I was so eager to be able to administer
medication for my patient last Thursday, however my son fell ill and I needed
to nurse him instead. I was able to be
present at clinical on Friday. Despite
being busy or tired as a full-time student and a full-time mom, I must say that
the experience as a mother is beneficial during clinical. Having patience, empathy and being nurturing
towards our patients is what they need, while still encouraging independence to
do things on their own. Since we only
have one patient for now, it is a lot easier to give all our focus and
concentration on that one person. I
observe or assist my fellow classmates with their patients as well, and look
forward to being capable of handling more by the time we graduate.
My patient is a stroke patient on
tube-feeding through a peg. She was
persistent in asking to eat and drink early in the morning. I explained to her how she was receiving all
her nutrients straight to her stomach. I
had to repeat myself, more than a dozen times, that she was restricted from
having anything by mouth because she has trouble swallowing. She did not understand why her medication was
administered through the tube either. We
all want to prevent her from aspiration or pneumonia, until she passes her
swallowing assessment test. Her loss of
short-term memory also prevents her from remembering whatever I have explained. After breakfast, I bathed her in bed and groomed her afterwards. Again, I find this part of the head to toe
assessment fairly easy since I am always bathing a little one who cannot yet do
so on his own. I brushed her hair
afterwards and did oral care. My patient
expressed how much she liked it because nobody brushes her hair. I don’t know if she just doesn’t remember but
I’m glad I did that little thing for her. I asked was what colour of lipstick she used to wear –
and she replied “red” and then laughed that she was an old lady now. I handed her crossword puzzles after sitting
her up in a chair and told her I would return to her in a little while. Even though she is a ninety-three year old
woman with a CVA, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, I think
about how I would want to be cared for, or how I want my mother or my sister to
be treated like. My compassion for her
was given--- all before I even found out that she has no children, no family nor
friends to visit. I am looking forward
to the following clinical day next Thursday. 