StudentNurse
Monday, November 05, 2007
Adieu to Pscyh Nursing and Bienvenidos to a month off school
This could be a short or long post for whatever it's worth. I've not posted in a long while. Let's see,I don't know,Psychosocial Nursing was different. Different in a way hard to put/fit into words. I did learn a lot not only about psych nursing but also about me as an individual. I learnt what buttons I could stand to have pushed over and over and which I reacted pronto if pushed. I'm not the most patient person there is and again this was made apparent during the rotation. I did learn a lot about my personality. What I do when am anxious, well may be not anxious, let me say nervous.
After this class I view things in a different light. By things I mean mental/psych-related issues. Prior to this class I had no patience for sexual offenders and still don't but due to the knowledge I now perceive I know better than to judge people off of their looks or illnesses or habits or even acts. Not all mentally-ill or people with psych issues bring it on themselves. For some It's genetic, for others it's drug-related and then of course there's those(sexual offenders) who just get a kick out of it, which is plain sick.
I was privilledged to work one on one with patients with a wide array of mental/psych-related issues. Depression.Anxiety.Panic Disorders. Personality Disorders ( Schizophrenia, DID etc). They say knowledge is power and after this rotation I couldn't agree more or put it in any other way. I feel so enlightened. I feel like a different person in view of mental/psych patients.
It was a very fulfilling rotation sans it's spookiness. I loved the patients and thank God I ended up nursing amazing patients. I wanted to hear every one's story, how they'd ended up on the psych unit. What their story was. It was fascinating to listen to people's pasts, to hear the story of their lives. It enabled me to level with them, gave me a better understanding of them, gave me a profound respect of the kind of lives they lived, though medicated, the demons they still had to battle/fight every so often, their courage and brevity. After this class I know way better than to stigmatise any person with a mental/psych issue(not like I did before).
As an individual I've learnt to set boundaries. My communication skills have also improved. Improved in a therapeutic way in that I steer off the -why-questions b/c I've learned when you ask someone the -why-question you instantly cause them to shut off because it places them on the spot. I know we do this so many times and not even notice it. But once I thought it over I'd rather someone asked me -How come you did that?- rather than -Why did you do that?- It's amazing what impact different wording can cause. For instance asking a patient the why question shuts them off hindering interaction but wording the same question differently makes it easier for the patient to open up and talk to you and in a psych unit trust me this difference is palpable. The words we use either break or make not just on a psych unit but also out there in the real world.
I've also learnt to think before I talk. Literally, I actually 'say' and 'hear' the words am about to utter in my head to ensure they're appropriate before I can utter them. This class has truly made a difference in my conversations with others due to all the the therapeutic and non-therapeutic cues I've learned. I've to keep reminding myself am not on the unit and that saying 'go on...' during a conversation with a friend is actually not exactly appropriate. I catch myself using those therapeutic cues all the time now and the bf will say something like 'hey I'm not one of your patients' to jolt me back to the real world lol I know, funny, right? I could just go on and on so I opt to digress...
Despite having a great experience the class was intensive. After Critical Care Nursing I thought Psych was going to be a breeze well lo and behold it wasn't. I had to write two scientific papers worth 60pts. Boy, was that something. I was literally in agony. Thankfully the prof was great b/c she gave us the option to write the papers and turn them in to her for a review before the actual due date. The first paper which was worth 15pts I had her review it three times and still got 11.3/15 and for the second paper, worth 45pts, I sent it in via email for at least four reviews and still got just a 38.30/45. She was a hard grader darn it! but a great prof *hats off* Suffice to say besides the papers I did great on my three class exams and class projects (five wishes,treasure hunt and movie review). It was an interesting yet intensive psych journey. The final was this past saturday,11/3, I did well, passed the class, 85%. I guess it gets to the point where as long as you're passing the class you're fine and of course the crux, learning and acquiring the subject knowledge. Knowing it. Seeing it and knowing what it is. Dissecting it. Being knowledgable on the matter/subject.
Knowledge is power. Did I already say that?
I've no concrete reason as to why I didn't post often. I had the mojo to and sometimes even the time but then I'd just end up not posting it..no, I don't know why. It's almost like I didn't know what to say..like I've already said it all..umh...writers block? may be?
On a different note. I'll be off school for a whole month. Yup, you read that right, a whole month off to myself. Oh what am I going to do with myself..too much time off. I plan to enjoy it. By enjoy it I mean sleep it as often as I can and just laze around because why? I CAN!!! I've no big plans..actually scratch that there are big plans alright :) My birthday's coming up in *drum rolls* a few days, to be exact in five days and guess whose jetting in to see his sweetie? the bf, woot! I'm so excited I can't keep it together. I just want to sleep and wake up when it's Friday *grinning*. The bf will be in town for ten whole days, all mine 24 hours a day, yay! What more can I want for a birthday? Need I divulge you at how much I'd love for my moms and siblings to be here too but c'est la vie. I'm happy with what I've right now. Big plan numero dos is I'll be out of town for thanksgiving lol this year after driving me absolutely insane seems like it might end up on a good note afterall.
