In year one its about getting the basics, you'll do alot of observing and also a lot of hands on, depends on whats going on....

In community you will begin by observing and then having a go at things like palpation in clinic, urine analyis, BP and after few weeks you will be feeling more confident to start tackling skills like venepuncture. The rule is - no practical til youve done the theory and find out what your Uni says is acceptable for your year. i.e episiotomies are strictly a Year 3 thing etc..... in short you observe everything and by the end of the placement will have had a good go at getting the skills under your belt. You need to have skills signed off in your CAP so you will need to get going as asap at having a go and getting competent.

You will start out thinking there is no way you can do all that stuff in one placement but you will, and you'll feel great for doing so! You'll have taken babies blood (blood spot test) palpated lots of abdomens and beginning to get the hang of the lie, recognise rashes on neonates etc

On the ward its alot of answering buzzers, helping with breastfeeding, making up bottles, conducting baby checks and PN checks on mums, ushering visitors in and out ....... again the clinical skills will be with the support of your mentor and you will soon feel comfortable cracking on with your bays and caring for your women and babies. The wards are hectic and you will need to orientate quickly as you will be running around to the kitchens, to stores etc .... Also you will get great experience on the drug rounds (I love them) once you get over the fear of OMG I may kill someone, you start to enjoy it lol You will alsways be supervised in things like drugs and dont ever dispense something without an RM and without checking the drug chart!

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J
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