Professional hospital visiting?

talaxandra · Jul 12, 2010

I'd really welcome any feedback, even if you think it's a stupid or unworkable idea, and I promise I'm not expecting a personal, member-led tour or anything :)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 12, 2010

Couple ways that may work, contact the area in question and ask to speak to the nurse manager and see if it is possible to visit or contact HR and talk to them about it

Zana2 · Jul 12, 2010

Try and find a learning and development coordonator. The hospitals I know have an appointed person that facilitates placements, work experience visits etc. Yours is not in that category, but I'm thinking this sort of person might be able to facilitate a visit for you, or point you in the right direction. Alternatively, ask to speak to the sister in charge on any ward.

PS i live far from London, otherwise I could try at my hospital.

talaxandra · Jul 19, 2010

I've found a couple of hospitals that sound suitable (based on their units) - does anyone have a suggestion about contacting the charge nurse vs clinical nurse lead? And what is a clinical nurse lead?

allnurses Guide · Jul 19, 2010

If your in England your first port of call should probably be the Department / Hospital Matron, he or she should be able to help you or point you in the right direction.

A clinical nurse lead is a clinical manager, responsible for the management and development of a clinical area and it's nurses.

It may also be worth contacting the HR department, they would have protocols on how such visits should be managed and again would be able to point you in the right direction

If you let me know which hospital's I will see if I can find out who the best person to speak to is, I've a few friends working in London so may be able to help

talaxandra · Jul 20, 2010

Thank you, Sharrie :) I'm looking at Chelsea and Westminster, and Barts and the London, who between them cover the units I'm most interested in.

It sounds like the clinical nurse lead's role is similar to our co-directors, managing a number of wards and departments, reported to by charge nurses and reporting to the head of nursing (DON here).

I just need to get it sorted by the end of the week, even though I'm not in London for a fortnight.

Thanks again for your help.

babbyfresh · Jul 24, 2010

Hi Talaxandra, if you are here, then you could just take an informal walk to the hospital, and find the unit you are looking for ask for the charge nurse or manager and explain to them that you are thinking of coming to the hospital to work and you are just doing an informal visit to see what it's like. nurses here are very approachable if they can do it they will, most time they do if you tell them you have applied to the hospital and the ward. they like it when you do informal visit to see what the area you have applied for is like and the culture of their ward. hope i have been helpfull, ooh and make sure you check out kings college they hire overseas nurses. they are at denmark hill in South East london ask anyone where it is they will tell you well known internationally.

talaxandra · Jul 25, 2010

Thanks, babbyfresh - I'm not planning on coming over to work, though. My plan is equal parts taking advantage of the opportunity to compare & contrast practices, and make that leg of my trip tax deductible. I've got a couple of tentative contacts, and I'm sure it'll all work out :)

allnurses Guide · Jul 25, 2010

I've been struggling to get contacts for you talaxandra. Nit sure if you've had any luck yet

babbyfresh · Jul 25, 2010

ok Talaxandra, am sure it will work out, but still take a look around.

talaxandra · Jul 26, 2010

Thanks, Sharrie - I've got a definite meeting on one unit of one hospital and am waiting to hear from the acting clinical nurse lead of another, which is start :) I very much appreciate the help, even if it's been unsuccessful.

Of course, it would have been easier if the website contacts were up to date, and better still if I'd started organising it a little earlier, so in the end I have nobody to blame but myself, whcih is always disappointing!