of the tasks listed on my PBA so he would not sign them! He couldn’t possibly! Aaarrgghh!

Over to you

But it got worse……….. I’ll do a short follow-up. But in the meantime, I’m happy to answer any questions and look forward to hearing what you think about care in the community. Does it work? Or even, just say “Hi.”

Do you experience anxiety while studying

Have you ever felt anxiety while you were studying?

Anxiety while studying nursing
Anxiety while studying -Photo by Alexander Dummer

The feeling of anxiety is often in response to stress, like anxiety while studying hard for end of year exams. A recent conversation with a good friend, who’s struggling with anxiety during her final nursing exams, made me reflect and repost this old article.

Many people have these anxious feelings during their lives and fortunately, these feelings normally pass once the pressure has subsided.. However, having an anxiety disorder is more than feeling anxious or stressed. It’s when the anxious feelings don’t pass, they occur frequently and stop you doing what you want to do. Moreover, people with an anxiety disorder often find it very difficult to manage their symptoms.

I felt stuck in the vicious circle that was anxiety and my life. And it was getting worse. Some days (and nights) of constant anxiety left me feeling drained, fatigued, and unable to focus or concentrate. Struggling with what felt like a scrambled brain, I couldn’t take in or retain the information I needed to study.

My anxiety was crippling while I was studying

Anxiety and studying
Anxiety and studying — Photo by Eternal Happiness

I just wasn’t getting this studying and revising lark. And how foolish was I? I thought I’d be learning about mental health nursing. So I couldn’t understand why we had so many lectures about all the oligies i.e. sociology, biology, physiology and psychology.

These lectures were normally trotted out by bored lecturers using big words, which was a major bugbear of mine. By the time I’d figured out how to spell sternocleidomastoid* the lecturer had moved on. And my notes then had more holes than Swiss cheese.

Another bugbear was how many communication and interpersonal skills classes we had to attend each week. I mean, everyone has these skills. Right? Doh! I should’ve realised that the shoving and pushing brigade, together with the teeth clicker and tutters, didn’t. Not forgetting the newspaper rattlers and chair scrapers, the talkers and the snorers, along with the class disruptors.

While it wasn’t anyone’s fault I was plagued with anxiety, it was certainly my classmates’ lack of consideration that made it go through the roof. I think I spent the first half hour of each class wound up like a coiled spring. Just waiting for all the commotion to die down so the lecturer could begin.

There’s no such thing as a stupid question, or so it’s been said. Well, I beg to differ, because some students really did ask stupid questions. And with disturbing regularity. Just kill me already! “It says here to write my name in black ink, does that mean I can’t use a blue pen?” or “We’ve been told we had to arrive on time for classes. Does that mean we can’t be 5-10 minutes late?”

And these same students managed to interrupt and disrupt lessons with their stupid questions, so much so, that the topics were cut short. This meant we had to go through the whole bloody lesson all over again the following week.

I wish I’d known how to reduce my anxiety while studying

Studying and taking notes
Study and writing notes — Photo by Victoria Borodinova

Three months in and just before Christmas, we were given an essay to complete over the festive period. It was something like ‘How my life is different since starting Uni.’ Okay. Sounded simple enough. Until I got it home and read how I had to write in an ‘academic’ manner? Using references and to use ‘reflection in and on action.’ I’d only passed a few low-grade GSCSs some twenty years previously, for crying out loud. And, as far as I can remember, we didn’t use referencing, and no one ever mentioned ‘reflection’ or ‘academic writing’.

Let me tell you, pre-computers, I re-wrote this essay so many times, wanting to sound clever and knowledgeable. That didn’t work. It just left me feeling even more stupid than I’d first thought, and my anxiety was sky high. The more anxious I got , the less I could concentrate on my essay, and the deadline was looming. What, with this and the class disruptors, boredom, big words and stupid people, I wondered if uni was for me.

However, what example would I have set for my sons had I not completed the essay and got a whopping seventy eight per cent as a result?

Before you go any further, stop!

Body can't be tense and relaxed at the same time
Body can’t be tense AND relaxed at the same time — Photo by La Miko

A little tip for you. Let out that big breath you’re probably holding in right now. That’s right — let it out with a big huff. Let your shoulders drop down from your ears. Unclench your teeth and jaw, go on, give it a little wiggle and let your whole face relax. Now drop your shoulders, unclench your fist (s) and lay them (or one of them if you’re on your mobile now) flat on the table or your lap. Uncurl/uncross your legs, give your toes a wiggle and let me explain quickly.

Your body physically can not be tense and relaxed at the same time. So — if you’re hunched up, fists in tight balls, jaws clenched — you’re effectively telling your brain you’re on alert, tensed and ready to fight or flee. The brain is constantly receiving signals from the body, registering what is going on inside of us. So it makes sense, if you follow the tips above, your relaxed body is telling your brain you’re calm and relaxed.

Now you might try this and think “Huh, that didn’t work,” and you might be right, the first time. But if you practice it enough — waiting for the bus, sitting on the train, in the lift, in the shower or standing in that always slow queue at the Post Office where the person in front is paying all their bills with pennies.

Practice, practice, practice. And just when you do need to relax quickly ie before an interview, exam etc, you’ll have practised so often, you can do it immediately, with ease.

What is an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders and counselling
Anxiety disorder and counselling

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or apprehension about what’s to come. But if your feelings of anxiety are extreme, last for longer than six months, and are interfering with your life, you may have an anxiety disorder and you should contact your GP, access counselling, seek professional help.

Some symptoms of anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety — Photo by Nathan Cowley
  • Tense muscles
  • Irritation
  • Excessive worrying
  • Restlessness, pacing, fidgeting
  • Agitation, quick to anger
  • Snappy
  • Fatigued – changes to previous sleep pattern
  • Changes to previous eating pattern
  • Changes in libido

Repeat the technique as above — breathe, relax your jaw…….. Go back up the page, remind yourself of the technique and practice, practise, practise.

Now take a look at this model for anxiety. Then read about coping skills to relieve anxiety, panic attacks and stress.

Anxiety can be debilitating, so it’s important to seek professional help if your symptoms are severe. If you feel anxious on the majority of days and experience one or more of the symptoms listed above for at least six months, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

Regardless of how long you have been experiencing symptoms if you ever feel like your emotions are interfering with your life, work or relationships you should seek professional help.

