"You all feel like family"
Here I am again, having endured another week of being out on site two days a week. As of now, I'm lounging at my favorite local coffee joint while trying to work on this ridiculously long assignment for Med/Surg. Anywho, I thought that getting up at 4AM on Tuesdays and 5AM on Thursdays would be hard. Don't get me wrong; it is still very hard, but it's getting easier. Go figure, now that my body is getting up so early two days a week, I switch back here to Berea and I DON'T have to get up at 4. I can get up at 6!!!!!! Anyway, enough about that. Oh, another random blurb; I got my flu shot today! And I didn't pass out! My arm still hurts a little bit though...hey, you have someone stab you in your arm muscle with a needle. Enough now.
On Tuesday, I was in the outpatient setting. I have only one word: BORING. I literally did not do a thing! Granted, the nurse I was with was incredibly nice and I could tell that she really loved what she did. She had a very bubbly attitude which made the rotation a little bit more enjoyable. Other than enjoying her bubbly attitude, I really didn't do anything. However, having actual conversations with some of the patients was rather enjoyable as well. I don't even remember what we talked about, but by my conversing I believe it provided some distraction from the fact they were about to go into the OR. Again, just another point along the lines of love what you do. Nursing isn't always taking vital signs and giving injections and asking questions about how many MI's, seizures and strokes you've had. eek...bit of a run-on there. My psych nursing professor said that most nurses just forget that patients are actually people and forget to just have normal conversations sometimes. Really; anybody can do that. Don't need a degree to do that. All righty, enough about Med/Surg. Frankly, I was hoping this rotation would be more rewarding. Then again, maybe I'm counting my chickens before they hatch. I still have 2...or is it 3...I don't know...more weeks left.
Onto yesterday. Kind of a downer day, honestly. Some of the patients were very sad and depressed, and during the group therapy sessions they were very quiet in reserve. I remember specifically one patient who was very talkative and enthusiastic one week was the complete opposite yesterday. What's particularly hard for me is the fact that I am struggling in one part. I am struggling in how to be an empathetic support. I can sympathize with these individuals all that I want, but never in my life will I ever be able to truly understand what they are going through. And it's hard for me, because in addition, my role as a student nurse means that I am merely an observer in group therapy. When appropriate though, we as the students are allowed to share comments, but I have struggled for something to say. Hopefully, before this rotation ends, I will have the opportunity to lead a group session. Previous BC nursing students have done it before, and I think this will be an excellent opportunity for me to see if this is the field I really am interested in. Phalanges crossed!
Another highlight of the day was actually talking one-on-one with one of the patients. By law I am not permitted to share anything, however I will share this; it was a wonderful experience, and I am glad that I was able to do so. Though again, I will not be able to fully understand what these individuals are going through, but by participating in this one-on-one it helped me see patterns and gave me the opportunity to ask some questions. Luckily, the patient I talked to was very open and honest, which I know that some people struggle with...talking with complete strangers about your personal life...like me. And also, I'm sure these patients have to tell what I was told lots and lots and lots of times, and the fact she was willing to share with me was really neat. And she was very nice too! When I was ready to leave the unit to finish the day, I overheard her talking to one of the nurse after the nurse gave her a cup so she could have some coffee. She just smiled and said "you all feel like family to me." I smiled. At the end of the day, all I could think about was this verse from the book of Hebrews. It stuck with me for the rest of the day and the rest of the night.
"Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" -Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
On Tuesday, I was in the outpatient setting. I have only one word: BORING. I literally did not do a thing! Granted, the nurse I was with was incredibly nice and I could tell that she really loved what she did. She had a very bubbly attitude which made the rotation a little bit more enjoyable. Other than enjoying her bubbly attitude, I really didn't do anything. However, having actual conversations with some of the patients was rather enjoyable as well. I don't even remember what we talked about, but by my conversing I believe it provided some distraction from the fact they were about to go into the OR. Again, just another point along the lines of love what you do. Nursing isn't always taking vital signs and giving injections and asking questions about how many MI's, seizures and strokes you've had. eek...bit of a run-on there. My psych nursing professor said that most nurses just forget that patients are actually people and forget to just have normal conversations sometimes. Really; anybody can do that. Don't need a degree to do that. All righty, enough about Med/Surg. Frankly, I was hoping this rotation would be more rewarding. Then again, maybe I'm counting my chickens before they hatch. I still have 2...or is it 3...I don't know...more weeks left.
Onto yesterday. Kind of a downer day, honestly. Some of the patients were very sad and depressed, and during the group therapy sessions they were very quiet in reserve. I remember specifically one patient who was very talkative and enthusiastic one week was the complete opposite yesterday. What's particularly hard for me is the fact that I am struggling in one part. I am struggling in how to be an empathetic support. I can sympathize with these individuals all that I want, but never in my life will I ever be able to truly understand what they are going through. And it's hard for me, because in addition, my role as a student nurse means that I am merely an observer in group therapy. When appropriate though, we as the students are allowed to share comments, but I have struggled for something to say. Hopefully, before this rotation ends, I will have the opportunity to lead a group session. Previous BC nursing students have done it before, and I think this will be an excellent opportunity for me to see if this is the field I really am interested in. Phalanges crossed!
Another highlight of the day was actually talking one-on-one with one of the patients. By law I am not permitted to share anything, however I will share this; it was a wonderful experience, and I am glad that I was able to do so. Though again, I will not be able to fully understand what these individuals are going through, but by participating in this one-on-one it helped me see patterns and gave me the opportunity to ask some questions. Luckily, the patient I talked to was very open and honest, which I know that some people struggle with...talking with complete strangers about your personal life...like me. And also, I'm sure these patients have to tell what I was told lots and lots and lots of times, and the fact she was willing to share with me was really neat. And she was very nice too! When I was ready to leave the unit to finish the day, I overheard her talking to one of the nurse after the nurse gave her a cup so she could have some coffee. She just smiled and said "you all feel like family to me." I smiled. At the end of the day, all I could think about was this verse from the book of Hebrews. It stuck with me for the rest of the day and the rest of the night.
"Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" -Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
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