Final Entry

At the end of my five weeks of my cardio placement, I have successfully learnt how to assess and treat a surgical cardiac patient. Although, I was not able to run the ward, I was able to manage an individual case load.

Throughout the placement, I consolidated my communication skills. I was able to provide pre-operative and pre-discharge education to a group of patients at one time. I was able to answer questions confidently which, in turn, consolidated my theoretical knowledge. I also further developed my skills in working with other members of the allied health team, liaising and working with team members more closely with specific patients.

My weakness on this placement I feel was time management. As I was not familiar with mobilising patients with a multitiude of attatchments, I found I struggled with time whilst setting up the patient's attatchments before mobilising. However, by the end of the five weeks, I was able to mobilise a patient with attatchments more efficiently than I was towards the beginning of the placement.

I also was not given the opportunity to run the ward, so I am still uncertain as to whether I would be able to manage a larger caseload than I was given, particularly in terms of time management.

I did however consolidate my theoretical and practical skills, and by the end of the placement, I was able to treat more acute patients in intensive care. I feel more confident being able to assess and treat patients in the cardiorespiratory area and have learnt more theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.