Beginning a new clinical in a new environment was somewhat intermediating especially being at a hospital. With unfamiliar territory comes feelings of nervousness and slight anxiety but I was focused on having a great clinical experience and using my time wisely. After receiving a tour from Mrs. D I was excited to this the difference between residential care at San Marcos to the acute care in a hospital. Not only did I immediately notice the change of environment but as well as the change in patients and diagnoses. A majority of the youth at the treatment center are not fully diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder as compared to the patients on these floors. Spending time reading over the charts of the patients on the floor was educational because I was able to see the diagnosis and comments of the physician. The thing I did best today was identifying the differences in charts between Methodist and San Marcos. I was able to interact with patients who were on the second floor on the chemical substance unit through recreational therapy and free time. Both the recreational therapy and free time took place in the “group room” where patients were sitting either on the couch located near the television or seated at the circle table. I enjoyed participating in the recreational therapy because it was a new treatment session I had previously not witnessed. I observed the therapist use games to not only interact with her patients but to use them as tools to create conversation and reflection.
Starting the clinical I felt uneasy and unaware but after completing the day I was enlightened, I think my uneasiness stemmed from the warnings from Mrs. D about the first floor. I was just unaware of the importance of not only observing the patient I was interacting with but others as well not only for learning purposes but for safety. I kept an open mind throughout clinical and was able to ask my nurse multiple questions about the charts, shifts and treatments on the floor. I learned a lot about recreational therapy by participating in the game and then observing the conversation that followed. I was able to identify the therapeutic communication skills the therapist used after the game to illustrate that each patient could change his/her own life story similar to the game. At the end of the session I then understood the purpose of the game, previously I was confused as to why the therapist was giving the patients authority to make rules to a game no one knew how to play.
In retrospect I realize that I let a lot of previous biases and social content affect my personal opinion about the facility and its patients but was able to identify the truth after being on the floor. The biases I previously had made me feel uncomfortable and slightly overwhelmed because I kept thinking “what if” scenarios. This has taught me that I need to focus on the bigger picture of nursing and to constantly remind myself that patient care does not come from biases or judgment.
After being able to identify my reasons for my uneasiness at clinical I plan to change my biases of psych hospitals and the patients. In the future I plan to interact with patients more whether it is through group activities or making conversation. I think that for my first clinical I was able to push myself to see past my biases and look at the environment for face value and to observe what was occurring. I am sure that I will always be a bit uneasy dealing with patients of the psychiatrics but I know that I can communicate effectively enough with them to perform therapeutic communication. I plan on returning to clinical more at ease with interacting with patients.