This scenario explores the learning experience of Nicole, a final-year children’s nursing student on a community children’s nursing placement and was written by her with the support of the University of Plymouth Children’s Nursing Team.
Billy is a nine-year-old child with complex health needs, including a long-term tracheostomy and complex respiratory support needs following multiple hypoxic episodes. He lives at home with his family and receives ongoing support from a multidisciplinary team.
During the placement, Nicole develops her knowledge, skills and professional confidence in delivering safe, compassionate and person-centred care within a community setting. Her learning focuses on communication, partnership working, recognising deterioration, supporting complex clinical needs, and understanding the importance of family-centred care.
This scenario demonstrates how practice learning can support student nurses to apply the NMC Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (2018) in their practice learning experiences, including community care, teamwork, assessment and professional accountability.
Nicole’s Learning Objectives
Working collaboratively with her practice assessor, Billy and his family, Nicole identified the following learning objectives:
- Develop a therapeutic and collaborative relationship with Billy and his family.
- Use verbal and non-verbal communication approaches that meet Billy’s individual needs and preferences
- Understand the rationale for long-term tracheostomy and ventilator care in a community setting.
- Safely participate in tracheostomy care and equipment checks under appropriate supervision.
- Recognise signs of clinical deterioration and understand escalation pathways.
- Contribute to holistic, child- and family-centred care planning.
- Develop confidence in multidisciplinary and interprofessional working.
- Reflect on professional accountability, safeguarding, dignity and person-centred practice.
