Beaumond House Hospice is a nurse led hospice with four in-patient beds and community services. Traditionally the hospice had offered work placements for student nurses and trainee Nursing Associates. However the hospice employs a wide range of staff in diverse roles, which provides a wealth of opportunity for students.
Placements that have been provided so far include a learning disability student nurse, student paramedic, complementary therapists and a public health placement. The hospice has worked with a number of Universities including Nottingham Trent University and the Open University.
Case study: Public Health placement
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Working with Nottingham Trent University, the hospice proposed a placement for a Public Health student. They developed a project for the student to develop policies and guidance about how the hospice can better identify and reach underserved communities in the local area.
The student was reluctant to be placed in a hospice at first, but their perspective changed as the placement progressed. So much so that they planned to volunteer after the placement finished!
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“When I discovered my placement was at a hospice, a place focused primarily on end-of-life care, I was apprehensive and distressed. I questioned what kind of learning experience I could gain…
Throughout my placement, I gained valuable insights into the intersection of mental health and end-of-life care…
I am grateful for the opportunity to be educated about this aspect of healthcare...
The lessons I learned at the hospice extend beyond professional knowledge; they have enriched my understanding of life itself.”
Public Health student on placement at Beaumond House Hospice
Facilitators, challenges and advice
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Key facilitators
Nicola Payne is a Registered Nurse at Beaumond House and a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. This has enabled her to get a good understanding of the placements that the university needs to fill, and where the hospice can help.
Nicola supervises the Public Health student as part of her role.
Challenges
Some staff were initially reluctant to engage with students on alternative placements, as they did not see their role as being relevant to the hospice. However this attitude soon changed as they saw the value the placement brought to the hospice. Learning has been a two-way process.
Tips and advice
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You don’t need to be a subject specialist in a particular topic such as public health! You just need to be able to provide a supportive learning environment.
Future development
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Beaumond House plans to continue building relationships with universities, developing ‘non traditional’ placement offers to demonstrate the breadth of work that hospices do.
