The First Shift
The first shift can be daunting. So to make it a smoother day,
read our below tips.
Preparing for your assignment or shift
- Before you start working make sure you are familiar with Geneva
Health policies, including our Medication Policy. For more
information contact your Geneva Health consultant.
- Ensure your NMC pin card is up-to-date and always available
upon request.
- Check you know and understand the exact details of your shift -
including where your shift is and what time it starts.
- Community and Homecare Health Care Professionals are required
to take a map of London, for example the A-Z, with them to their
shifts or assignments.
- Stick to the Geneva Health Dress Code and wear a Geneva
Health uniform and ID badge.
- Allow plenty of travel time.
On arrival
- Introduce yourself to the nurse in charge or the
co-ordinator.
- Confirm with the nurse in charge your responsibilities and
duties throughout your assignment. Please advise Geneva immediately
if there are any discrepancies with the job specification provided
by your consultant at the time of booking.
- Receive an induction from the ward.
- Ensure you know where to find the Trust's Policies and
Procedures.
- Identify emergency numbers and procedures.
- Identify the location of equipment and emergency exits.
- Locate changing facilities, toilets and lockers.
- Receive a verbal hand-over from the previous shift nurse and
ensure you check the needs of your patients.
During the shift
- If you are unsure, pass on questions asked by the patient and
their family to the nurse in charge.
- Always check the identification of patients.
- In the event of clinical deterioration of your patient, speak
with the nurse in charge and contact the doctor.
- If you feel that there is nothing to do, take the initiative,
ask other staff if you can help, tidy or restock or treasure the
quality time you have to spend with your patients.
- Ensure all pre-operative checks are thorough and
comprehensive.
- Practice universal precautions at all times to protect both
yourself and your patients - please refer to the Geneva Health and Safety Policy for more
information.
- Ensure documentation on all patient records and charts are
thorough, as these are legal documents.
- Give a clear, concise hand-over to the staff on the next
shift.
Contact Geneva Health if:
- You are unable to attend your shift or are going to be
late.
- The duty manager changes your area of work.
- You finish your assignment early or late.
- Your availability changes.
- You are involved in a complaint or major incident. If a
statement is required regarding an incident, please be aware that
it is a legal document and it may be used for later
proceedings.
Please contact your Bookings Consultant on 0207 025 0092
if you have any questions.