Question_and_Answer_Session_with_Mentor

· What would you like to see in your induction to the team' First and foremost I would like to meet all the team members, and of course the safety procedures i.e. the fire exits. Also the working hours and what shift pattern you work by if any. I would also like to see the policies and procedures you have for the team. I would like to read the notes thoroughly on the patients I will personally be seeing. · Have you read anything about this team' The Continuing Needs Service provides a dedicated rehabilitation service for people with long term psychosis and enduring mental health problems. It comprises two community teams: the Rehabilitation and Recovery Team and the Assertive Outreach Team. · What would you hope to learn from your first post as a nurse' · What skills can you bring to this placement' Before I left Nursing I worked in community teams and managed Intensive Psychiatric wards. I draw on this experience now I have re-entered Nursing and with the new skills I am learning I feel that with my organised and enthusiastic way of working I can bring a lot to the team. How would you evaluate your training needs' Evaluation is a continuous process utilizing peer evaluations, course skills testing and clinical experiences, therefore I would expect continuous feedback on my performance within the team and guidance by my mentor through the objectives I need to fulfil. · What qualities should a good team player have' Demonstrates reliability Good communication skills Listens actively Cooperates and works well with others Commitment to the team Flexibility Treats others in a respectful and supportive manner · How might you educate patients into a healthier way of life' I would take it slowly and not expect them to change dramatically straight away. Taking into account their emotional, physical and even financial needs I would try to set a plan of care with the patient, which has realistic and attainable goals that they feel they could attain. · What do you understand by accountability' Accountability is taking responsibility for your words and actions. As nurses we are accountable to: - Our patients, through a duty of care, endorsed by a w duty to promote safety and efficiency, and legal responsibility through civil law; - Our employers, as defined by our contract of employment and job description; - Our profession, as stated in the relevant codes of conduct; - The public (UKCC, 1992; Dimond, 1995). · What are your strengths and weaknesses' My strengths come from my previous time in Nurse Management and Risk assessment and owning my own company. My energy and drive are positive sides of my personality. My weaknesses presently are my lack of knowledge of new policies and procedures and my fears over new environments and how I will experience being a lower grade nurse instead of management. · What do you already know about this area of work' Assertive Outreach is used when an individual requires intensive support or where it is no longer reasonable to step back and allow someone to continue to harm themselves through addiction, self-harm, eating disorder or a mental health crisis. · What do you see as the role of the C.P.N in this team' * A CPN sees people who are living in the community setting. This is usually in the person's own home but it can also be in supported housing or even GP surgery or clinic. * CPNs provide support to people through difficult periods of their illness. They may also see patients who are currently well to check everything is progressing well and be the first point of contact should the patient relapse. * A CPN will help patients with their medication and educate on why it is imperative they take it. * Because CPNs visit patients in their own homes, they also play a valuable role supporting the patient's family and carers understand and cope with the illness. * Patients may be referred to CPNs from a number of sources including GPs, psychiatrists and inpatient wards so that the CPN can ensure that the patient's transition from hospital back into the community.is seamless. * CPNs are usually the Care coordinator for the patient · What is your knowledge of the NHS reforms' The Government is proposing major changes to the way health services are organised and delivered in the NHS in England. A Health and Social Care Bill, published in January 2011, makes provisions for a number of key changes, including: * giving groups of GP practices – GP consortia – ‘real’ budgets to buy care on behalf of their local communities; * abolishing all primary care trusts and strategic health authorities, and creating a new NHS Commissioning Board * transforming the foundation trust regulator Monitor into an economic regulator of all NHS providers; * ensuring all NHS trusts achieve foundation trust status. · What are the key components of the care programme approach' The Care Programme Approach has four main elements as defined in ‘Building Bridges: A guide to arrangements for inter–agency working for the care and protection of severely mentally ill people’. DoH(1995) London HMSO: Components of CPA There are four distinct aspects to the CPA: * Assessment Systematic arrangements for assessing the health and social needs of people accepted by the specialist mental health services; * A Care Plan The formation of a care plan which addresses the identified health and social care needs; * A Key Worker The appointment of Care Co–ordinator to keep in close touch with the patient and monitor care Regular Review Regular review, and if need be, agreed changes to the care plan. · How would you measure good standards of care' Measuring the performance of nurses and the job they do in a more positive way is definitely a way forward instead of focusing on the negative consequences of nurses care on the patient experience. These fall into the safety measurement category such as failure to rescue – death among patients with treatable complications – falls, drug errors, healthcare-associated infections and pressure ulcers. Nurses are responsible and accountable for the quality of nursing care given to patients. The single most important protective strategy for the nurse is to be a knowledgeable and a safe practitioner of nursing and to meet the standards of care with all patients.