Although anxiety is a medical condition in its own right, there can sometimes be a physical reason for your symptoms – and treating it can bring the anxious feelings to an end. See your GP to rule out any other causes and do not self-diagnose.

Are you still practicing unclenching your teeth and jaw? If not, go back up the page and remind yourself of the techniques.

Over to you

So you have anxiety? I hope you’ve found this post useful and if not, I’m happy to answer any questions and accept any suggestions. Let us know your tips to control your anxiety, and I look forward to your comments.

*Sternocleidomastoid — One of two thick muscles running from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid and occipital bone; turns head obliquely to the opposite side; when acting together they flex the neck and extend the head

Mental health patient dragged to the floor

I never expected to witness a mental health patient dragged to the floor

Mental Health patient being dragged to the floor
Mental Health patient being ‘dragged’ to the floor

What I didn’t expect to see within my first couple of days, was a mental health patient dragged to the floor. I was on my first mental health placement and had just returned from a short coffee break. Derry had given me a bunch of keys and a swipe card, so I let myself in.

Derry, being the nurse in charge, had gone into what’s called Management Round. I learned that this happens each Monday morning. Apparently, this is where the Doctors plan their weekly ward round allocation; picking which patients to see.

Warning: foul language ahead

An angry sister startled me

The phone was ringing off the hook and there was no one else around to answer it. I picked it up and sang ‘Good morning, Lavender ….’ A female interrupted and spoke urgently “Why is my brother off the ward? He’s banging on my front door and all the bloody neighbours are out on their doorsteps. Jesus Christ! What’s going on?”

“Uumm, good morning. I’m a student nurse. Do you know who you want to speak to, which nurse?”

“Someone who knows what they’re fucking doing would be good.”

“Erm, Ok, what’s your name and your brother’s name …..” I stuttered.

“It’s Pauline Kennedy calling, and my fucking dick of a brother is John. John Kennedy. You know he’s on Section, right? He’s screaming through the letterbox now, can you hear him? Fucking arse”

Ouch! “Okay Pauline, hold on a second.”

“Not you, him, I’m sorry.”

“Ok, Pauline, give me a second, would you like to hold on or shall I call you back?”

“No, I’ll hold…” she tutted.

Have you called the police?

Police involved when mental health patients go AWOL
Police involved when mental health patients go AWOL

I dashed up the corridor, knocked the door to the meeting room and popped my head in to tell Derry and the Doctors. “For fuck sake.” Derry’s Irish brogue rang out and “Has she called the police?” enquired one Doctor, the elder out of two. But Derry was out the door, heading for the office and I followed.

“How’d he get out?” Derry muttered to no one in particular. “Hello Pauline, it’s Derry here. Is he still there? Have you called the police? Derry’s nodding at me, indicating that John is there. “Aye, I know but okay, I’ll do that,” he continued, “You just keep yourself safe and I’ll call you back in a wee minute.”

“Here, you call the police on this number and let them know what’s going on.” Derry pointed to a page in Johns file, “Pauline’s address is there,” he urged. Alison had just come into the office and I could hear Derry filling her in while I spoke with the police. I was a bit nervous, but I was able to give them all the necessary details.

Paranoid and can be dangerous

“Jesus, we’re in trouble now,” said Gerry. “This guy used to live with his sister and he’s paranoid about men wanting her, that they want to have sex with her. He’s already done time for smashing the electricity man in the face with a brick after the poor man went to check the meter. John’s on a Restriction Order (1) so he is.”

The two doctors; the Consultant Psychiatrist and an SHO (2) appeared at the office door. “Everything alright Derry, Nancy? Oh, hello Nancy. Sorry, I’m Doctor Shand and this is Doctor Wiles. Do we know what’s happening?” He smiled, “Let me know when he’s back on the ward please,” and left.

Derry winked and gave me the thumbs up while he was on the other line to Pauline, letting her know the police were on their way. At the same time, she’d told Derry that John was quietening down a bit.

“Good job there Nancy. Will you just write in his notes; what happened?” Derry asked.

Police and rapid response team

Patients often have to be returned to hospital by the police

It wasn’t long before the ward door opened and I could see John being led in by the police and half a dozen people who, it turns out, are part of the Hospital Rapid Response Team (RRT), called to assist in emergencies like this. John shuffled in, head down, looking shame-faced, and went off to the day area. One police officer spent a moment with Derry then led his team away.

RRT’s are made up of six-seven people, one member of staff from each ward who were mainly men. They responded when a bleep and the radio sounded, telling them where to go. When the police arrived with John, the RRT met them at the hospital entrance, to help escort him back to the ward.

Fags were the currency of the day

Ciggies are currency on mental health wards

John was still raging, but the police had done their job so they left. The RRT followed Derry into the tiny office and waited for instructions. John marched towards the smoking room, muttering under his breath, and almost took the door off its hinges when he slammed it. I followed John and offered him a cigarette. This was the currency used if you wanted to engage certain patients. And this time was no exception.

However, I felt decidedly uncomfortable, sitting between John and another patient, who’d introduced himself as James before asking for a ciggie. John muttered that he wanted to kill someone and James bounced back and forth in his chair, fists balled tight.

I wondered how I could finish my freshly lit ciggie and make my exit back to the relative safety of the kitchen without bringing attention to myself. Just at that, the door opened and Derry said “Come on John, you need to take your meds.”

Rolling around in the the fag ends

Rapid Response Team restraining

“Nope!” John spat back at him. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) had been waiting and burst in before hurling themselves at him. They grabbed him by his elbows and wrists, pulling him up out of the chair, and on an authoritative command “Down!” he was on the floor. Three RRT members were down there with him, and another two soon followed. They dived to the floor to hold onto John’s legs, in an attempt to stop him flailing around and getting hurt.

John was yelling “Fucking bastards. You fucking wait.” and struggling among the fag butts and drink slops, battling against team holding on to him. There was now one on each arm and leg, and one at his head. The lad at his head was calmly telling John what was going to happen, tho I’m guessing he already knew the ‘drill’.

John struggled to spit further obscenities out, because his mouth was dry now. The young lad at his head continued calmy, “John, it’s for your own good. Stay still and it will all be over.”

“Fuck you.”

This might hurt

Nurse administering antipsychotics
Nurse administering Haloperidol and Lorazepam – Photo from Pexels.com

“That’s it John, your okay. Ssshhh. You’re safe.” At that, Alison came in holding a small cardboard tray that held two half-filled syringes. She yanked John’s belt off and pulled both his jeans and pants down, leaving his right bum cheek exposed.

