A Day In The Life Of...
9
This time we meet Sandra Carman who has worked at St.
Clare’s for the past 8 years. Originally a Staff Nurse on the
In-Patient Unit Sandra was promoted to In-Patient Sister 2
years ago.
7.45am
My shift begins, myself and the other members of the
Nursing staff receive a handover about the In-Patients from
the night staff. We then attend to the patients breakfasts and
their morning medications.
9.00am
I attend the morning allocation meeting with the
Medical Team, Social Worker and Occupational Therapist. At
this meeting, the In-Patients are discussed and plans of care
are put into place for that day. Any new referrals and potential
admissions are also discussed and beds are allocated. Plans
are also made for any discharges that day and preparations
for new admissions.
9.30am
After the meeting, I discuss the plans for the day with
the other members of the nursing team, so everyone is updated on what will be happening on the unit that day. Medical notes
are ordered for any new patients being admitted to the Hospice. We make contact with the relevant Heathcare Professional, if
the patient is being transferred from a hospital for some information on their current condition. At this time the patients have
their hygiene needs met and any other care needs attended to.
10.30am
Visiting time starts for the patients and relatives have the opportunity to discuss their loved ones and how they
have been. Then it is time for a cup of tea whilst I complete the patients documentation which can be about their care/
communications with family or discussions that have taken place with other professionals.
12.00 noon
It is time for patient’s medication round and lunches. Staff prepare for the next shift to arrive and have lunch.
1.15pm
Members of the next shift arrive and a handover meeting takes place so they are fully informed about the patients on
the In-Patient Unit.
2.00pm
On a Monday afternoon a multi-disciplinary team meeting takes place, all professionals involved with the patients care
attend, these include Doctors, members of the Nursing Team, Community Palliative Care Nurse and the Hospice Chaplain, along
with the Medical Secretary, we discuss all aspects of the patients and their progress and team plans are made for future care.
3pm
It is time to check emails, phone calls and any messages that have been left that need dealing with before finishing my
shift at 3.45pm. It’s been another busy day, so I think I better go home and put my feet up...
In each edition of the newsletter we will be looking at what happens in a typical day of a member of the
St. Clare’s team. This time we get an insight into the day in the life of an In-Patient Sister.
The Day in the life of… an In-Patient Sister
Sandra Carman
Our In-Patient Unit
has eight bedrooms
all with full en-suite
facilities.
Two of the bedrooms
have hoist systems
to transfer patients
to and from bed and
the en-suite facilities.
During 2013/2014 we cared for 180
patients to the In-Patient Unit.
Our respite bed provided 193 days
of care during 2013/2014.
All of our bedrooms have direct
access to outside space.
Our
24-hour
helpline is available
for support and
specialist advice to
patients and their
relatives as well as
other Health Care
Professionals out
of normal hours.
We have a guest room to
enable relatives to stay
overnight at the Hospice.
In addition to the en-
suite facilties, we have a
bathroom for patients who
might prefer to have a bath.
The In-Patient Unit
