Placement Experience Reflection Essay

This assignment is a reflective essay on a placement experience in the palliative care unit of Calvary Health Care. The student describes their observations, a challenging case involving neuropathic pain management, and the ethical considerations faced. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of specialized oncology training for staff in such units.

Running hand: REFLECTION ON PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE
Reflection on placement experience
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1REFLECTION ON PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Question 1:.......................................................................................................................................2
Question 2:.......................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................5
References:......................................................................................................................................6

2REFLECTION ON PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE
Introduction:
Health care is undoubtedly one of the noblest professions, and that is the reason,
thousands of aspirants chose health care as their choice or career every year and enroll
themselves onto different healthcare courses. However, healthcare is a people centered
profession influenced by a variety of different external and internal factors, and hence the health
care professionals often face a number of key challenges when they have to apply their
theoretical knowledge in the practical scenarios. The placement program is the wonderful
opportunity for the health care professionals to get a clear idea of all the variables of a real world
health care scenario and attempt to link their own theoretical knowledge to application building
expertise in their chosen domain (Levett-Jones, Pitt, Courtney-Pratt, Harbrow & Rossiter, 2015).
This assignment will attempt to reflect upon the placement experience I have received and how it
had helped me in my professional growth.
Question 1:
I had been given the opportunity to attend the placement program in the esteemed calvary
health care Bethlehem in Caulfield. This health care facility had been provided an exceptional
and commendable quality of care since the year of 1885. It is a nonprofit catholic health care
organization established by the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary. This health care
organization caters to the Victorian community with supporting more than 4000 patients and
their families every year; with the mission of providing compassionate and quality care to the
patients at all stages of their lives. This pioneer health care facility specializes in two areas,
progressive neurological diseases and specialist palliative care services (Services at Calvary
Health Care Bethlehem., 2017).

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I had been given the opportunity to experience the health care environment of the
palliative unit of the health care organization during my placement program. This division of the
health care facility is focused on the patients who have a progressive incurable disease, and
provides both residential and at home support to these patients that are in the end of life stage of
life. The main goal of the palliative unit of the health care facility is to provide an optimal end of
life acre to the patients so that they can achieve dignity, comfort and sense of safety during his or
her stay in the facility (Palliative Care - Calvary Health Care Bethlehem., 2017). Considering the
patient population of this division of the health care facility, close to 40% of the total patient
population receives end of life care in the palliative units of the health care facility. The staffing
ratio if the patient population of the palliative unit is 5:1, where on nursing professional has the
responsibility of 5 terminally ill patients (Calvarycare.org.au., 2017). The initiatives taken by the
palliative unit for achieving the ultimate goal of maximizing the quality and patient centeredness
of the care include devising and supportive GP and primary care team, community palliative day
care centre, management of distress symptom, providing necessary equipment and home based
care in critical situations, proper patient and family education, and 24*7 telephonic assistance
(About Us - Calvary Health Care., 2017).
Question 2:
A critical incident analysis evaluates and analyzes the a particular critical incident
occurring in a health care scenario, reflecting upon the professional, moral and legal issues that
arise in the scenario. The critical incident that I encountered in the placement program had been
involving a 65 year old patent named Jessica day with unresectable chondrosarcoma in the left
thigh that had started to infiltrate the outer muscles. The patent had been referred to the palliative
unit right away to plan for an end of life care plan for the patient. However within a few weeks

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of her stay, a critical incident occurred where the patient developed paresthesia and acute pain in
the backside of the infected thigh and leg. The pain score as assessed by Abby scale of pain
management had been 8 out of 10. Now, the critical incident had been handled in accordance
with the WHO guidelines of cancer pain management. She had been prescribed oral dose of
morphine 10 mg quarterly, and along with a concoction of 400 mg ibuprofen and 500 mg
paracetamol had been prescribed in a quarterly manner as well. However, the patient was only
relieved from the pain for a few hours, after which the pain returned again; however along with
that the patient started feeling increasing numbness in the leg and she started experiencing
anxiety and insomnia.
It has to be understood that the patient had advanced cancer and had been undergoing
neuropathic pain and the care facility had the lack of correct mechanism to manage neuropathic
pain. This sincere professional issue had been prevalent in the case study, although as the care
facility did not have a specialized advanced oncology department, and the patient had not been in
a condition to be moved the patient, the only intervention technique possible had been utilized.
The patient had wanted to be removed from the ICU unit and off the analgesic treatments,
however despite the legal mandates of patient centered care; this particular wish of the patient
could not be fulfilled due to the fast deteriorating condition of the patients. However, the care
pan had been decided on with accordance to the personal preferences of the family members of
the patient. However the patient had been given the opportunity to spend her last few days with
her family in the palliative unit, so that morally the best experience could be given to her.

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Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it can be stated that the palliative unit of the calvary health care
facility had been an exceptionally compassionate care service and they prioritize the welfare of
the terminally ill patients above everything. Although in my placement experience, the critical
incident I encountered could have been better managed if specialized oncology care training to
the staff had been given in the facility. I have gotten the opportunity to understand the
complexities that can arise while working in the palliative units, and will work towards
professional growth that will enable me to handle such situations much more efficiently.

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References:
About Us - Calvary Health Care. (2017). Calvary Health Care. Retrieved 7 November 2017,
from https://www.calvarycare.org.au/about
Palliative Care - Calvary Health Care Bethlehem. (2017). Calvary Health Care Bethlehem.
Retrieved 7 November 2017, from https://www.calvarycare.org.au/public-hospital-
bethlehem/services-and-clinics/palliative-care/
Services at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem. (2017). Calvary Health Care Bethlehem. Retrieved
7 November 2017, from
https://www.calvarycare.org.au/public-hospital-bethlehem/services-and-clinics/
Levett-Jones, T., Pitt, V., Courtney-Pratt, H., Harbrow, G., & Rossiter, R. (2015). What are the
primary concerns of nursing students as they prepare for and contemplate their first
clinical placement experience?. Nurse Education in Practice, 15(4), 304-309. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.03.012
Calvarycare.org.au. Retrieved 7 November 2017, from https://www.calvarycare.org.au/public-
hospital-bethlehem/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Calvary-Bethlehem-Palliative-
Brochure-6pp-DL_2016.pdf