Alison swabbed an area of John’s right buttock, and squeezed it. “A sharp pinch John,” she calmly popped one needle in, followed by another.

I would later learn that the intramuscular injections they’d administered was what nurses called ten and two. This meant ten mg Haloperidol, and two mg Lorazepam which, used together, creates quick sedation. This combination is normally used to manage acutely disturbed patients. However, if a patient is unknown to the hospital, or if it’s a smaller person i.e. a female, they’d be given a smaller dose i.e. 5 mg of Haloperidol and 1 mg of Lorazepam.

Post incident debrief

Patient with paranoid schizophrenia running from hospital
Patient with paranoid schizophrenia running from hospital

RRT held onto John for a few minutes, and he eventually stopped struggling. The medication was taking effect. Derry said “You good John? Come on now. We’ll let you up, easy now.” They helped him to his feet and left the smoking room, one by one. “Into the office boys and girls,” Derry continued, as if nothing had happened, “let’s debrief.”

Nobody was taking responsibility for letting John out. He didn’t leave with me, I knew that, as I’d only been given the keys prior to my ciggie break. However, I was getting knowing glances from everyone in the office. Still, the team agreed that the Control and Restraint (C&R) had gone well and no one got hurt, so the RRT left the ward.

Derry and Alison were both busy documenting the incident in various forms. I offered to help, so they gave me an incident form to complete. They said that John had missed his morning medication, which included ten milligrams (mg) of Diazepam. This has a sedative effect, hence John’s paranoia and visit to his sister’s.

Alison held her hands up as she’d done medication that morning and she’d missed John. She insisted I document this on the incident form but I’d already finished it. “John was seen leaving the hospital at 08.10. just as medication was being administered. Therefore John missed morning medication.” I’d already been down to reception and seen the CCTV footage of John running out the front door.

“Well done Nancy. You checked that yourself, did ye?” I grinned from ear to ear when Derry half-joked “You’ve got the job.”

Over to you

What do you think about mental health patients being restrained? Perhaps you’ve had this happen to you? I look forward to your comments, constructive criticism and any question.

Caz

(1) Criminal courts can use section 37 if they think you should be in hospital, instead of prison. Section 41 is a restriction order. If the Crown Court think you are a risk to the public, they can add this order to a section 37 – hence the Section 37/41

A section 41 Restriction Order can be added to a section 37. It is then called a section 37/41. Only a judge in a Crown Court can do this. They will do this if they think you are a risk to the public.6 The restriction order means that there are restrictions on both you and your Responsible Clinician (RC). One restriction is that your RC needs to get permission from the Secretary of State for Justice to discharge you.

(2) A senior house officer (SHO) is a non-consultant hospital doctor. Registrars and consultants oversee their training, and are usually their designated clinical supervisors.

Update – Poor standards at 28 mental health units

Neglect is one of the consequences of poor standards at 28 mental health units
Old mental health Asylum

This post began with an article published in The Guardian: Psychiatrists called for inquiry after report on private units, many occupied by NHS patients. Inspector discovered poor standards at 28 mental health units.

I’d written that this is great news. Not because poor standards were discovered, but because it’s been reported and it’s out there!

Update

According to the NHS

“One in four of us will experience mental health problems, and mental illness is the single largest cause of disability. Yet mental health services have for several decades been the ‘poor relation’ compared to acute hospital services for physical conditions”.

NHS, Five Year Forward View

The NHS goes on to detail — “What’s been achieved in England over the past three years?” and one particular point stood out for me:

“NHS England’s mental health taskforce has agreed a detailed improvement blueprint to 2020, in partnership with patient groups, clinicians and NHS organisations”. See Mental Health Taskforce Report, which states that

“It is therefore essential that all involved in the delivery of mental health services have the knowledge and skills required to deliver high quality care and have access to education and training.”

NHS

Mental Health Nurse training

Little white character of a man holding a large poster saying Staff training
Mental health nurse training — Clipart.com

Now, whether this all means only for NHS staff, it’s still a step in the right directions. However, when I was nursing, it was almost impossible to get staff to attend the Statutory and Mandatory, let alone any other training.

Mandatory and statutory training ought to be undertaken by all staff and is deemed essential for safe and efficient service delivery and personal safety. It reduces organisational risks and ensures organisations are meeting their legislative duties.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) write that “Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is additional to any mandatory or statutory training that an organisation may provide.

What does Continuing Professional Development really mean?

While there is no universally agreed definition of CPD, there is a broad
consensus that, in a nursing context, its main purpose is to help staff to
maintain and develop the skills they need to deliver high quality, safe
and effective care across all roles and settings”.

Nurses must stay up to date with the latest developments, continuing to update their skills and competences to meet changing future population health needs effectively and safely.

Refusing to attend training courses is a reason for poor standards in mental health units

Ooh, if I had a £ for every member of staff that refuse to attend any more training courses than is necessary i.e. Statutory and Mandatory……… This still shocks and surprises me. We had access to our local University which offered so many nursing skills and knowledge courses and — all for free!

When I was a ward manager, some staff suggested I was picking on them if I suggested courses such as Verbal and written English. Once we’d ironed out that I wasn’t picking on anybody, I now had to enforce attendance on relevant courses. If staff still refused, they would be placed on what’s called Performance Management for a period of time. It would then be a job for me and the charge nurses to manage that nurse’s performance. What a performance palaver.

I really appreciated that our Trust granted me years of extra training to support some of my specialist roles. This included working with patients and their families, where the patient had schizophrenia and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Schizophrenia.

Over to you

What do you think about poor mental health standards?
Clipart.com

Is it just me? I loved going on the courses to keep up to date with nursing practice. It made me feel more confident and competent at doing my job. Would you take the extra training if your Trust or company offered it? I look forward to your comments or thoughts and question.

Okay, back to where this first article started:

Patient’s fears about admission are real; an increase in poor standards in mental health units is observed at a national level

Patients are more depressed because of poor mental health standards.
Mental health patients bedroom. Design Pics Inc/REX

I’ve already mentioned some of the poor practices on mental health units I’ve come across in other posts. But there is so much more. Like the way some staff dismiss patients’ fears and anxieties. What appears to be a molehill for us may feel like mountains to patients.

