What’s up now?

It’s the third week I feel sick :( I had to see my GP today and she described an antibiotic regimen starting today. A lot of infections mid-air now, said to be. Well at least I got familiar with the National Health care system a bit.

I already started in my second placement period in the Children ward in Tyne Side District Hospital. At the beginning I had difficulties with my mentor but I solved it out in a good way. The main problem was that my mentor assumed that we have the same kind of nursing education in Finland than nurse students in England have. I was obviously upset because the atmosphere wasn’t so welcoming. I decided to manage and clear up the situation and it turned to upside-down :)

The start has been interesting, busy (again) and it has already gave a lot. I’m very aware of that you have to be very active that you can derive profit from the ward. My shifts are long (13 hour per a day) but in that way I have to work only three days a week. Long days are exhausting but the advantage is that you can see the whole path the child goes trough. The children are from few weeks old to 16-year-old and sometimes the child with a learning disability can be 18-year-old or more.

The role of a pediatric nurse in England seems to be different than in Finland; if the situation requires the cannulation they call a doctor. Apparently they don’t have a permission to do that. So what nurses are doing is observations, guidance, and documentation and medicates the children. The amount of “paper work” is huge and it takes time. Maybe in near future they’ll get electronic systems, so they can release time from “hand documentation”.

Sorry, I don’t have any photos (yet) from the ward but I promise to add when I get!

Last weekend we had a real reason to celebrate; it was St Patrick’s Day. There were a lot of people in University campus area, in the city and…EVERYWHERE! It is a tradition to wear something green, but unfortunately I didn’t. (a lack of time to buy) Some had made an enormous effort with a face painting, clothes and stuff!

I really looking forward next weekend; I’ve got tickets for the Liverpool vs. Newcastle match! And as we know, English people are very keen on FOOTBALL so that's why the match will be awesome! Below some pics just for get in mood :D