Whilst being on my apprenticeship I feel I have developed greatly. I have many responsibilities within my workplace and many duties that I need to carry out day to day. My main duties are taking observations; Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature and respiratory rate are all the main observations that are taken regularly, making sure all patients have had food and drunk reasonable amounts, making sure all patients have washed / showered. I am also responsible for making sure that patients observations and charts are up to date and that they're not missed out if they are on a certain type of infusion where their observations are needed to be taken before infusion, during and after. I weigh people so that they get the correct amount of medication, I need to measure the patients height as well for their BMI score, if they are going to be in hospital a while they may loose weight due to surgery or food , etc. If the patient is going to be in hospital for a few days they will normally need to wear compression (anti-embolism) stockings for the duration of their stay and a few days after to stop any blood clots to the legs as they’ll not be moving as much as normal, especially if they have just had surgery, the patient will have to have their legs / calves measured for the correct fitting stockings which is also one of my duties. If a patient has come in with a query of DVT I am responsible for measuring their calves for comparison with normal leg, to keep track of the growth. I am also responsible for making sure patients are keeping hydrated and that their water is always full or gets filled up when they need. On two wards I have been on I also needed to help sort the breakfasts out so that people were given their food and if they needed feeding it is one of my duties to do so. It is also my responsibility and duty to ensure patients are staying clean, showing, or bathing if they need, and if they need help, letting patients know I am there to help them. Answering buzzers / nurse bells is also a duty of mine. I help people to and from the toilet if they are not that safe on their feet. Every morning or once a patient has used the bed, it is my responsibility to change all the sheets and clean the bed space area. Another duty and responsibility of mine is to make sure everywhere is cleanand tidy. I go around the whole ward / clinic when I start and ensure the area is clean and tidy for when patients come in or while they are already there, I will clear around their bed space. Within the clinic I am on at the moment, I am responsible for checking the blood sugar box and testing it every morning, Checking all the stock is in and that we have enough of everything such as, cannulas, bandages, medication, etc, before all the patients start to come in, I am also responsible for checking all the blood pressure machines work, that the oxygen is coming through and suction machines are working well. I receive regular supervision with my