When a patient expresses their fears about admission to an acute mental health ward, it’s extremely important to listen. This way they feel heard and know that you care. It’s particularly difficult for patients who’ve been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1985 (MHA). Some are almost dragged from their comfortable homes by well-meaning (or not) family, carers, Social Workers and a Psychiatrist.

Patient fears are real for them

During the admission process it’s essential to accept that patient fears are real for them, and not to dismiss them. Some patients are acutely unwell and can be chaotic on admission. This means it’s important to continue the conversation as many times as a patient might need. Nurses that work on mental health units also ought to better communicate with their patients. They should know they have the right to appeal against their Section. And they should be provided with the correct paperwork to do so.

Patients experience low standards in mental health units first hand. They should know about Patients Advice and Liaison (PALS), an important service, which will support them with almost anything. They can make an appointment with the team who will come to the ward if a patient has no leave.

Private sector mental health units

Coloured image lady sitting at lap top and on the telephone
Nursing administration —Photo by Shutterstock.com

The Guardian reports “Inspectors have found 28 privately run mental health units to be “inadequate”. Regardless, this does not detract from poor standards within the NHS. I only had one elective placement (which I chose) within a private unit and I would never go back. Most of the staff were agency and who probably couldn’t get permanent jobs if they tried. They were rude, authoritarian and antagonistic not just to patients but to families, colleagues and students.

They didn’t like me and the feeling was mutual. I asked too many questions and ‘cared too much’ when I ought to be doing some work. They were referring to i.e. the menial tasks they couldn’t be bothered doing. What they didn’t know was that I had been doing secretarial work for near on twenty years. I loved doing the admin, completing computerised care plans etc. Being quick and quite good (compared to them) at it, I smiled throughout the shift – something that bugged colleagues when they disliked you.

Private sector treating patients badly

Poor standards in mental health causes incidents
Overdose of medication — mental health nursing

One particular famous client (they were called clients in private units) had overdosed on illegal substances many times. She was on methadone, an opiate prescribed by doctors as a substitute for heroin. Today she wanted to eat lunch before medication. When she went to get her medication, the nurse who’d been doling out meds had left the ward.

The other nurses wouldn’t give her the methadone and told her she’d have to wait. When a methadone user doesn’t receive a dose on time, it will trigger debilitating withdrawal symptoms like nausea and insomnia. The patient was agitated by this. I was p’d off because I thought the nurses’ punitive actions were totally unacceptable.

How I dealt with it

I went to the unit Manager who was sitting in his plush office. I then asked him whether it was standard practice to hold medication hostage. He tutted and exhaled heavily, put his muscled arms up behind his dreadlocked head and proffered an uncomfortable smile. “Mmm, Nancy is it? Look, she’s a pain. Man, she always think she can bend the rules.”

“Pfft, rules?” I asked. This is a healthcare facility isn’t it? I am in the right place?”

“Nancy, we only have enough staff to do the basics. Our staff doesn’t have time to run after clients whenever they want.”

“Okay, but Molly’s totally distressed now so I’ll go and talk with her and document all this in her notes.” I said with a sarcastic smile and walked out of his office. He wasn’t long in chasing me down the corridor, apologising profusely; therefore he was just having a bad day, he didn’t realise what staff were doing! He would get the medication now. I still documented this event in Molly’s notes and asked a nurse to co-sign it.

A typical example of an employee with low standards

The nurse who’d declined to give out the medication didn’t speak to me the rest of my placement? Was I bothered? It was one less idiot to listen to as she did nothing but whinge about the job. She would moan about various patients and kiss her teeth throughout her shifts. Spending more time on the computers, googling hairstyles and nail art. She must have not realised that somewhere in Head Office, the tech guys could easily follow what she was doing. They could see exactly how much time she’d spent online, and they could report her for time wasting.

Did no one care about low standards at mental health units?

Coloured image of black man sitting at his desk in front of a computer
Mental health nurse playing online games – Photo: Gettyimages.co.uk

Much of the time on this elective placement I felt so powerless and could totally empathise with patients. No one wanted to listen and no one cared! Staff appeared to find everything a chore and it seemed they only came in to earn money. See, nursing isn’t just a job. Being a professional nurse means the patients in your care must be able to trust you. It means being up to date with best practice. Always treat patients  and colleagues with dignity, kindness, respect and compassion. It means understanding the NMC code of conduct. It means being accountable. Katrina Michelle Rowan, 2010.

I was able to complete several PBA’s on this placement. And I also learnt more about how not be be a mental health nurse. I saw how poor the team’s communication skills were, both verbal and mainly non-verbal. I saw how badly they treated people, how unprofessional they were and how they lacked empathy for anyone. The staff on this placement tried to hold me back. Little did they know how much I gained and how much I’d grown by watching their indifference. I always say, there’s never a bad lesson.

Related posts: Clapped out: Mental Illnesses, abuse by services and #ClapForCarers (1). Acute care facilities and mental health facilities are below modern design standards (2).

Why do you blog?

It’s yet another dull day in London but I have a lot to be happy about. I have an amazing partner who’s really looked after me since I was disabled by Transverse Myelitis in 2011. I’m grateful I have an amazing close-knit family and I will be going up to Scotland in November for a niece’s wedding where I’ll get to see everyone. I am delighted with my two amazing sons; one (Ricci) is currently a Research Fellow in the States and the other (Ravi) is a Physiotherapist in London.

Today I’m going to meet Ravi and his new wife for afternoon tea and I’m so excited. I haven’t seen them together since their wedding and they’re going to bring some wedding photos for me to look through.

I’ve been up for an hour now and have been going through my posts’ comments and tried to answer everyone. Somewhere along the way I’ve picked up great blog: Crushed Caramel where she’d answered an interesting set of questions posted by another blogger: Salted Caramel so I thought I’d have a go too.

Do you blog to promote your business?

No. I became disabled and regretfully medically retired from my job as a Mental Health Nurse/Ward Manager, a job I truly loved. I also had to cease running my small business where I worked as and supplied Mental Health First Aid instructors to a variety of organisations. We taught MHFA to a wide range of companies, schools and Armed Forces. I was there at the inception of MHFA England and would love to be able to carry out more training in order to raise aware of mental health issues.

Or is your blog a launching pad for your social life?

