Chapter 3

Working with others

A.If you don’t know, ask

Excuse me, I wonder if
you would possibly be kind enough to
tell me the time, please?

In the modern world, everybody needs information. Whether we are new to a job,
havejust come on shift, or simply have never been told, we need to know.
A.1
Think of some information you would like to know. Write it as a question
orrequest here.

Look at the flow-chart

Work through the flow-chart for that particular request.
Now go out and get the answer to your question!
How to ask if you don’t know

? You need to
Can you find it out
by yourself?
know something

Start here

Do you know who is the Do so!

best person to ask? Ask somebody

Where can I find

out about…?
Find out from
your colleagues
Who would
know about…?

When is a good time

to ask this person?

Now
Not
now! Wait

Do you need this

information urgently?
Do you know the right
way to ask this person?

Are you feeling

confident?

Ask your mentor or colleague

how they would ask about this What would you
do in my
situation?

Ask your Ask your

question question
anyway!
 Make a list of information questions you hear asked by others on the ward.
Write them in the box below.
Agree a good time with your supervisor. Explain to your colleagues that you are
about to take a short time to observe and take notes.
The nurse’s station might be a good place to observe requests being made.
A.2
Questions I heard today

A.3
Complete the table.

You need to know … Who do you ask? What do you say?

when a patient
was admitted

where the new (blank)

drug charts are kept

if you can take a study

day off next week

if a patient has been

refusing their medication
on the previous shift

what the expression ‘sick

as a parrot’ means

your supervisor’s contact

telephone number
B.Where I work
You need to be able to describe quickly and confidently where you work for visitors to
the hospital and on social occasions.

B.1 Go down
Describe to a friend the place the corridor. Take the
where you work by filling in the lift to the second floor.
following and deleting what As you come out of the lift,
is not relevant. turn left, go through the
green door and the X-ray
department is on
the right

I’m a nurse at ............................................................................. Hospital

I’m on the ….......................…..............................……..ward/in the ....................................... department
Most of my patients are being treated for …………................................................................................…

We look after people with……………......................................………./……...……….........................………….

B.2
Give directions to a patient’s relative how to reach your area from the main
entrance of the hospital.

Give directions to a patient’s relative how to get to your hospital.

What bus would they need to catch to get to the hospital? Is there a charge for
parking? Are there visitors’ hours?
Assignment

Make a detailed plan of your clinical area

Step 1 Explain to your supervisor what you want to do

and get permission if necessary.

Step 2 Draw a rough plan of your area and begin to

mark the detail on it by looking closely and
asking questions. Look at the Fire Exits and the
location of fire equipment and ask any questions
that might arise.

Step 3 Ask to look in cupboards and locked rooms and

note where things are located such as blank
forms, brush and pan.

Step 4 Draw a neat copy of your plan using colour and

labelling it clearly so that it would be useful to
another new member of staff.
 Stock room Sluice room
(unused shower room) FIRE EXIT

toilet & staff toilet

shower
room
Bay 5 Quiet
room Side room 5
crash trolley
toilet

Side room 4

Bay 4 gloves &

aprons
Linen room

toilet &
shower
room Side room 3

Bay 3
Side room 2

Side room 1
toilet &
shower
room
gloves &
Bay 2 aprons Sister’s office

toilet Domestic’s
equipment

Kitchen

Bay 1

toilet &
shower Staff room
room

patients’ Admin
work & Doctor’s
sitting
reception station
EXIT room/lounge
food
storage

ENTRANCE TO WARD

Learning Objectives
On completion of this assignment you will be able to:

• locate equipment and fire exits

• locate where key people are to be found
• be more useful to our team
• ask questions (and answer them) more confidently.