First week in Day Surgery Unit

What I have learned my first week in Day Surgery Unit

*new professional words
*self-confidence in English speaking
*what is to work in Day Surgery Unit in Ireland
*what kind of patient you have in Day Surgery Unit
*what you have to do and observe before and after operation

My first week was so nice experience. Staff were kindly and helpful for me, I gave good orientation and I was taken by management measures. I met new people, saw what happens in theater room and learn lots of new things. After second day I felt that I can understand what's going on in this unit and all the time I felt myself welcome to this placement.  

Mental health - Fourth (and last) week behind

This week was better than last. It is also my last week in mental health, 'cause next placement is some kind of day surgery ward. In here, this placement, I took a part of different kind of social groups and relaxations. I made practical nurse works (still) but maybe repetition is the mother of learning, right?

Staff were still busy, but individuals were very kindly for me and they told their diagnosis so openly. Those conversations gave me more information about symptoms and patients feelings. I had a couple of patients with whom I went through in their lives. We talked about their families, backgrounds, symptoms and futureplans.

Other students had asome kind of class which deal with harm-self and suicides. So I was involved in this class and it gave me a new perspective to think mental health work in Ireland. Things looked same than in Finland and I have found many similarities between my home country and this country.

Anyway, after those fourth mental health practise week I feel myself more confidence to meet mental health patients in Finland when I'll coming back to home. New people, experience and practising with mental health disease have gave me a lot and it feels good to know, that people are same all over the world despite the fact that they are sick.

Mental health - third week behind

Third mental health practise week was first in my new placement. It's sub-acute unit in hospital and there are 32 beds for individuals. It's so confusing change placements after two weeks, just when you know daily routines and patients.

Here in Ireland students can't work with medication or take bloodtests, for example. It makes me seem that I'll do practical nurse work in this placement. This week I took bloodsugars, bloodpressures and helped people take a bath.

Anyway, my week here went quickly and I learned many new things about mental health diseases. Staff were so busy with their patients and paperworks, so other students (from UCC, fourth and second year) gave me an orientation about unit. They told me what to do and where is monitors and towels and other things what I would need this days.

I met my attitudes again, because first days made me feel a little bit uncomfortable. That's cause some  patients just looked at me like a foreign pig and I didn't know if I should have say something, just look back or ignore that. But last day in this first week was better and I had good conversations with some patients.

Learning goals part. 2

I'm a little bit late now with blog but I have made my goals on paper. So right now I'm in hospital (mental health unit) to doing my practise.

Here are my learning goals for second placement:
*Learn language
*To deal my confusing attitudes
*Get own individual and explore for her/him (illness, background etc.)
*Learn daily habits and to work independently
*Learn more about mental diseases and know symptoms

I have not so large goals 'cause I will stay my placement only two weeks, three days in week.

Mental health - second week behind

Okay, now my second in mental health practise is over. That was my last week in my first training placement also. After those weeks, I feel that I got my goals.

Of course, I learning language all the time but in practise I learned some pieces of my professional vocabulary. I read many books of mental health there and gave new worlds in my mind.

Like I wrote earlier, I have no negative attitudes right now if we thinking about mental health rehabilitees. However, my next placement is in hospital where are more sick people. They don't have a balance of care and need more treatment. In my first placement, clients need like "friend" not "nurse".

Because of two weeks in placement, I learned by force what are clients daily habits. For example, what time they will coming in centre, when they take a part of groups and what kind of groups each likes. What time is dinner time and who are friends with each others.

I got a good relationship with my own client. He told me tips of his illness and how he goes. Our "morningsession" was very rewarding for both of us and I hope that I was able to give something for my client. Anyway, we were well discussion contact which help me to learn and my client to meet his fears.

Many times I crossed myself, because I'm terrible singer and two times in my placement I took a part of singing group. And both time I sang a song. Second time was easier and I sang our national anthem. In addition I was in art group, relaxation group and women group. All of them were important experience for me and centres clients.

In the end, I got very good forms about my training and learning and my mentor said that liason with other staff was excellent. 

So, now is good to go next placement. I have seen what it is to work with mental healt rehabilitees and I will see next what it is to work with serious mental health illness (acute phase).

Mental health - First week behind

So first week in Ireland and in my first training placement is behind me now. My feelings are tired but very happy. Now I understand how hard it really is to speak foreign language whole day and try to understand what people want to tell you.

However my first training placement is some kind of day (care) centre for mental health rehabilitees. I have met people with different backgrounds and diagnosis. Every one is a person and they have their own skills and strengths. And of course, some problems.

The clients have everyday habits ja they take part of different kind of groups and therapy in the centre. Some one likes acting and some one loves bingo or reading. My role in this place is to be "a friend" for clients. I take a part of groups as a member and talking with them for example today's news and things about my home country.

Everyday I have to meet my negative attitudes and of course my own fears, too. For example, there was music therapy at thursday and even though I am terrible singer I took part of this group. At first clients sang their song or said some poems. My mentor said poem too, and when everyone else was present their things I sang "Twinkle twinkle star" - in finnish of course. At the end we praised each others and there was "healing atmosphere", i thought. It was very nice to understand that we all are people even though you can't sing like a popstar or can't work like others.

When I have read backgrounds about my clients and I have spoke with them, in this week, I have got lost my negatives about mental health rehabilitees. It is so interesting to speak with them and listen their lifestories. They have their own past and memories and I can just understand that they are people too. Just like me, but they have only disease which make to their daily lives a little bit complicated than mine.

About my learning goals, I have a feeling that I know now the centres daily habits and liaison with other staff working good. Also I have learn a language 'cause I have to use it every day not only the centre but in my daily living here. About negative attitudes like I said - they are lost with rehabilitees. I can't say how I feel when I going my next training placement. Hopefully I feel like now.

Mental health practise in Ireland

I will make my mental health practise (5 weeks, including 185 hours in training placements) in Ireland.

My learning goals in first place, mental health rehabilitees day centre:
*Learn language
*Meet my negative attitudes
*Learn more about Irish culture and clients daily habits
*Help "my own client" to meet his fear (will telling more about this in my "critical insident")
*Take part of centres groups and things what are important to clients
*Make good liaison with other staff