What social life? Okay, so I’m exaggerating a little ‘cos I’ve already told you I’m off out this afternoon. We went to see our grandchildren on Thursday and got to stay the night. It was sooo much fun playing games like hide and seek, where when you’re looking for a two year old an you utter to yourself “Now, where’s that Ava?” and she shouts “I’m here.” and her four year old big brother shouts crossly “Aaaava! You’re not supposed to tell her! You’ve spoiled the game now!” and off he stomps, sulking and trying not to laugh when I pretend trip and fall onto the sofa “Ouch, Ouch!”

We’re going back there this Sunday and I’m cooking stew and dumplings (a nod to my Scottish heritage) for everyone together with my brother-in-law and his girlfriends. So far my social life’s been all family but hopefully next week I’ll be able to catch up with a few friends.

  • Pinterest.com
  • Momjunction.com
  • bbc.co.uk/food

Does it exist only to complement your Instagram account?

No. I’ve never had an Instagram account. I’m a complete technophobe and not very computer literate, despite having typed and used computers since the seventies. Oops, just given away my approximate age 😉 When my energy levels reach rock bottom, I sometimes find it hard enough responding to my blog comments, Twitter and my emails, let alone having another account such as Instagram. However, I love picking up my laptop and catching up with everyone’s news – it’s my little window on the world.


No need to explain

Is your blog making you real money (if so please let me into your secret)?

No. Unfortunately not and it never will really. I don’t intend to monetize my blog and only set it up because I wanted to make use of my fifteen years of diaries, kept from when I was nursing. Reading through them reminds me of all the good times I had, the amazing inspiring people I met; both patients and colleagues. However, I was also reminded of the poor standards of practice and that’s really what I wanted to highlight in my blog.

I want people (nursing students, nurses, doctors, social workers, occupational therapists, community psychiatric nurses, the public, MP’s, the government, patients, carers or friends) to be informed and make the necessary changes. Tell your care team you are not happy with the standards of care. Tell your boss,manager, team that standards must be raised. I want Doctors and nurses to continue with their professional development and stay up-to-date with current practices. Ooops! Rant over.

Are you blogging because you are so adept at this craft that you want to teach it to others?

No. I wish I was smart enough tho’. I loved teaching and mental health is my niche, so I’ll stick to it. I can offer lots of information, not unsolicited advice, and point people in the right direction if they are seeking support but I can’t profess to being a teacher or instructor any more.

Or are you like me : blogging just due to the urge to write?

Yes. I’m like you. Yay, we have this one in common. I love reading and also enjoy writing; releasing the pent up frustration that’s been raging inside me for so many years. As a mental health nurse I was used to writing ‘in and on reflection’, hence the lengthy notes in my old work diaries.

As I’m disabled I often have time on my hands and can’t believe how many hours I used to spend on social media i.e. Twitter and Facebook, just to see if anyone had messaged me or liked my comments. Now I’m blogging, the likes, the helpful comments and advice I get is both helpful and constructive. I only started blogging a few months ago and I’ve not even finished with my first work diary yet – so looks like I’ll be here for a few more years.

What are your reasons why you put the proverbial blood sweat tears into your blog posts?

  • Blood, sweat and tears
    The balance careers photo
  • Shout it from the mountains
    Sinceremoments.co.uk
  • Mental health matters
    Red bubble photo

I want people to be aware of the poor standards of practice in mental health units. I want everyone to shout it from the rooftops or from the highest mountain whenever they come across poor practice in mental health nursing and care environments. I want to increase awareness of diagnosis (right or wrong sometimes) the signs, symptoms, causes and effects of mental health disorders. And I want to reduce the stigma. I know I can’t change the world on my own but if my little blog is of use to one person and they have the confidence to speak out, it’s a start.


The way to change the world is through individual responsibility and taking local action in your own community. Jeff Bridges

Mental Health rehab works—only if the staff do

Realkm.com

While I was a student on the rehab unit I had to complete my Practice Based Assessments (PBA’s) and I’d chosen four patients that I could work with to meet these over the twelve weeks placement. First there was Mandy who had Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and next was Sasha, Elsa and Edward who all had a diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia.

Mandy

I spent many pleasurable weeks working with Mandy, the lady who’d previously screamed for her medication several times a day. She repeatedly said that she could notice the reduction in each nought point five mg Diazepam, which was highly unlikely. However, I appreciate that for her, it was difficult, hence her continuous screeching at medication time.

From my parenting days, I knew that distraction worked well when children were upset so I hoped distraction might help Mandy too. I would offer her a cup of tea and ask what her plans were for the day or about her collection of teapots, rather than have the poor lady screaming and working herself into a panic attack.

It’s a shame that other nurses hadn’t picked this up as it would have been far easier for them in the long run and certainly better for Mandy. However following discussions with her Primary Nurse, the nurse who has overall responsibility for a patient, her care plan was updated and read “When Mandy is upset and screaming her allocated nurse must use distraction techniques.”

Example care plan
How a care plan might look

Care plans are prepared for each patient and wherever possible, are developed with the patient, rather than for the patient. The care plans are used to guide your practice with patients, to explain what care is required and how to carry it out.

As she got better, Mandy would eventually accompany me to the local Primark to get cheap knickers. Grinning cheekily, she would say the money she saved from buying these allowed her to buy her favourite yoghurts from Marks and Sparks next door. Once I’d left the unit it always cheered me up when I saw Mandy and I loved to stop for a chat.

Sasha

I had a lot of fun working with Sasha; she was witty, intelligent and was becoming much more cheerful as the weeks went on. Between us we managed to clear all the cereal boxes from her room along with the crumbs and mouldy, congealed leftovers we found in bowls under her bed.

This wasn’t my favourite task but I laughed all the way through it because Sasha was getting really cheeky. When I was busy scrubbing the floor she’d sit on her bed reading or stand at the window waving at random passersby and she’d crack up when I spotted it.

Many of Sasha’s care plans were updated or changed altogether now because she’d made great progress in several areas and some of her care plans were now outdated. One care plan read ‘Encourage Sasha to keep her bedroom tidy and work with her if necessary. If Sasha refuses, staff to advise her that they have a duty of care to ensure her environment is clean.’ It was like writing instructions for nine year olds rather than senior qualified nurses.

Another care plan read ‘Encourage Sasha to spend time off the unit and accompany her if needed.’ I loved spending time with her in the cafe, a local haunt for both patients and staff. I always took my badge off when accompanying patients outside as I wanted them to feel equal in the community. It really bugged me seeing staff wearing badges when outside with patients. It was like ‘them and us‘ and showing the staff member was in a position of authority, which I thought was unfair.

