Opinion Student voice
On my own I HAVE FINISHED my last placement as a supernumerary nursing student and now I have to complete a 36-week internship placement in my training hospital before I can qualify as a staff nurse. I will do four ward rotations during these 36 weeks. I am doing a children’s and general integrated nursing programme so I have to complete two adult and two children’s ward rotations. Part of me is glad that I have reached this milestone as I am one step closer to graduating and becoming a qualified nurse. However, another part of me is dreading my internship placement as I know that it will be challenging. I will have a lot more responsibility as an intern than I had as a supernumerary student. As an intern, I will have to look after six to eight patients by myself. I will no longer be under constant supervision by a staff nurse with everything that I do in clinical practice. I will be expected to undertake certain tasks that I was not allowed to do as a supernumerary nursing student, such as dispensing medications, bringing patients to and collecting them from operating theatres. I will be given some support, as a link nurse will be allocated to me. This nurse will guide me and answer any questions that I may have. However, it is expected that I can perform most of my nursing tasks independently. During my internship I will be employed by my training hospital and I will receive some pay. The Irish government has recently reduced the wages for intern nurses by 30%. This means that I will be paid approximately £2 less than the hourly national minimum wage in Ireland (£7.13 per hour before tax). This is under review to ensure compliance with legislation governing the minimum hourly rate for intern nurses. Working for less than the national minimum wage at 39 hours per week will not be pleasant, but I suppose getting some pay is better than getting no pay at all. Lisa Kirwan is a fourth-year student in children’s and general nursing, Trinity College
14 May 2014 | Volume 26 | Number 5
Book reviews Doing a Literature Review in Nursing, Health and Social Care Michael Coughlan et al Sage 168pp | £18.99 ISBN: 9781446249611
THIS BOOK provides a practical guide for those carrying out a literature review in nursing, health and social care. Given that undergraduate and continuing education students can find critical literature reviews challenging, the sequential format and clear information should guide students through the minefield. The authors set out the context of the literature review and the different types of reviews, before carefully leading the reader through each step involved. The chapters provide clear learning outcomes and a summary of key points at the end. The final chapter of the book gives helpful guidance about how to disseminate the literature review through publication, oral and poster presentation. Overall, I feel that this new text will serve as a valuable and useful resource for students. Jayne Price, senior lecturer (education), Queen’s University Belfast
Evidence-based Practice for Nurses Janet Barker Sage Second edition 168pp | £18.99 ISBN: 9781446252291
SIMPLY AND succinctly, this book conveys the process, knowledge and skills that are required to provide effective evidence-based nursing care. The text is broken into three parts: introduction, critiquing the evidence and making changes. Collectively these elements cover the knowledge that will be needed to search, select, appraise, synthesise and apply evidence.
Reflective Practice in Nursing Lioba Howatson-Jones Sage / Learning Matters Second edition 216pp | £18.99 ISBN: 9781446270851
NOW IN ITS second edition, this book gives case studies, scenarios and activities that will help the reader to gain a better understanding of what reflection is, its stages, and the limitations to reflection. While there are many reflective nursing books on the market, this one is easy to read and structured clearly. It guides the reader to develop practical skills in reflection so that it becomes part of professional learning, enhancing the understanding of any given situation. The latter sections of the book concentrate on reflective writing and critical reflection, with a small section to aid with writing reflective assignments. This is a useful book that can help students and qualified practitioners alike make sense of the everyday and more challenging situations encountered in professional lives. Beverley Jones, ward manager, children’s centre, Gloucester Royal Hospital
There is also an interesting section on patients’ perspectives and shared decision making, which explores patient involvement in evidence-based practice. The book has an easy to read format integrating diagrams, tables and flowcharts within the text. The author also incorporates structured activities into each chapter, and there are templates and tools in the appendix that will give the reader an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained. This book is an informative and useful resource, suitable for students and for registered nurses. Joseph Manning, National Institute for Health Research and Nottingham University Hospital translational research fellow and honorary paediatric intensive care nurse, University of Nottingham NURSING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Feb 02, 2016. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
