Student First Placement Reflection: Gibbs

Description

My first placement was two weeks on a care of the elderly ward. On the first morning I shadowed my practice supervisor during personal care and the medication round, and over the fortnight I gradually took on supervised tasks: assisting with washing and dressing, recording observations, and helping at mealtimes. Midway through the first week, I was asked a question by a relative about a patient's discharge plans and, not knowing what to say, I gave a vague answer instead of saying I didn't know and finding someone who did.

Feelings

Before the placement I was anxious to the point of barely sleeping - I worried about being in the way, about doing something wrong, and about not knowing enough. On the ward I initially felt like a spare part and was reluctant to ask questions in case they seemed stupid. The moment with the relative left me uncomfortable for the rest of the day because I knew I had bluffed rather than been honest.

Evaluation

Much went well: my supervisor was supportive, I became steadily more confident with fundamental care, and by the end I was contributing genuinely to the team. What went badly was my response to the relative. Even though nothing harmful came of it, I gave an answer I wasn't qualified to give instead of being honest about my role and escalating the question.

Analysis

Reflecting on why, I think my anxiety about looking incompetent drove both my reluctance to ask questions and my bluffed answer - the same root cause showing up in two ways. Discussing it with my supervisor, I learned that saying "I'm a student, I don't know, but I'll find someone who does" is not just acceptable but exactly what safe practice looks like. The professional codes are explicit that working within the limits of your competence is a duty, not a weakness.

Conclusion

I learned that honesty about the limits of my knowledge protects patients and builds trust, and that asking questions is how students keep patients safe - not evidence of inadequacy. My anxiety was normal, and naming it helped me manage it.

Action plan

On my next placement I will introduce myself clearly as a student to patients and relatives, use the phrase "I'll find someone who can answer that" whenever I'm asked something beyond my role, and set myself a target of asking at least three questions per shift. I have also started a placement journal so I can capture learning moments while they are fresh.