Elsa

At forty eight Elsa hadn’t aged well at all; she originally came from Greece and her face was craggy from the sun. She had short wiry grey hair which she hacked at herself, staring in the mirror taking great clumps out with almost blunt scissors. These were eventually taken from her as she’d often say to fellow-patients and staff “I will kill you.” She did this with a wicked grin so I didn’t think she was really serious but the scissors might have posed a risk to both her and others.

One of her care plan was updated and read ‘When Elsa wants to cut her hair, a staff member must be with her and remove the scissors back to the office once finished.’ I wanted to find out why Elsa chose to use her clothes as toilet paper but, despite using one of our translators, she just shrugged and grinned when asked. However, it was something we had to work on, we couldn’t just ignore it. I asked several staff nurses what has been tried in the past and what worked but was told “That’s just Elsa. She always does it and nothing works.” Elsa had been on the unit for months and nobody could tell me what had been tried.

When I was on duty as a nursing assistant (NA) or there on my student placement I tried to speak with Elsa every couple of hours to see if she needed the bathroom. I tried taking her to the toilet, getting her to sit for a while to see if she would poop, her favourite word. Sometimes it worked and I had to wait while I encouraged her to use toilet paper. “Too small.” she would grin “No enough.” and she’d try to use her skirt. Ah! Next time I accompanied her to the bathroom I took a roll of the large hand drying paper. Success!

NMC.org.uk

One of her care plans was updated to read ‘Encourage Elsa to use the toilet throughout the shift and have hand paper available.’ though I know this rarely happened as I never saw it documented. The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Conduct states that ‘nurses should respect, support and document a person’s right to accept or refuse care and treatment.’ It did not say ‘if patient refuses support, just leave it at that.’

Once my placement ended I would later hear that Elsa had reverted back to using her clothing to wipe herself. I was truly mad that the nurses had allowed this to happen. It was like they’d given up caring and they were just passing time until retirement. However, I did learn how not to nurse and their disassociation made me even more determined to be a good nurse. Our patients deserved better.

Edward

Edward had long been on a medication called chlorpromazine, the first antipsychotic which was widely shown to be significantly more effective than later antipsychotics. However this drug had a range of distressing side effects, one of which Edward had was the shuffling gait known to nurses as the ‘chlorpromazine shuffle.’

He would also complain of constipation and impotence. He was prescribed a regular dose laxatives and he often requested Viagra but would talk about not being able to get rid of his erection for hours. You had to laugh with him, his tales were hilarious. He told me about one time when he was on the bus returning to the unit and the movement gave him an erection just as his stop was coming up. It was summer and he was wearing just shorts and a t-shirt so he had no way of covering the erection. He had to stay on the bus and went miles out his way.

My main task with Edward was to get him to take better care of his hygiene. He was physically fit and more than able but he really needed a ‘kick up the backside with my tiny size three’s’, I’d tell him. He also picked his nose and would later want to shake my hand. This was one habit that would have to go and I told him I would never shake his hand unless he hadn’t washed it. I also said I wouldn’t accompany him in the community if he was wearing his usual attire of stained tracksuit bottoms and a dirty old t-shirt. I often used my sons as examples, telling Edward that I wouldn’t go out with them if they weren’t clean.

One afternoon I arrived on the unit and there was Edward, spick and span. He was clean and reeking of cheap aftershave. His receding hair had been carefully dampened down and he wearing mismatched clothes but they were spotless. He’d been waiting for me since after lunch. How could I not take him out to the local snooker hall? This was his favourite outing as the voices he heard were much quieter and encouraging when he was concentrating. It became a weekly treat while I was there but I later saw him shuffling along the street, head down and miserable.

I don’t know why the nurses on the rehab unit ignored any improvement or the hard work that was done. They scoffed at his updated care plans, saying – it won’t last! Why did they think it was okay to let patients revert to their old habits.

Conclusion—Rehab does work — but only if the staff do!

*The Purpose of the Written Care Plan is to ensure continuity of care. The care plan is a means of communicating and organizing the actions of a constantly changing nursing staff. As the patient’s needs are attended to, the updated plan is passed on to the nursing staff at shift change and during ward rounds. http://www.rncentral.com/nursing-library/careplans

Spoiler – find out what happens on Mental Rehabilitation Wards

Early shift

memesmonkey.com

As I parked up my first morning, even above Slade’s Noddy Holder screaming “It’s Chriiiiiistmass”, I could hear a female screeching “Medication. I want my medication. Where’s my medication? I need my medication.” The poor neighbours either side of the building must have been well p’d off. It was six forty-five, pitch black outside and the streets were eerily quiet — other than the high pitched screeching coming from the Mental Health Rehab Unit piercing the air.

Someone in the office by the front door pressed a button to let me in and I was greeted by this tiny little lady who grabbed both my hands and panted “Help me. Help me please. I need my medication. You’re new. Are you an Agency Nurse?” Will you help me? Please?”

I spoke calmly but firmly, “Listen to me, I can’t help you right now…” I was trying to placate her enough so that she could hear me and take in what I was saying. At the same time I was trying to get her to take a breath as she was panicking and was as white as a sheet. I really felt for her.

“Please, please. I’m begging you,” she continued to screech, now in my face, as I tried to disentangle myself from the tight grip she had on my wrists. The office door opened and a nurse yelled “Cindy, stop it, leave her alone. Cindy!” I’d now managed to get myself free but Cindy had grabbed the nurse and was pulling on her cardigan, all the while screeching “You’re a bitch. You’re a fucking bitch! Get my medication you fucking black bitch.”

The nurse eventually pushed me into the office and she followed, turning to slam the door in Cindy’s face with a kiss of her teeth “Oh Lordy Lord. That Cindy. She will be the death of me. I am Ayo. Who are you?”

I breathed a sigh of relief and introduced myself as the Student Nurse. “I don’t know. See how it is here. I pray to God for her sins,” humphed Ayo. “Hmmm. Take a seat. Ah! Here come the staff.” and I turned to see two females and one male puffing away outside, the ciggie smoke belching through the office window. “Tsk, Tut. I don’t know. Smokers, heh!” moaned Ayo as she reached to slam the offending window shut.

