Welcome to Ashdown Ward: A Guide for New Care Assistants

About Ashdown Ward

Ashdown Ward is a twenty-four-bed ward caring mainly for older patients who are recovering from operations or falls. As a new care assistant you will spend your first two weeks working alongside an experienced colleague, but it will help you settle in if you learn the layout of the ward before your first shift. This guide also explains some of the routines you will be expected to follow.

Arriving on the ward

The ward doors are in the middle of the south side and are opened with your staff pass. Visitors must press the buzzer and wait. Just inside the doors is the reception desk, staffed by the ward clerk from 8 am to 6 pm, who deals with admissions, telephone calls and visitors' questions. To the left of the reception desk, in the south-west corner, is the ward kitchen, where drinks and snacks are prepared for patients. Only staff may use it. To the right of the reception desk, in the south-east corner, is the staff room, where you can leave your bag and take your breaks.

The centre of the ward

Directly north of the reception desk is the nurses' station, from which the nurse in charge can see into both patient bays. Handover takes place here at the start of every shift, and you must attend. Against the west wall, to the left of the nurses' station, is the sluice room, where bedpans and commodes are emptied and cleaned. It contains a large washer that must be closed before it is switched on. On the other side of the nurses' station, against the east wall, is the clean utility, which holds dressings, gloves and other clean supplies. Never take used items into this room.

Patient areas

Patients sleep in two bays of twelve beds. Bay A is in the north-west corner of the ward and Bay B is in the north-east corner. Between the two bays, in the middle of the north side, is the day room, a bright lounge with armchairs, a television and a small library, where patients who are well enough are encouraged to eat their lunch together. Relatives may sit with patients in the day room during visiting hours.

Infection control

Wash your hands or use the hand gel provided every time you enter or leave a bay. Gel dispensers are fixed beside the door of each bay and at the reception desk. If a patient has an infection, a yellow sign will be placed on their bed, and you must wear an apron and gloves when caring for them.

Visiting and meal times

Visiting hours are from 2 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm. Meals are served at 8 am, 12 noon and 5 pm, and visitors are asked to leave the bays during these times so that patients can eat without being disturbed.