I worked at Dalby ward which is a dementia and delirium ward. Throughout my placement, preserving patient safety and their environment was essential. When I started my placement, it was challenging and I worried about patient overreactions. I learned that in this ward, I must be aware of various cognitive issues patients are facing as some can become verbally or physically aggressive. My duty was to ensure a safe environment for the patient, their family, and the whole staff. To preserve my patient’s safety, I had to ensure that the bed rails were always on; this would stop them from falling from the bed. I also ensured sharp staff such as needles were disposed of in the sharp bin.

During a shift, I was also able to raise concerns to the nurse in charge as when I was doing my routine check of EWS, I noticed a patient’s saturation had deteriorated.

Moreover, some shifts were more exhausting than others as some Dementia patients became agitated and walked around the ward. To avoid any incident I had to reassure and calm them down under supervision. I was always working within the limit of my competence as my supervisor and other staff nurses were always supportive. Working in this ward, I was always available to support any personal care or any other task.

In the end, this was a great experience in nursing as my patient’s safety was always prioritised and I gained more knowledge and skills during this placement.