Nanci Castelao

Clinical Practice Educator, North West Anglia

Resilience-based Clinical Supervision Participant

So again, thank you so much for the invitation. It was a pleasant surprise. I’m very pleased to be here and very happy to share my experience.

I work in theatres and part of my role is to support students, the permanent staff and the new starters.

The way I brought RBCS into practice at the beginning was with the students. When I first did my training, it was for the preceptors. But I realised that it was really relevant to the students. Grace encouraged me to try and when I did, it was an amazing experience and I have never looked back.

Before I did my RBCS programme, clinical supervision was on an ad hoc basis – we didn’t do it as a regular thing. But since I did the RBCS programme, it has been implemented on induction for the students. The first session is a one-to-one, and then every month or two during induction. I went back to see the feedback I had with the students and it was very good, five start rating! We cover all types of students in theatre, from apprentices to student nurses, ODPs, nursing associates, people doing top ups.

RBCS is now established and this is good because everyone knows it’s there for them. Of course, it does help that we have organisational support.

At around this time, I did the PNA course as well, and it was very interesting because I was able to bring things together. On a daily basis we face challenges personally and in the workplace. I have found that I am able to offer reassurance that someone is listening to them, and help them to focus on their abilities, their strengths and help them to reframe the situation and so move on and become more positive.

For me personally, it has also been very positive and constructive. By helping others, I feel I’m helping myself too, it’s a positive experience all round.