On my own I HAVE FINISHED my last placement as a supernumerary nursing student and now I have to complete a 36-week internship placement in my training hospital before I can qualify as a staff nurse. I will do four ward rotations during these 36 weeks. I am doing a children’s and general integrated nursing programme so I have to complete two adult and two children’s ward rotations. Part of me is glad that I have reached this milestone as I am one step closer to graduating and becoming a qualified nurse. However, another part of me is dreading my internship placement as I know that it will be challenging. I will have a lot more responsibility as an intern than I had as a supernumerary student. As an intern, I will have to look after six to eight patients by myself. I will no longer be under constant supervision by a staff nurse with everything that I do in clinical practice. I will be expected to undertake certain tasks that I was not allowed to do as a supernumerary nursing student, such as dispensing medications, bringing patients to and collecting them from operating theatres. I will be given some support, as a link nurse will be allocated to me. This nurse will guide me and answer any questions that I may have. However, it is expected that I can perform most of my nursing tasks independently. During my internship I will be employed by my training hospital and I will receive some pay. The Irish government has recently reduced the wages for intern nurses by 30%. This means that I will be paid approximately £2 less than the hourly national minimum wage in Ireland (£7.13 per hour before tax). This is under review to ensure compliance with legislation governing the minimum hourly rate for intern nurses. Working for less than the national minimum wage at 39 hours per week will not be pleasant, but I suppose getting some pay is better than getting no pay at all. Lisa Kirwan is a fourth-year student in children’s and general nursing, Trinity College
14 May 2014 | Volume 26 | Number 5
Book reviews Doing a Literature Review in Nursing, Health and Social Care Michael Coughlan et al Sage 168pp | £18.99 ISBN: 9781446249611
THIS BOOK provides a practical guide for those carrying out a literature review in nursing, health and social care. Given that undergraduate and continuing education students can find critical literature reviews challenging, the sequential format and clear information should guide students through the minefield. The authors set out the context of the literature review and the different types of reviews, before carefully leading the reader through each step involved. The chapters provide clear learning outcomes and a summary of key points at the end. The final chapter of the book gives helpful guidance about how to disseminate the literature review through publication, oral and poster presentation. Overall, I feel that this new text will serve as a valuable and useful resource for students. Jayne Price, senior lecturer (education), Queen’s University Belfast
Evidence-based Practice for Nurses Janet Barker Sage Second edition 168pp | £18.99 ISBN: 9781446252291
SIMPLY AND succinctly, this book conveys the process, knowledge and skills that are required to provide effective evidence-based nursing care. The text is broken into three parts: introduction, critiquing the evidence and making changes. Collectively these elements cover the knowledge that will be needed to search, select, appraise, synthesise and apply evidence.
Reflective Practice in Nursing Lioba Howatson-Jones Sage / Learning Matters Second edition 216pp | £18.99 ISBN: 9781446270851
NOW IN ITS second edition, this book gives case studies, scenarios and activities that will help the reader to gain a better understanding of what reflection is, its stages, and the limitations to reflection. While there are many reflective nursing books on the market, this one is easy to read and structured clearly. It guides the reader to develop practical skills in reflection so that it becomes part of professional learning, enhancing the understanding of any given situation. The latter sections of the book concentrate on reflective writing and critical reflection, with a small section to aid with writing reflective assignments. This is a useful book that can help students and qualified practitioners alike make sense of the everyday and more challenging situations encountered in professional lives. Beverley Jones, ward manager, children’s centre, Gloucester Royal Hospital
There is also an interesting section on patients’ perspectives and shared decision making, which explores patient involvement in evidence-based practice. The book has an easy to read format integrating diagrams, tables and flowcharts within the text. The author also incorporates structured activities into each chapter, and there are templates and tools in the appendix that will give the reader an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained. This book is an informative and useful resource, suitable for students and for registered nurses. Joseph Manning, National Institute for Health Research and Nottingham University Hospital translational research fellow and honorary paediatric intensive care nurse, University of Nottingham NURSING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Feb 02, 2016. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
