Is this normal??. Help please

vandiola · Feb 21, 2016

4 days? At my training trust you're supernumerary for 6 months. Maybe they mis-worded it and meant 4 months, I don't think any trust in the UK or Eire would let you work completely independently after 4 days.

I actually think dialysis is way more interesting than med-surg, and you could end up doing bank/agency later on when you have the experience. But of course it's up to you!

priyaremi · Feb 21, 2016

Thanks a million for your reply vandiola but I am in Eire and that's what the clinical nurse manager told me over the phone!!. The hospital is notorious for bad treatment of staff and the turnover is crazy with staff. I cannot go there as a new graduate with 4 days training. I am definitely taking dialysis as you're right in regards to it sounding very interesting. I am not ready to risk my registration by having 8 or more patients after 4days supernumerary!

spacemonkey15 · Feb 22, 2016

4 days? At my training trust you're supernumerary for 6 months. Maybe they mis-worded it and meant 4 months, I don't think any trust in the UK or Eire would let you work completely independently after 4 days.
I actually think dialysis is way more interesting than med-surg, and you could end up doing bank/agency later on when you have the experience. But of course it's up to you!

Actually, it's pretty common for people to only get a few days or weeks of supernumary time before being in the numbers on a ward, even as NQ nurses. 6 months is really generous.

In the end, the best way to learn and find your own way of working is by being in the numbers rather than as a supernumary nurse, just because people are in the numbers doesn't mean they're not going to get support to undertake their role.

priyaremi · Feb 22, 2016

Thanks Spacemonkey15. I think its pure terror on my part as I have had 5 months off now since graduation and the thought of being thrown in at the deep end on the ward is scaring the bejesus out of me! I have signed two contracts now. One for dialysis outpatient clinic and one for med surg ward. I know I will burn my bridges with the hospital when I turn them down as I feel as if the clinic will give me a lot more support. This is how it appears anyway! I'm dreading turning down the hospital!! It would be worse to start the job and be unable to handle it. However my dream is to complete my midwifery conversion so I hope the dialysis is just as good as medical acute experience when I go to apply for midwifery!!

vandiola · Feb 22, 2016

In the end, the best way to learn and find your own way of working is by being in the numbers rather than as a supernumary nurse, just because people are in the numbers doesn't mean they're not going to get support to undertake their role.

But you can't be signed off for meds until after at least 2-3 months? At my trust NQNs are counted in numbers and have their own patients, but they're also assigned mentors who sign them off on their competencies.

priyaremi · Feb 22, 2016

That was the same where I trained in northern Ireland, Vandiola! It appears to be a whole different kettle of fish since I came home to Southern Ireland!! I really don't think that I will get a booklet of competencies to be signed off! I have already organised my iv my training myself

and the hospital told me that they have booked me in for venepuncture training for 8th March if I start! That seems to be about it! UK is much more structured, organised and patient safety centred it would seem!

spacemonkey15 · Feb 23, 2016

But you can't be signed off for meds until after at least 2-3 months? At my trust NQNs are counted in numbers and have their own patients, but they're also assigned mentors who sign them off on their competencies.

You can be signed off for meds as soon as whoever is signing you off assesses you as competent. There's no time limit. I could go on at length about what I think about pre reg training and how it factors into all of this, however it would lead the thread off topic and would be unfair on the OP.

OP, if you're wanting to do postgrad midwifery then ward experience will be much more useful to you than working on a dialysis unit. Think about transferable skills that you can bring to the table when applying to do midwifery. You're going to have a lot more working on a med-surg ward than hooking patients to a dialysis machine. Have you been to visit either of these places to have a chat with the staff, have a look about and see if you could see yourself fitting in there? Just because you've only got a few days supernumary on the wards doesn't mean that will be the end of all the support you'll get, while you've had a while off, I'm sure you'll find your feet in no time. Why not speak to the ward manager or practice support staff (if they have any) letting them know your fears and concerns. They'll know your training has differed from the training Irish nurses have completed and you should be able to negotiate a bit more support.

priyaremi · Feb 23, 2016

Thanks Spacemonkey, that's a great idea regarding speaking to the ward manager. I'm not due to start until 7th March but you've really given me food for thought going forward for midwifery training. Thank you í ½í¸Š. I appreciate your advice.

spacemonkey15 · Feb 23, 2016

Thanks Spacemonkey, that's a great idea regarding speaking to the ward manager. I'm not due to start until 7th March but you've really given me food for thought going forward for midwifery training. Thank you ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½. I appreciate your advice.

You're welcome. Starting a new role is scary. Starting as an NQ nurse is really scary. Putting both together along with doing it in a different country to the one you trained in is going to cause a bit of anxiety, it's normal to feel that way. Just make sure you approach things in a positive manner, explain to the ward manager how you feel and what you're anxious about, hopefully they'll be supportive.

Good luck with your new job. Let us know how you get on :)

priyaremi · Feb 24, 2016

You're welcome. Starting a new role is scary. Starting as an NQ nurse is really scary. Putting both together along with doing it in a different country to the one you trained in is going to cause a bit of anxiety, it's normal to feel that way. Just make sure you approach things in a positive manner, explain to the ward manager how you feel and what you're anxious about, hopefully they'll be supportive. Good luck with your new job. Let us know how you get on :)

Thank you for all your advice and feedback. My Husband really thinks that acute experience will serve me much better for the future going forward.

I am very anxious but the only way to deal with that is to just get on with it now!!. Thank you again.

GrumpyRN, NP · Feb 24, 2016

My Husband really thinks that acute experience will serve me much better for the future going forward.

Not sure how you meant this, but when I worked in dialysis it was anything but acute. It was chronic illness with the same bored, tired patients who were sometimes quite nasty. I would have liked to have made a career out of it but was driven away by the selfishness and abuse of some of my patients.

Hope it works for you.