Nursing student provides top tips for placement on Time to Talk Day
Thursday 2nd February is Time to Talk Day and one of our very own Glasgow Caledonian University students has given us an insight into the importance of positive mental health during placement.
Ross Milne is a second year Mental Health Nursing student and keen advocate of speaking openly when it comes to the thoughts inside our head.
Last year, Ross discussed his own personal journey and struggles that he experienced while working within the finance sector in London.
He is now delighted to have had a second chance at life through both full-time education and a fresh approach to how he looks at himself and the world around him.
Since starting at Glasgow Caledonian University in September 2020, Ross has had the opportunity to complete work-based learning through a variety of programme placements.
Despite all the positives getting out into the community and experiencing his new career brings, Ross is also well aware of the potential mental impact of 12-hour shifts in a demanding environment.
Now he wants other students on placement to take a step back and look at how they can benefit themselves as individuals and professionals by making some simple changes to their daily routine.
These are Ross’s top tips:
Sleep
“It can be difficult during a placement block, but not having enough sleep leads to an increase in your cortisol levels, which means you’ll have higher levels of stress during the day. It then becomes a vicious cycle where your stress then prevents you from sleeping properly the next night – again leading to your cortisol increasing further.
"One tip for managing cortisol is to always have breakfast. Ideally, you should have something with protein in it because that brings your cortisol levels down when it’s highest in the morning, and it also regulates your blood sugar for the rest of the day.
"I was seeing a mind & body coach years ago and he was absolutely brilliant. It was talking therapy but he also knew a lot about nutrition. One of his suggestions was to set your alarm 15-30 minutes earlier than usual in the morning. The idea behind this was to allow yourself some time where you’re not rushing about getting stressed, because that can then impact on the rest of your day."
Massage
“My mind and body coach also recommended massages as a way of relieving stress. Massages release oxytocin, which is another one of the good endorphins. There are many wellbeing benefits to this as well; it helps lower stress and blood pressure while also promoting growth and healing.
"Again, it can be difficult finding the time for this during placement and life in general, but it's important to switch off and take time for yourself."
Making the most of your lunch break
“I make my lunch the night before placement. It tends to be healthier than just grabbing something during the day and also means that you have a bit more time to yourself when you get that hour during your busy day.
"I always go outside on my break if I’m on placement. Again, it sounds simple, but it really makes a difference getting a change of scene - especially during a 12-hour shift."
Talk to your mentor
“If students are struggling on placement, then it’s absolutely vital that they talk to their mentor or someone they trust. It’s easy to feel like you aren’t doing a good job. Impostor syndrome is something I’ve struggled with in the past and basically I felt like I wasn't doing a good enough job but plucking up the courage to talk to someone provided that reassurance.
“I’ve also had some issues on placement where I’ve had long shifts and felt like it was really taking a toll on me. I spoke to my mentor and she was absolutely brilliant. We changed my shifts around and she just gave me that support that I really needed at the time.”
“I think people are aware of the support a mentor can give them but they might still keep their struggles to themselves because they’re afraid it could negatively impact their studies. I know myself, you can’t help feeling that fear of actually saying you are struggling – it’s a difficult thing to admit.”
Having a life outside of placement
“At one point, I was doing placement and then started to add on bank shifts as well. I was really enjoying the placement and the shifts, but it got to a point where I wasn’t seeing anyone outside of that. I live alone and it was almost like I felt like a patient inside the hospital.
“It’s really important to see people outside of your ‘work bubble’. Your home life needs to be nourishing and you need to make the most of your days off.”
You can find out more about mental health support at GCU through our Student Wellbeing team.
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter