International Nurses’ Day 2021: Inspirational USW nursing student publishes useful pocket guide

Rhys Thomas, BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) student

To celebrate International Nurses' Day on 12 May, we spoke to USW student nurse, Rhys Thomas. During the pandemic, Rhys helped his colleagues by creating a pocket guide, to assist their duties on a dementia ward.

From Aberdare, Rhys is a final-year BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) student, currently on placement on Seren Ward, an organic mental health assessment ward, at Royal Glamorgan hospital.

When Covid hit the UK, student nurses were pulled from placements to help elsewhere. Rhys was working as a Healthcare Assistant on Seren Ward, when he learned that second-year nursing students were to be placed there. Necessary curriculum changes, due to Covid, meant that these students had less patient experience than they would have had pre-pandemic. Rhys used his initiative, and his own funds, to create handy guides containing essential information for them.

“I started to think about what would be useful for them to know about the ward and would help them to build their confidence. We are provided with lots of information but it’s not practical to carry piles of paperwork around with you.

“For example, the turnover on the unit is low so we don’t deal with admissions and discharging patients as often as other wards, so I included those processes in the guide.

“I also included useful phone numbers, acronyms, salt levels, common medications, a map of the unit, and more. The students might feel anxious about asking questions, so the guide can act as a conversation starter, with their mentor.

“I have given out around 15 guides so far and had great feedback. A senior nurse commented that they could be adapted to be useful reference tool for qualified nurses.

Rhys studied Health and Social care previously, but doubted if nursing was the right path for him:

“I had wanted to get into nursing for a long time but just lacked the confidence to apply. My friend kept encouraging me, so I applied through Clearing and got an interview at USW.

“My friend was right. It is the best thing I have ever done. The experiences have been so broad, I have found myself in places I wouldn’t have expected, like on placement with Community Psychiatric Nurses, at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon. I was thrown in at the deep end but had some amazing mentors.

“I enjoy the challenge of mental health work and how varied it is. Patients will sometimes see how far they can test their carers. It is our job to prove to them that they can’t push us away, make sure they feel listened to, and build up trust. It can be very hard to do, especially on a six-week placement, but you do the best you can for them.

“If I were to advise anyone considering becoming a mental health nurse, it would be to leave your judgements at the door, you can’t let any pre-conceived ideas affect your level of care. Also, ‘no man is an island’. Covid has taught us we are not invincible and that team-work is essential. Have open discussions with colleagues - they have your back and you have theirs.”