My First Placement Experience: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help! by Stefan Horn, 4th Year BN Student
I went into my first placement with no prior experience – I had no idea what to expect. Looking back, I can honestly say that it was the most challenging learning environment I had ever encountered. But don’t let that discourage you; all placements are valuable learning experiences! Your first placement might feel overwhelming, but you will learn so much.
Understand the Supervisor and Assessor System
My main advice is to understand the supervisor-assessor system clearly. You might hear both roles referred to as “mentors,” which reflects an older system where their responsibilities were blurred. While both supervisors and assessors are there to support you, they serve different functions: supervisors provide direct guidance during your placement, while assessors gather feedback from supervisors to evaluate your overall performance. Having both is crucial for a good learning experience and for receiving useful, constructive feedback.
In a busy clinical environment, you may experience challenges that could influence your learning experience. If you have any concerns, you can reach out to your first-year academic assessor to discuss the situation and explore ways to ensure you are well supported.
Build Relationships with Staff
Building relationships with clinical staff is crucial. Make an effort to engage with everyone – domestic staff included! Open communication can lead to unexpected sources of support and even friendship. If you remain closed off, asking for help becomes much more difficult.
This is important because it’s essential to only take on tasks you feel comfortable with and know how to do safely.
Remember, you need to prioritise patient safety above all else, especially when performing tasks like mobilising patients or taking vital signs. If you’re unsure, it’s important to ask someone to show you what to do – no matter how busy the ward gets. Don’t let yourself be pressured into doing something that could potentially harm a patient.
Find Value in Patient Interaction
One of the highlights of my placement was the time I spent talking to patients. Those interactions provided some of my best learning experiences and offered insights into what it’s like to be a hospital patient. This might be an opportunity you never get again. Unfortunately, it’s a reality that you may feel like a “spare pair of hands.” While this might benefit you initially, there should still be a balance between contributing to the team and receiving guidance in return.
Be proactive! Pitch in during meal times, help keep equipment clean, and ask patients if they would like a cup of tea. Familiarise yourself with essential tools like TRAK to learn about care plans and keep note of patients who need their blood sugar monitored. The more you engage, the more likely staff are to reciprocate your efforts. Help with personal care and ask everyone if you can assist them in some way!
Don’t Stress!
Most importantly, don’t be discouraged if you’re struggling or making mistakes—this is completely normal during your first year (and well beyond)! Focus on being punctual, buy comfortable shoes with good cushioning, and keep a small notebook and two black pens handy. Above all, embrace the learning process! I’ve had many positive placements despite a rocky start, so even if your first experience is challenging, stay motivated and keep pushing forward. Remember, most students likely have positive first placements; those who don’t stick with it; it does get better.
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