All said and done school resumes in December. I best not regress during my one month vacay from school. In the meantime if you forget all else remember YOU can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens YOU!!!!
Mucho mucho amor,
Student Nurse
After this class I view things in a different light. By things I mean mental/psych-related issues. Prior to this class I had no patience for sexual offenders and still don't but due to the knowledge I now perceive I know better than to judge people off of their looks or illnesses or habits or even acts. Not all mentally-ill or people with psych issues bring it on themselves. For some It's genetic, for others it's drug-related and then of course there's those(sexual offenders) who just get a kick out of it, which is plain sick.
I was privilledged to work one on one with patients with a wide array of mental/psych-related issues. Depression.Anxiety.Panic Disorders. Personality Disorders ( Schizophrenia, DID etc). They say knowledge is power and after this rotation I couldn't agree more or put it in any other way. I feel so enlightened. I feel like a different person in view of mental/psych patients.
It was a very fulfilling rotation sans it's spookiness. I loved the patients and thank God I ended up nursing amazing patients. I wanted to hear every one's story, how they'd ended up on the psych unit. What their story was. It was fascinating to listen to people's pasts, to hear the story of their lives. It enabled me to level with them, gave me a better understanding of them, gave me a profound respect of the kind of lives they lived, though medicated, the demons they still had to battle/fight every so often, their courage and brevity. After this class I know way better than to stigmatise any person with a mental/psych issue(not like I did before).
As an individual I've learnt to set boundaries. My communication skills have also improved. Improved in a therapeutic way in that I steer off the -why-questions b/c I've learned when you ask someone the -why-question you instantly cause them to shut off because it places them on the spot. I know we do this so many times and not even notice it. But once I thought it over I'd rather someone asked me -How come you did that?- rather than -Why did you do that?- It's amazing what impact different wording can cause. For instance asking a patient the why question shuts them off hindering interaction but wording the same question differently makes it easier for the patient to open up and talk to you and in a psych unit trust me this difference is palpable. The words we use either break or make not just on a psych unit but also out there in the real world.
I've also learnt to think before I talk. Literally, I actually 'say' and 'hear' the words am about to utter in my head to ensure they're appropriate before I can utter them. This class has truly made a difference in my conversations with others due to all the the therapeutic and non-therapeutic cues I've learned. I've to keep reminding myself am not on the unit and that saying 'go on...' during a conversation with a friend is actually not exactly appropriate. I catch myself using those therapeutic cues all the time now and the bf will say something like 'hey I'm not one of your patients' to jolt me back to the real world lol I know, funny, right? I could just go on and on so I opt to digress...
Despite having a great experience the class was intensive. After Critical Care Nursing I thought Psych was going to be a breeze well lo and behold it wasn't. I had to write two scientific papers worth 60pts. Boy, was that something. I was literally in agony. Thankfully the prof was great b/c she gave us the option to write the papers and turn them in to her for a review before the actual due date. The first paper which was worth 15pts I had her review it three times and still got 11.3/15 and for the second paper, worth 45pts, I sent it in via email for at least four reviews and still got just a 38.30/45. She was a hard grader darn it! but a great prof *hats off* Suffice to say besides the papers I did great on my three class exams and class projects (five wishes,treasure hunt and movie review). It was an interesting yet intensive psych journey. The final was this past saturday,11/3, I did well, passed the class, 85%. I guess it gets to the point where as long as you're passing the class you're fine and of course the crux, learning and acquiring the subject knowledge. Knowing it. Seeing it and knowing what it is. Dissecting it. Being knowledgable on the matter/subject.
Knowledge is power. Did I already say that?
I've no concrete reason as to why I didn't post often. I had the mojo to and sometimes even the time but then I'd just end up not posting it..no, I don't know why. It's almost like I didn't know what to say..like I've already said it all..umh...writers block? may be?
On a different note. I'll be off school for a whole month. Yup, you read that right, a whole month off to myself. Oh what am I going to do with myself..too much time off. I plan to enjoy it. By enjoy it I mean sleep it as often as I can and just laze around because why? I CAN!!! I've no big plans..actually scratch that there are big plans alright :) My birthday's coming up in *drum rolls* a few days, to be exact in five days and guess whose jetting in to see his sweetie? the bf, woot! I'm so excited I can't keep it together. I just want to sleep and wake up when it's Friday *grinning*. The bf will be in town for ten whole days, all mine 24 hours a day, yay! What more can I want for a birthday? Need I divulge you at how much I'd love for my moms and siblings to be here too but c'est la vie. I'm happy with what I've right now. Big plan numero dos is I'll be out of town for thanksgiving lol this year after driving me absolutely insane seems like it might end up on a good note afterall.
All said and done school resumes in December. I best not regress during my one month vacay from school. In the meantime if you forget all else remember YOU can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens YOU!!!!
Mucho mucho amor,
Student Nurse
Labels: Psychosocial Nursing
posted by Student Nurse at 12:14 PM
