A typical day on a nursing placement: A&E edition

Katie Witts is a Year 2 student on the BNurs Adult Nursing course at Manchester. Here, she takes us though a day on placement in an accident and emergency hospital department.

As a second-year Adult Nursing student, I have been very grateful to get a placement in an area I want to work in: A&E.

I got to work with some incredible staff and learnt so much on the unit. My supervisor was amazing: she was really inspirational, and how I would like to be when I am a qualified nurse.

Every day was different, but I have outlined what a ‘normal’ day in the department may look like for a Band 5 nurse.

I worked 3 days a week, for 12 hours. It is requirement that we do 37.5 hours a week in order to work enough over the course of the programme, so an early shift makes up those few hours.

7:15am: Handover and morning nurse huddle

The nurse in charge ran through things to remember regarding policies etc. Nurses were assigned to their area for the day.

7:30am: Resus part 1

This is where the patients needing the most acute care come, and is often where people are treated for more serious conditions where they are closely monitored. Handover from the nurse in resus and morning checks need to be completed.

If a nurse is assigned to resus, they will often spend the second half of their shift in a different area, because it can be quite demanding to work in such a pressured environment for 12 hours!

9:30am: Breakfast

There was time for an informal tea and toast break for nurses to refuel whilst they have a bit of time to spare. Sometimes this wasn’t possible, but going to just get a drink and snack is important.

9:45am Resus part 2

Some of the jobs I did here involved regular observations, assisting doctors with emergency care procedures, checking the ventilation machines and oxygen, inserting urinary catheters, personal care, restocking any equipment, and managing chest drains.

Then it’s time for lunch at 1pm.

1:30pm: Fit-to-sit part 1

This area of the emergency department was where patients needing medications via nebulisers or IVs were treated.

This was a very fast-paced area, with lots of movement of patients coming in and out of the department. When patients had received their treatment, they would either be sent back to the waiting room or discharged, depending on the doctor’s judgement.

Then it’s time for my tea at 5pm.

5:30pm: Fit-to-sit part 2

Before the end of the shift, you go back to your allocation. Some of the jobs I was doing here were ECGs, applying cardiac monitors, regular observations, handovers to other departments, discharges, injections, dressing changes, checking blood glucose and preparing antibiotics.

Then it’s finally time to go home at 7:30pm!

Learn more about studying nursing at Manchester.