Seven o’clock on the dot the three members of staff traipsed in, throwing their coats on top of a filing cabinet. Lisa was first to introduce herself as the RMN, the shift coordinator and my supervisor, and said “That’s Lorna, she’s a qualified (RMN) and that’s Graham the NA (Nursing Assistant).” Where’s the fourth member of staff? I thought to myself.

Morning handover

“Okay.” started Ayo, above Cindy’s screeching. “The lady herself. Cindy, she slept and now she has been shouting before six thirty. Lord help me! Everybody still in bed. Only Sasha, she awakes all night but she stay in her room. Somebody needs to clear her room. I saw the mouse there.” My feet moved on their own, up off the floor as I sat on a desk, and I shuddered involuntarily when I was looking around for the said mouse.

Ayo continued and ended with “Moses needs to see a Doctor and his toenails need to be cut. It’s in the diary for this morning. Now I’m going home. Goodbye!” She pulled off her slippers and put them in her bag then huffed and puffed as she bent down to put her shoes on. She grabbed a large woollen blanket and shuffled out of the door.

Lisa went through the diary, handed out tasks to the other two and said she was doing medication and that I should shadow her. Lorna went off to wake up the other nine patients that lived in the ten bedded unit and Graham wandered off to the kitchen to prepare for breakfast.

Medication

With our coffee, Lisa and I went to the medication room, we were met with Cindy who was still gulping in great lumps of air, wringing her hands and saying “Thank you Lisa.” and “Thank you nurse.” to me. Yes, I could get quite used to being called Nurse.

“Right Cindy. You know we start titrating down your Diazepam today.”

“No, please Lisa. Not today. I can’t cope. I can’t cope!” Cindy screamed.

“Nought point five milligrams Mandy. You won’t even notice it.” Lisa tutted and turned to me. “She’s been on thirty milligrams three times a day for years and you can see it doesn’t reduce her anxiety. So we’re going to try titrating down while she’s in Rehab.” Cindy lived in a one bedroom flat and had apparently relapsed over a period of six months prior to admission to an acute ward. Once stabilised she was transferred to rehab.

Cindy had generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) which is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event. 

People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. As soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another may appear about a different issue. Titration looked like it would go on forever, reducing her Diazepam by nought point five mg three times a day. However, Cindy eventually accepted the reduced dose and greedily swallowed down all her medication, followed by gulps of water, then scurried off to the dining room.

Breakfast

We continued until each patient had had their medication then joined everyone for breakfast in the dining room because, on rehab, we were encouraged to eat with the patients each mealtime. Lisa waffled something about nurses having a responsibility to role model table manners and eating with the patients was supposed to encourage healthy eating. I wasn’t sure that this was an evidence-based intervention but I went along with it anyway.

Coffee and toast with jam was just what I needed but as I sat to eat I was immediately struck by an offensive odour. One older lady to my left had obviously not washed or brushed her teeth, yet there was another disgusting smell.

Graham screwed his nose up and said “She’s just sat there and shit herself and carried on eating!” to nobody in particular. “That’s Elsa.” he whispered with an Aberdonian accent. “She normally goes to the toilet but she uses her clothes to wipe herself and then hides them down the back of the toilets, eh Elsa?” he now boomed. “Elsa, say hello to Nancy, she’s our new student.” Elsa’s face was buried in the huge breakfast she was picking up with her teeth. She raised her head and gave me a toothless grin.

None of the staff got up to help Elsa so I offered, but Graham told me “No. Wait til after breakfast!” And this is rehab? I wondered — does it really work?

Around the table, there was belching, farting and one young chap was trying to snort back the snot that was threatening to hit his top lip. He eventually gave up and wiped a huge glob on the sleeve of his t-shirt leaving a silvery snail-like trail.

Coffee finished and my toast in the bin, I helped clear the table and took my time in the kitchen. I was hoping someone would deal with Elsa, as I was already feeling queasy. Fortunately, she’d gone by the time it took me to do the dishes but she’d left wet poop dribbling down the chair legs. Gloves and apron on and ten minutes later the chair was scrubbed and left outside in the back garden to dry.

Activities of daily living

To the bedrooms on the first floor now where I tried encouraging patients to wash and dress before attending any appointments or activities. Oh my word! I’d knocked and opened the door to Sasha’s room and was aghast at the cereal boxes piled as high as the ceiling. At a guess I’d say there must have been over two hundred boxes and the only other floor space was filled by her bed and two or three black sacks.

“Get out of my room.” stormed Sasha as she pushed me and slammed the door. I stood for a few seconds, stunned, then knocked and called out “I’m a student nurse Sasha. Is there anything I can do? Would you like me to help you clean your room.”

“Get lost.” Sasha muttered. I went to find Lisa and asked what I could do to help Sasha. “Not a lot,” Lisa laughed. “Her room’s been like that forever. She won’t let us in.” That can’t be right. Surely we have a duty of care? I went to the office to look through Sasha’s file and her painstakingly completed but outdated care plans to see if I could find ways to engage her.

I read that she was single, had no children and had been in care since the age of eleven when her mother couldn’t cope with her chaotic behaviour. She was thirty one and was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at eighteen. Sasha heard voices and was often heard talking back to them when alone in her bedroom. Apparently Sasha had no insight and didn’t believe she had a mental health problem. She’d been on the unit for six months and was awaiting housing but it was proving difficult to find a place that would meet her needs.

I decided then that I’d be really firm with Sasha right from the start, telling her that we have a duty of care to ensure that her environment is habitable. If she wouldn’t clean it herself, then we would have to do it! It annoyed me that staff had let her live like this for months. Even if Sasha had refused to let them clean it, surely the staff could have come up with a plan between them.

It was exhausting and often thankless, but I worked hard with Sasha for the next twelve weeks, updating her care plans and engaging her in meaningful activities; things that would both interest and help her rather drum banging or painting by numbers. I appreciate that one of her care plans previously stated ‘Engage Sasha in activities.’ But, while these particular activities may help with dexterity and fine finger/hand movement, I wasn’t sure they would support her development. It was clear that certain staff had intermittently tried to push Sasha into any activities and wrote in her notes ‘Declined to attend.’ I wondered why!

I’d eventually learned more about Sasha, along with the other patients on the unit, and had managed to form a professional bond with each of them. As I got to know them better, often by engaging them in friendly banter, I was better informed about their likes and dislikes. It was easy to see they weren’t interested in particular activities and that they had their own ideas about how to spend their time.

