Whew...Its been six months after we started this course. Came to think of it, half a year, though with many difficulties such as coping with the course, and the end of the day lessons, we still have a say by saying "Well, there's another day for something new to learn". That has been the motto of this group. For certain people, this was not easy to go to this bumpy ride especially when needed to give time to your family especially the in-service. Yet, they still have their smile on the faces and still entertain the class. They are wonderful people with uplift personality and great sense of humour.
I have to admit, neither of us especially the double diploma group have not thought in mind of what we dealing with. Coming to clinical attachment, looking into arrays of psychiatric cases, learning to the adapt the working atmosphere, thats tough. Thank goodness, the in-service are there when we need them dearly.
The specialist subject so far,wow, all of it is so new.
- The biological basis of Mental Health Nursing (quite an eye opener)
- Improving quality of life of psychiatric patient
- Interviewing skills
- Communication
- Psychopharmacology ( a lot to learn and to remember, it will be okay)
All based on how its work and why it did not work. The fun part comes during brainstorming and discussion on to know how it works, why it did not work and
how to improve it. This is an excellent problem based learning which we are still trying to adapt with the study technique. All and all, we succumb to this and we passed the contract learning modules. The top was Masriah Abdullah. Congrats to her.
Clinical experience. 2 months was the best. Its more fun and fascinating when trying to see of what is in the book is actually in reality. Especially when its the part during communicating with a patient. That when we practice to improve our dexterity and mind reasoning skills. Yet, we always follow in the detail and procedure one by one of what theory and protocol said this and that, in reality, we tend to forget of what the patients want. I came to learn that, we utterly do what the book says and sometimes miss of what the patient want. Sure we do know the presenting symptoms all and that, the drugs that works to lay off the symptoms and surely we need them to be in shape before they're discharge. But then we should concentrate on what the patient is capable in doing. Looking into the strengths of the patients and weakness enables us to work properly with them. Achieving their goals (in reality to be precise). It does come in mind that it would be definitely be very, very, very and very difficult. Maybe we should give a try. If it doesn't work, we'll find other way of making sure the person to cope well. As what Robert Frost said
"
Do not follow where the path may lead,
Go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail"
Keeping on working to find a better solution. You do the work and people will follow your lead. Specialist subject really broaden our view of psychiatric nursing of the fundamentals and dynamic behind it. Some do realize, yet it's our goal to make people understand that normal people are not as different from the people that we treat.
Now, we're moving on to Semester 2, a lot of work to look forward to and here's a list that needed to improve by the way
- Come early to lectures and work
- Catch up for the extended project (L.R) to be due on late June (we are far away behind, this will be FUN,)
- Get prepare of the next core subjects (regroup with other nursing specialists)
- Lastly, be proud to be a psychiatric nurse
I think there's all to that, and finally, a very good holiday to my coursemates Yoyo, Midz, Aman, Rujiah, Mas, Amir, L and Reena and to Mr Derek Hayes. Not forgetting, Ahmad Faisal and the other Mental Health nursing teaching staffs. We'll see you next semester.
