Placement Overview
| Placement Title | Critical Care Unit – SRFTP 13 |
| Trust | |
| Your Placement Contact | Collette Garvey, Rebecca Quinn, Philip Whelan – Send Email |
| Placement Contact’s Role | Student Contact – Philip Whelan |
| Placement Address | Salford Royal Hospital, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD |
| Placement City/Town: | Salford |
| Placement Phone | 0161 206 8781 |
| Placement Web Site | salfordcriticalcare.org |
| Your University Contact: | Melanie Stephens, Mary Braine, Sue Walker – Send Email |
About this placement
What is organised for students on commencement of placement?
Critical Care is a fast paced and dynamic environment. We manage a wide range of critically unwell adult patients including those who are medically unwell, have undergone surgery or have suffered polytrauma
The critical care unit has 32 level 2 (high dependency) and level 3 (intensive care) beds divided into four pods of 8 beds. We provide specialist care for our patients with major trauma, a wide range of surgical and orthopedic specialties, neurosurgical and neuroscience conditions and critically ill medical patients.
We are currently in the process of expanding our capacity to 40 beds.
All nurses rotate throughout all the pods.
We look forward to offering you an excellent learning opportunity.
We provide welcome pack and induction at the start of your placement.
What are the arrangements for mentors/assessors?
We have multiple learners on the unit at any one time from various pre-registration courses and staff completing post registration qualifications. You will be allocated an assessor and supervisor. You will be expected to work with the staff allocated to you to ensure your assessor can assess you appropriately during your placement.
What shift patterns are students allocated for learning?
Early:
07:00 – 13:30
Late:
13:00 – 19:30
Night:
19:00 – 07:30
Shift Notes:
Long Day: 07:00-19:30
Notes:
We expect students to follow their assessor/supervisor’s off duty where possible however some flexibility will be accommodated. In order to enhance your learning experience, we normally expect students to complete at least one week of nights whilst with us to understand the full working cycle of Critical Care. Please liaise with your mentor if you would like to work more than one week of nights so we can ensure appropriate support is provided to you.
The shifts are 12 hours, therefore every 4 weeks you will be required to work an additional 6 hour shift to ensure you complete the required hours.
If you anticipate any difficulties with these shift patterns please discuss your concerns with the PEL and PEF prior to commencing placement.
If you are going to be late for shift you must ring the unit and inform the nurse in charge – 0161 206 8753
What patient care situations are available in this placement?
Caring for patients with single or multi-organ failure, including trauma/post-operative care/respiratory failure/neurological surgery.
What nursing model is used for planning care?
We use an adapted Medical Model that has been specifically developed for our Critical Care patients at Salford Royal
What core clinical skills can be learnt?
Basic nursing skills including bed bathing, mouth care, eye care, catheter care, pressure area care.
*Oxygen therapy
*Wound Care
*Care of wound drains
*Care of surgical wounds
*Care of patient requiring nutritional support, for example NG and PEG feeding.
*Practice performing a complete assessment of patient including 5 Lead ECG, Invasive and Non Invasive BP, CVP, Oxygen Saturations, Respiratory Rate and Pattern, Neurological assessment using GCS.
*Caring for the Critically Ill patient
*Communication with patients and families
What additional clinical skills can be learnt?
Caring for tracheostomies, including wound care and suction under supervision.
Care of central lines and dialysis lines.
Basic interpretation of blood results
Care of the patient requiring CPAP therapy
Care of the patient with an external ventricular drain
Care of the agitated/ delirious patient
Safe transfer of the critically ill patient to CT scan or MRI.
Interprofessional working
Exposure to Trauma rehabilitation pathway
What resources are available to help students learning?
We have varied resources including
*Simulations run by medical staff
*Working 1:1 with a qualified nurse
*Working with the MDT
*Internal study days specific to Critical Care
*GCS workbook
*EVD workbook
*Various companies providing training
*Pain management workbook
If there is something specific that you come across during your placement and wish to know more, please ask your mentor to direct you or contact the PEL for more advice and support
What research and practice development activities are being undertaken?
There are multiple research projects that are being completed by the Research Team – these are advertised these in the staff room. The research nurses visit the unit on a daily basis and are happy to provide any information on the range of research projects being undertaken.
Spoke Placements
Due the nature of this environment being high risk we are limited as to who can spoke to us.
If you wish to spoke to Critical Care you must contact the PEL by email and they will discuss whether they can accommodate this for you.
Please use email to arrange spoke placements as the staff may not always be available to discuss.
Please refer to induction book for possible spoke placements outside of Critical Care
Additional Information
Practice Education Facilitator – Practice Education Facilitator, Learning & Development Dept, 2nd Floor, Mayo Building, SRFT
PEF email: PEFTeam@nca.nhs.uk