Clinical placements for nursing students provide the opportunity to develop practical skills and gain insights into different areas of healthcare. Maddie and Hosana are third-year nursing students at AUT, and have just completed a three-week placement at Hospice West Auckland.
This was the first time AUT students have been invited to complete a placement at Hospice, and because of the sensitive nature of palliative care, they were given the option to opt out. “They gave us an option in case we weren’t comfortable with it, or if someone had passed away recently, for example, but I thought it sounded interesting,” says Maddie.
Maddie and Hosana have been busy shadowing different members of the Hospice team both at Hospice House and on home visits. “From day two we were out visiting people in their homes and meeting their families, and it’s quite personal in a way,” says Maddie. “It’s actually been so different than what I expected, but in a really, really good way.”
The students have also loved putting their practical nursing skills to use. “There’s a lot more clinical than we originally thought,” says Hosana. “We’ve seen so many new devices being used, especially the syringe drivers – we’ve never come across them before.”
Maddie and Hosana describe the Hospice team as compassionate and encouraging. “Everyone’s been so lovely and supportive of our learning,” says Maddie. “It’s been nice to be able to contribute, we’ve been encouraged to talk, to share and ask questions. And they’re always checking to see how we’re doing. It’s been such a wonderful experience here.”
Like so many people new to the palliative care space, Maddie and Hosana held the preconception that Hospice was just for the very end of life. “But it’s about improving people’s quality of life. I feel quite privileged to be allowed to enter that space with those patients,” says Maddie. “I was a little bit worried because obviously it is a very sensitive time and some people might not want a student coming in. But everybody, all the patients and the families, have all said yes: we want them, we want them involved. And it’s just been a privilege to be welcomed in and involved with those families as well.”
“Being integrated into their whole journey throughout their end of life has been such an eye-opening experience for me,” adds Hosana.
The students also reflected on the challenges of short placements in such a complex and emotionally rich field. “It would be nice to see what might develop from say, a three-month placement,” says Maddie. “I do think it would be different because you’d be more integrated, and build up relationships.”
Despite the time limit, both students are leaving with a deeper understanding of holistic, person-centred care, and a renewed appreciation for what it means to support someone through the final chapter of life. “It’s been a really wonderful placement, it’s changed my perspective and opened my eyes to different possibilities,” says Maddie. “It’s actually joyful and moving,” adds Hosana. “There’s a lot of love and dignity. I feel so lucky to have experienced that.”