Mark liked football so I’d have a kickabout with him in the gardens – he was quite good – so encouraged him to attend the local leisure centre where he could access different types of exercise and look out for a local football team to join.

Jenny loved knitting so we bought her knitting needles, a few patterns for baby clothes (that she requested), and some wool. She wasn’t great, dropping more than a few stitches, but that wasn’t the point. She enjoyed it. Other staff who could knit helped her unpick and start again. Eventually, with the help of staff, she started her own small weekly knitting group on the unit.

We also got a group of patients to go swimming once a week, with a member of the team. We also went to the local pub once a week so that some of the young lads could have half a pint and a game of pool. They’d never felt comfortable going into a pub previously, because they were worried about what other people thought. We quite often did get some odd looks but as a rule, the regulars were great – helping the lads with their game and showing them trick shots.

At the end of my placement I loved seeing Sasha and the others laughing, smiling, engaging and growing in self-confidence and once again, I was sad to leave.

I would later bump into some these patients in various settings i.e. in the community or on the wards and I was either saddened by their relapse or delighted by their continued improvement.

Note to self: “Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.” Margaret Chase Smith.

Patients loved good student nurses

Patients loved good student nurses cos we had time to chat with them

Patients and nurses loved good student nurses
Everyone loves good student nurses

Good student nurses might not be as skilled or knowledgeable as the professionals, but they’re very much loved by patients. They’re a breath of fresh air. Most of them want to help, whether it’s plumping up your pillows or making you that longed for cup of tea.

Have you ever been in hospital, maybe bursting to go the loo and you couldn’t get the nurse’s attention? Or your chin was on your chest and your neck had locked because your pillows were skew-whiff? Hmm, me too, on more than one occasion. And I get that nurses are really busy, I know, because I was one. But manys a time I could see them huddled round the nurse’s desk, laughing and stuffing their faces with chocolates.

Seriously, some general nurses work really hard, running up and down their wards, trying to fit in everyone’s needs. And it seems impossible some days. But Hallelujah, several times a year, they get a group of student nurses, many of whom want to learn. Woe betide if you just want to hang around looking like a nurse. You had work to do, and nurses couldn’t be bothered with hangers on.

I’d wanted to become a mental health nurse and this general nursing wasn’t what I’d signed up for. However, if you were a good student, willing to learn and share the teams’ mission, they’d support you, which made it easier. You’d help them with most anything they asked, within your capabilities. Even the most dreaded tasks.

Me and patient’s bodily functions

General nursing student

I wasn’t looking forward to this particular placement because, not only did I dislike East London and that hospital, it was also a general male ward. And generally where you get all men, you get burps, farts, snot and phlegm, in no particular order.

I gagged when I was asked to collect mucus — just at the thought of it. But actually holding a sputum cup half-full with sticky green bodily fluid had me dry-retching and reaching for the ladies. I dreaded the day I had to hold male poo samples.

A lovely elderly chap called Derek was the first patient I saw. He had prostate cancer along with other age-related ailments. Derek chuckled and winked at me when he saw me screwing my nose up. I couldn’t help but show my disgust at the foul smells of half-full bedpans and commodes. I realised I was being unprofessional, and it didn’t take long for me to become accustomed to the odour on the ward.

Patients I adored

General nurses were always busy
General nurses were always busy

Derek loved telling me stories about his life during the war and how, once home with his lovely young wife, they’d never spent a day apart. He also told me that his wife was on another ward down the corridor and he missed her terribly.

Before I went off shift one day, I managed to get Doris’ bed wheeled right next to Derek’s for the afternoon, despite moans from the nurses. I got to see why they never spent time apart; holding hands, whispering and giggling like teenagers and dipping custard creams into each other’s tea. I felt so proud that I was able to help in some small way. I’d honestly never had such a humbling and emotional experience.

Ah! Derek’s bed had been moved the next morning. I asked a male nurse where he was. With a nod and eyes rolling upward, he said: “He’s gone upstairs.” Oh, I thought and before I asked anything more, the nurse said “He’s dead.” Just like that!

I dashed the ladies to dry my eyes before looking in on Doris and her family, to pass on my condolences. I wasn’t sure I was at the right curtains when I heard laughter. So, I stood for a while, then Doris noticed my tiny shiny shoes and called me in. The family thank me for the humanity shown the previous day, and told me how much it had meant to both parents. They’d had their final chuckles and they were both at peace in their own way now.

Students have the time to listen

Listening skills

Most patients love good students on the ward because sometimes they’re the only ones who have time to stop and chat. They’d ask patients about their needs and wants, and try to help. Sometimes patients just wanted someone to listen to them, and students fitted the bill. While nurses ran ragged. They’d administer medication and attend ward rounds, while writing notes, and updating no end of needless care plans.

Phones rang out, begging to be picked up. It might have been someone wanting to speak to a poorly patient, or results from other departments?

Patients had many needs

Nursing students supported their colleagues while learning

See, most patients had more underlying health problems than just the issue came in with. This tends to happen unfortunately, particularly in large cities like London. It then becomes difficult for care teams to discharge patients in a timely manner because:

  • patients who didn’t speak or understand English needed interpreters
  • some patients needed support with housing and benefit issues
  • other patients couldn’t go home because their accommodation had to be repaired of adapted prior to discharge
  • often we had homeless patients who required a lot of input
  • others — just didn’t want to go home either because they were lonely or didn’t have any family around them
  • we also had patients with mental health problems and were awaiting a psych assessment
  • at least 25% of general hospital beds are occupied by people living with dementia. On average people with dementia stay more than twice as long in hospital then other patients aged over 65, said the National Audit Office, 2016.

Bed-blockers (hospital speak) are a huge problem for the NHS, and I can’t see it being ‘solved’ any time soon. Patients still need care and support from our busy nurses, while multidisciplinary teams scratch their heads. They too have large caseloads, and no doubt it’s hard to put systems in place so that patients can go ‘home’.

In the meantime, nurses made hundreds of phone calls to the various support agencies and social services, while still caring for patients. This take them away from the very job they trained for; looking after patients. No wonder both patients and staff loved and appreciated good student nurses on their wards.

Over to you

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What’s your experience, if any, of student nurses? Do you think nurses have a tough time on the wards? I’d be interested to hear what you think, and I’m looking forward to your comments or questions.

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