Next Tuesday we orient to our first clinical site. Yikes!!! I am both nervous and excited, all rolled up into a boundless, near mindless frenzy of energy! This semester we'll be spending six weeks in long term care, working one-on-one with one patient (I'm not too sure I like being limited to one patient, but think there will be opportunities to help where help is needed). The following week we have spring break, and the week after we actually start patient care. I am soooo nervous because aside from the free clinic I volunteered at for two hours this past semester I have not interacted with patients in oh, about ten years!
One thing I am not looking forward to is the insanely
ugly uniform we have to wear...pictures sure to follow. After leaving class today I dropped it off at the cleaners to have the patches sewn on. I'd try myself, but decided to go for the straight option. Little did I know it was also the rip off option, at $30 a pop!!! That's the total for three rockers, three rectangulars on two shirts and one lab coat!
This all hinges on passing the dreaded pharmacology final/class. Back to the books...
4 comments:
Boy do I remember that feeling! We did the same thing first quarter. Started out doing assessements in the nursing home but we also just kind of hung out with our one patient. Went to dinner, helped feed people, took them to chapel and everything.It felt so good to finally get past that and into the hospitals!
Wow, I remember my 1st clinical at a nursing home. It was really pretty easy and very boring--but yes, you are right--the expectations are always high so help where you can, LOOK busy and try to learn as much as possible. I actually worked really hard on my paperwork and care plans that semester and got rave reviews over that stuff--my instructer later told me she would let me take care of her own mother! That was one of the best compliments I ever received! :) Nursing homes break my heart! Best wishes...
My first clinical in the nursing home was a verrrrryyyyy long time ago, approx 25yrs ago, but I remember it well. I had a very hard time hearing the patients yell "help me please. Help me please" and the regular staff ignored their crys because they explained these patients were confused and really didnt need help. I learned allot and tried to take every opportunity to give extra attention to my patient. I remember helping one of my patients by styling her hair. Im sure patients are more ill in the nursing facilities now and you will have some amazing experiences. Jump in your on a great adventure.
Rebekah, That's one of the things that I don't think any of us realized the other day when we were discussing our placement is the fact that it isn't just about bed baths and passing meds, it's the fun stuff too, the real caring.
Post a Comment