Information pack for nursing students-

Northlands Nursing Home

Woodlands Road

Blairgowrie

Perth

PH10 6LD

Tel: 01250 876790

Key Personal

Heather Gilchrist - Owner / Manager

Freda Clark - Deputy Manager

Gwenda Souter - Administer

Dear Student,

On behalf of all the staff and residents at Northlands we would like to extend a warm welcome and hope that you will find your placement here an enjoyable and educationally enriching experience.

The nursing home setting will allow you to enhance you to increase your understanding of our residents as individuals with feelings and their own needs and help you to build relationships in a supportive, caring environment.

At Northlands there are a mix of residents, some elderly frail, others with varying stages of dementia and some with mental health needs.

All staff are committed to ensuring that the NHS Education for Scotland’s Quality Standards for Practice Placements are met and that mentorship support is in accordance with the NMC standards to support learning and assessment in practice.

Getting the most from your placement will depend on how well you utilise your time and we will expect you to use your initiative in either participating in the home activities or working with other staff members.

The home can be very busy and it will not always possible to work alongside your mentor but we have a highly qualified, dedicated and committed care team who are all happy to help you in any way possible.

We hope that you enjoy your placement and once finished we ask you please to complete the evaluation form at the back of this pack.

Yours

Heather Gilchrist Manager

This will be completed as you do your placement and you will receive a copy on completion.

Date/ namesStudent name

Mentor name (nurse and carer)

Learning needs and desired outcomes

Start date

Finish date

Initial interview/ orientation/induction(Induction to be kept on file)

Midway interview

Final interview

Policies read and understood

Health and safety

Hygiene

Whistle blowing

Confidentiality

About Northlands Nursing Home

Old building New buildingRegistered for 23 Registered for 27

Number of rooms

22 Number of rooms

27

Number of ensuite

22 Number ensuite 27

Assisted bathrooms

2 1 bathroom upstairs with hoist and assisted shower room upstairs

Assisted bathrooms

1

Sitting rooms 1 main front lounge, I back garden lounge, small upstairs sitting room and sitting area in dining room.

Sitting rooms 4 including reminiscence room

Dining room 1 main dining room

Dining room 1

Northlands is set in 3 acres of grounds in a quiet area of Blairgowrie known as Rosemount.

Staffing

Here is a RGN in each building 24 hours a day and 3/4 carers in each building (depending on occupancy and level of dependence)

In addition to the care team we have catering, cleaning and laundry staff.

Most of the staff have been here for many years and we do not use agency staff.

Shift patterns

All care staff work 12 hour shifts which allows for good continuity of care. 8am-8pm and 8pm-8am.

Meals/breaks

Meals can be taken at a cost of just £1 and tea and coffee are provided. There is also a vending machine for you to purchase cold drinks and snacks.

Absence/sickness

Please call Eileen on the number on the first page to advise if you will not be in when we are expecting you.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed in the building but only in designated outside areas.

Aims and objectives of Northlands Care Home

Please see attached policy

Homely environment

Northlands philosophy of Education

We will encourage students to develop their knowledge, skills and attitude to competently deliver care whilst under the direct supervision of a registered practioner. We are committed to providing and maintaining a quality learning environment.

We will be encouraging you to enhance the learning environment by developing a questioning approach and would encourage you to ask as many questions as you can. As a student we will encourage you to express your views and come up with ideas on how we can improve the care that we give.

Our aim is to treat all students as individuals and acknowledge their needs and enable them to feel part of the team by involving them in assisting and directing health care professionals in providing nursing care.

All students will be treated with respect and we value the contribution of all students in the planning and carrying out of residents care and we will assist each student in increasing their knowledge and skill in order to provide safe and effective care.

What you can expect from Northlands

We aim to work in partnership with the university in order to maximise the provision of an enjoyable and effective learning environment for nursing students in order to advance their knowledge which in turn will benefit our residents both current and future.

An induction to the workplace and relevant policies

You will be allocated a mentor to work alongside who is a registered nurse and also to provide supervision during your clinical practice.

You’re learning needs and desired outcomes will be discussed at your initial induction meeting.

We will provide a safe environment which is conducive to meeting your individual learning needs relevant to your stage of education combining theory with practice.

Your mentor will assess your performance against your course learning outcomes and provide feedback to help you develop your skills.

You will be given time for reflection and review.

You will be a valued member of the Northlands team during your placement and can expect support from your colleagues.

We encourage feedback about your placement and any issues raised will be dealt with sensitively and confidentiality.

Core Skills available at Northlands

Full essential nursing/personal care Person –centred approach to nursing

Basic wound care Pressure area care and assessment Continence care Infection control Essential hand hygiene Taking Blood pressure, pulse and temperature and understanding the results Therapeutic interventions-mental health Person centred care and the use of care plans Recreational activities- planning and implementing

Assessment and your OAR Booklet

Your OAR booklet is your responsibility but we ask that it is made readily available for your mentor, and /or staff when required.

Your mentor will discuss your learning objectives for your placement in line with your OAR booklet and essential skills record taking into account your previous experience and personal objectives.

Recourses to help you to make the most of your placement at Northlands

Personal

Manager

Registered nurses

Experienced staff

Care plans

Care commission inspection reports

Care commission web site

Dementia unit at Stirling University website

Alzimers Scotland web site

Resident’s information leaflets

You will be expected to sing on a regular basis!!