This week, I attended midwifery insight week, where I learned about newborn feeding with a focus on breastfeeding, domestic violence, and sepsis. Through group discussions, I was able to delve deeper into the subject. We discussed the benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the baby in the newborn feeding segment, which was incredibly informative. Breast milk is the most nutritious food for newborns and adapts to the child’s nutritional needs as they grow. Breastfeeding also helps prevent short- and long-term illnesses and disorders such as asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, SIDS, ear infections, and stomach problems. However, I learned that some mothers with chronic AIDS cannot breastfeed their children because it spreads the disease. In such cases, multidisciplinary teams will provide risk mitigation advice. As a student nurse, I recognize the importance of respecting the mother’s decision and not pressuring her to breastfeed. Instead, I must encourage them to do so because it benefits the baby’s cognitive processes and mental and emotional well-being. To ensure perinatal mental health protection, providing practical breastfeeding assistance and appropriate guidance from healthcare experts is critical. Nurses are essential in providing patients and their families with high-quality, trustworthy, evidence-based information.

Also, we watched a domestic abuse scenario as groups, stimulating practice. A 32-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to the emergency room for a fall. She is 32 weeks pregnant and has had bursts around her face and arms. The practice supervisor has asked the student nurse to take vital signs to check if the patient is okay. The student nurse gained consent from the patient and notified her that she came with her partner, and any time the student wanted to talk to the patient, the partner would not allow the patient to take it, but he would answer the question. Hence, the student recognizes the indicators of domestic abuse. The student escalates to the practice supervisor and says that something is going on with the patient, so the practice supervisor shows up and reassesses the patient.

I learned that the student nurse notes domestic abuse. The patient was terrified of her partner. The patient’s partner was the one to answer all questions and shout at her, Lazy woman. You will stay home for me to come back from work to cook for you. That is why you fall in the kitchen. This is an example of domestic abuse. Take control over everyday life by telling you where you can go, who you can see, what you can wear, and when you can sleep. This would help make the information more relatable and easier to understand for the reader.

The names of the patients and the NHS Trust will be changed to maintain confidentiality.

As a result, I will go over what went well, what I learned, and what I will do differently the next time. Professional relationships in nursing refer to how nurses interact with their patients and other healthcare providers. According to the NMC code of practice, registered nurses must maintain professionalism and trust. Includes adhering to professional values such as honesty, competence, and hard work. The charge nurse directed the student nurse to take the vital signs of a 27-year-old pregnant woman admitted to the ward for the fall. The student approaches a patient to obtain consent, but the patient’s companion refuses to let the patient say so. Her partner began telling the nurse her name was Mary, that she was 32 weeks pregnant, and that she fell in the kitchen. He is concerned because she is sluggish and lethargic; they have been here for two hours, and no one has come to assess them, but he is relieved that a student nurse is here to observe them. The healthcare provider recognized anything that seemed amiss with the partner’s speech and behaviour. The patient appeared uncomfortable and apprehensive, and she only let her companion do most of the talking. Also, the injuries from the fall appear suspicious. At this moment, the student nurse became worried and attempted to communicate with the patient. The patient’s spouse eventually excused himself, and the nurse took advantage of the chance to ask questions to help the patient open up to her. As a nurse, it is critical to focus on your patient to spot any indicators of domestic violence, so safeguarding concerns must be highlighted. In this case, I realized the significance of examining the patient’s general look, mental condition, and posture. This setting made it very simple to recognize indicators of domestic violence since the patient seemed disturbed, nervous, and afraid. I’ve learned how to recognize when a patient is abusing themselves, how to escalate the situation, and how to assist them. I realize that soothing patients and asking closed and open questions are vital since they allow the patient to tell you what happened to her. I learned that I have a personal relationship with my patient and show compassion while obtaining and providing information to her. As a student nurse, I must advocate for, support, and defend patients. I have to make sure I deliver the fundamentals of care effectively. I have learned that Nurses must be cautious and know how to collect information to avoid triggering the patient and complicating matters. I learned that the practice supervisor would refer patients to multidisciplinary teams to safeguard the patient and any information about domestic abuse websites for the sake of the unborn child and the patient’s mental, emotional, and psychological health. MDTs, midwives, and nurses must share information to help mothers and children facing domestic violence and abuse at home and needing urgent care.

Nurses need to understand the relationship between exposure to violence and women’s ill health and be able to respond appropriately.