Preventing practical shock: trainee nurses take on responsibility for neurological ward.
Good practice for future professional life: Trainee Sara Kluszczynski prepares an infusion. Copyright: Jana Sust / MHH
A Wednesday morning on neurological ward 35: Eva Frieling sits at the computer in the ward room and does the nursing documentation. She records all the nursing measures carried out and planned for the patients and provides a nursing assessment. This will soon be one of her daily tasks. So far, it's something new for her. Because Eva Frieling is a trainee. She is one of twelve future carers who are taking part in the first round of ‘We're taking over!’. In the project, the trainees spend two weeks immersing themselves in the real world of work and gaining practical experience.
Eva Frieling still felt unsure at first, but many things are now easier for her. ‘The project is a great opportunity to develop further,’ she says. This is exactly how it should be with ‘We take over!’ ‘The trainees learn to combine theory and practice on the ward,’ explains Serbülent Horasan, Head of Nursing. This includes, for example, recognising specific clinical pictures, carrying out nursing interventions correctly, advising patients and delegating tasks. Junior nurses can also develop their organisational skills, for example in admission and discharge management, and train interprofessional collaboration.
During the project, the trainees are supported by the practical instructors Annika Sölter and Danela Röhr. ‘We help to reduce the practical shock and prevent excessive demands,’ explains Danela Röhr. In order to promote the independence of the trainee nurses, the practical instructors promote a role reversal: they themselves stay in the background and the trainees ‘take over’ the tasks on the ward. This gives the trainees the opportunity to experience what ‘real’ working life might look like later on. "I think that's really good. You get to know yourself better and realise where you need to work on yourself," says Mathis Werner. Time management was difficult for him at first, but after a few days he had a better feeling for organising his tasks properly. Sara Kluszczynski felt the same way. ‘The two weeks on ward 35 taught me how to prioritise my tasks for the service in the best possible way,’ she explains. Eva, Mathis and Sara are in their third year of training. They will take their exams in the summer. ‘The project is great preparation for the practical exam,’ says Mathis.
Two more rounds of ‘We're taking over!’ are planned for ward 35 this year. ‘The project is tailored precisely to the trainees,’ explains project manager Linda Gottert. "But we as an experienced ward team also benefit from it. Through the close dialogue with the trainees, we reflect on our own actions and can improve ourselves when supporting the next generation."
Text: Tina Götting