It took about 15 minutes for all the patients to filter into the room. Rebecca had kept an eye out for her patients, knowing that Cameron wouldn't be attending she watched out for the other three, Germaine, Nate, and Sharlena.
Germaine appeared to be quite popular, taking a centre table, surrounded by a mixture of men and women of all ages. Her voice and laughter travelled through the room. Nate, however, took a corner seat, isolating himself and reading the same book he was reading on her medication round earlier. No sign of Sharlena.
Rebecca turned to Amber who remained beside her. 'Miss Wilson gave me my caseload today.' She smiled in her direction excitingly.
'Oh! Who did you get?!' Amber gave another look through the room before turning her attention to Rebecca once again.
'An interesting group, you'll think! Sharlena, Germaine, Nate, and Cameron.' Rebecca absently checked the pen in her top pocket, playing absently with her notebook in the other.
'Wow, that is a group. You are going to have your handfuls with those ones.' Amber laughed, a slightly concerned look on her face.
'They are actually all my primary residents; I imagine Sarah gave you them because you'll be working with me for the majority of your placement. I can come with you to talk to them if you'd like and after day room is completed, we can go and see if Cameron is up for having his medication.' Amber smiled at her again before checking the room for Nate and Germaine.
'Germaine seems to be in a good mood, we can go talk to her first if you'd like. She's one to be careful around, she gets on with me well enough, but I still keep my guard up around her, she can turn very quickly. Just go with what I say, and she should respond well with you. Try to keep simple sentences and don't leave open answers with her because she may take them in the wrong way.' Amber gave one of the care assistants a look before they started to head towards her table.
'Yeah, I read in her notes about previous incidents, she makes me a bit nervous, I know I shouldn't admit that though.' Rebecca felt nervous, playing absently with her notebook again and feeling a bit foolish.
'You don't have to worry about that with me, be open with me and tell me if your nervous with anyone or if you feel threatened in any way. Germaine won't be someone you are left alone with so don't worry. Don't let her know you feel that way, and definitely don't mention previous events.' Amber's voice was stern at the end as they came to the table.
Germaine was sat at the head of the table, two older men Rebecca didn't recognise and a young girl, she recognised from the ward were sat around her. Curtis was stood behind Germaine at a close distance to act when needed quickly. Their laughter dulled as Amber and Rebecca came closer. Germaine leant forward, giving Rebecca a look up and down before focusing on Amber.
'Hello Amber! How is my favourite nurse today!' She spoke boastingly to her. Amber only smiled kindly at her. 'I'm doing well thank you Germaine, I wanted to introduce you properly to Rebecca, our student nurse. She is going to be working with me closely and I hope you will both be good friends.'
Amber held herself stern as she spoke but with a kindness that seemed to work well with Germaine who looked Rebecca up and down once again. Amber turned to Rebecca, an invitation to speak.
Germaine and her friends looked at Rebecca expectantly, a growing anxiety was in her. 'I'm here for 12 weeks as a student, but I'd really love to stay on after I finish, I really hope we can work together and be good friends.'
Rebecca was honest with Germaine, but also tried to repeat the main aspects of Amber's speech to her. She was hopeful that if she spoke in the same manner and gave the same respect it would be reciprocated.
Germaine's glare bore into her. She was sussing her out, Rebecca wondered if she had sold herself well. Eventually, after an agonising silence, Germaine flashed her a sly smile. 'Lovely to meet you, Rebecca.'
It sounded sarcastic, and she pronounced every symbol of her name, but Rebecca smiled sweetly in response. Amber gave a nudge to Rebecca and motioned towards Nate in the corner as they bid their farewells to Germaine and her friends and headed to the back of the room. Rebecca glanced back to Germaine who continued to watch her walk away with a curious glance.
Rebecca let out a breath as she walked side by side with Amber, noticing the smile on her face. 'That wasn't bad, you didn't break down in tears in front of her either, that's always a plus because I have seen that happen before.' Amber laughed as she spoke. Rebecca chuckled nervously at the obvious sadistic humour she had, a common one in healthcare.
They came to Nate in the corner of the room, his head firmly in his book, not even a glance at them as they came close. Amber motioned to the seating, taking a seat herself and Rebecca sitting beside her.
'I'm sorry Sharlena didn't feel up to coming today, Nate.' Amber was a lot less formal with Nate than she had been with Germaine. Approaching with small talk to get him to respond. Nate glanced up to her in response, before returning to his book. Rebecca carried on with the approach.
'You and Sharlena have both been living here for a long time, you must be very good friends with one another.' Rebecca attempted to engage with Nate just as Amber had, but not even a glance in her direction. She almost pouted in response but kept her emotions in.
Amber laughed beside her, 'Sharlena and Nate are very good friends, with Cameron as well, when he behaves. Were going to see him after this Nate, anything you want us to tell him for you.' Nate simply raised an eyebrow in response this time, not a glance. Another awkward laugh from Amber next to her. Rebecca took the hint when Amber said very good friends, they must be in a relationship. She was glad in a way that they still had the opportunity to have relationships in a facility such as this.
'Rebecca is going to be working alongside me with you Nate, I'm hoping we can convince her to stay after her placement, so I hope you'll be nice to her as you are me.' She smiled at him. Nate glanced at Amber and then changed his view to Rebecca. His gaze lingered on her, focusing on her, looking her up and down, it made Rebecca feel uncomfortable. She smiled awkwardly as she dropped her notebook to the floor clumsily.
'Sorry!' She bent down, picking it up quickly and looking sheepishly back at Nate who had returned his gaze to his book.
Amber smiled at Rebecca, 'I believe James has just entered the room, that makes four nurses! We only need three so we can head out to meet Cameron now, he is already overdue with his medication, and I imagine he'll need some paracetamol, the headache after a dose of diazepam can take a hit, as some may know.' Her last statement was directed at Nate, who raised another eyebrow. Unknowingly to Amber, it hit close to home to Rebecca as well.
They made their pleasantries to Nate and began to head out of the room. As Rebecca walked beside Amber, she was bumped into by a large male patient, one of the ones she had noticed in Nate's ward that had 2:1 care. She smiled, avoiding eye contact for too long as she headed out of the room with Amber, thanking that had not turned out any worse.