Going away on placement while you're at University can be a bit daunting. After settling into student life in Cardiff, it's difficult to start again somewhere for a short period of time. We've put together some tips and information to help you while you're away, and to remind you that the Students' Union is still here for you, even if you're not in Cardiff at the moment.
Need advice?
Our Student Advice service can help you with a range of issues while you are at placement. They specialise in things like academic advice on issues such as fitness to practise, and concerns or worries you may have about your placement. They offer a confidential service that is independent from the University. Our team puts you first and prioritises your needs!
You don't need to be in Cardiff to use the Student Advice service. Our team will arrange a telephone or Skype/Zoom appointment at a time convenient to you to discuss your issue. You can also email the team at Advice@Cardiff.ac.uk.
Your student life supported
Stay in touch with the University Student Support & Wellbeing teams throughout your placement and during your studies to access the full range of support available to you.
The Student Occupational Health team can help you with enrolment screening, immunisations, fitness to study, fitness to practise, tips for maintaining good health. Get in touch: StudentOccHealth@Cardiff.ac.uk
The Counselling, Health & Wellbeing team can help you with tips on good wellbeing & helpful coping strategies, face to face, telephone & online appointments, workshops and self-help resources, and online support programme ‘SilverCloud’ access via the University Intranet. Get in touch: Counselling@Cardiff.ac.uk
Student Academic Representatives
You can raise any ideas, issues or opinions about your course or placement with your Student Academic Rep. Student Academic Reps are volunteers who voice the questions, queries and concerns of their fellow students to the University.
Reps take any feedback that you might have to Student Staff Panels. Here students and University staff discuss topics that affect your education. Together they come up with action plans on how the University can improve your course and placement experience.
Healthcare courses and social media
Both healthcare students and professionals should be free to take advantage of the networking benefits that social media can offer.
However, your use of social media and online activity can affect your fitness to practice, and on some occasions mean your expulsion from your course. As soon as you enrol on a healthcare course, your online activity is counted as evidence of your professionalism. Here are some of our top tips for your use of social media at University.
- Free speech is an essential part of our society. However, what you say that can and will be scrutinised if people don’t agree or find it offensive. This is what you need to be prepared for whenever you post on social media.
- If you wouldn’t do it in person, don’t do it online.
- Understand that patients, colleagues, institutions and employers may view what you post. If this breaches any ethical boundaries, be aware that you can be held accountable for what you do or say.
Think about how things can be interpreted
Social media just makes our views public and more prone to scrutiny and in the professions studied at the Heath – there is more public scrutiny than ever at the moment. If you wouldn’t say something in the context of your lectures or placement, don’t say it online either. Be sure not to complain about placements or patients online, instead speak to your tutor or academic representatives.
Don’t breach patient confidentiality
Breaches of patient confidentiality don’t just include names; they can also include posting videos or photos of patients themselves, or revealing room numbers and patient records. Never post descriptions of patients, their medical conditions and/ or treatments. It is also unprofessional to refer to patients in a degrading manner.
Think about what you post, especially if you’ve had a difficult day or may be frustrated about a situation. There are many other ways to positively influence a situation.
Protect your privacy
Change your settings on Facebook and other social media networks to ensure you are not easily searchable by patients. We recommend that you do not add patients or hospital staff as Facebook friends, and make sure your social media settings are private.
Find the best advice
Read advice by external bodies on social media, as there are profession specific guidelines by bodies such as the General Medical Council, Royal College of Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, British Association of Occupational Therapists and Royal College of Occupational Therapists, General Dental Council, and Royal College of Radiologists. These guidelines can be found on their websites.
Student Advice
If you’re concerned about any problems on social media such as your behaviour or harassment, come and talk to Student Advice. They’re the Students’ Union’s free, independent and confidential advice service. Student Advice can meet you at the Students’ Union at the Heath or in the Union building in Cathays, or you can also email the team at Advice@Cardiff.ac.uk.