Visiting lecture from Psychiatric Department RIPAS Hospital

In order to understand of how the psychiatric nursing healthcare delivery system works here, in terms of protocols, legal, nursing guidelines, the program has been designed to invites Professional healthcare workers in teaching us of the system. All of them are senior psychiatric nurses as well as psychiatric doctors. It was delightful that they came to teach and give information to us.

Evaluation Day and Awardees to the top of the cream

Before the end of semester 1, Mr Derek conducted an evaluation regarding of the course program in terms of teaching, assignment, clinical placement and test. It partly reflects of whether we have achieve the set objectives of the course and the way to impart our clinical skills has improve. In such a way, constructive criticisms was expected in doing this so as to improve this mental health nursing program.

Another highlight during that day was the awarding the top of the cream in contract learning, practice examination and test. As well as to our class representative for his service for six months. The gifts were given from Mr Derek.

Azrina in love with her prize *Practice examination*

Masriah*top of the cream in Contract learning*,


Amir *our class rep, you've done well*

Rujiah top in Psycho-pharmacology test


We all are really proud of you guys!!!!!

Avtivities during school holiday

Happy Birthday 23 yrs old Azrina

Birthdays....birthdays....this is courtesy from us to you Azrinna...yes...you...the best impersonator. Anyway, earlier that noon, Aman has this idea of suprising Azrinna for a birthday frenzy. All of course except me because I have no idea what's going on until Mas and Rujiah gave a shout out saying its Azrinna birthday. Bless them because if they didn't tell me, I wouldn't have the chance to eat the cake. And it was a beautiful cake.

So when Azrinna went out to call for Mr Hayes, Aman on the other was so excited and went berserk repeating saying "Laju!!!" in high tone voice like the room was about to explode. Apparently, he getting the cake from his car. He was frantically panic but the same time enthusiastic about the whole thing. Thats was funny. So, we guys got prepare, and Azrinna came in with the room lights off and jumped we say happy birthday.

Azrinna was speechless for a short while and her smile was further to the back of her neck *seriously it was, just joking* but it was nice. This is the best thing our group has ever done and indeed it was something memorable and appreciate.

Our birthday girl Azrinna

Three combinations pictures
(L:Our group, C: Mas and happy birthday girl, R: The beautiful and eatable cake)

All of us get in hand with the cake, Mr Hayes was there as well. An exciting day for Azrinna, may ALLAH blessed you with prosperity and health. AMIN

Nurses Day Walkathon at Tasek Lama

On 26th May 2007, PAPRSB College of Nursing organised a walkathon at Bukit Tasek Lama at the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan. It was to celebrate the International Nurses' Day. This activities invited all students from PAPRSB College of Nursing as well as Education Officers and staffs from the college.

At the front gate of Tasek Lama

Combination of pictures:

Early morning stretches....with friends and a lot of candid pictures caught by Aman

All and all, we all really had a blast and enjoyed ourselves

A dedication to SMARTER

This is a sweet video done by aremski. If you would visit the website, its http://anakbrunei.org/

Enjoy your holidays mate

Alas, Holiday

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

1. Come early to lectures and work
2. Catch up for the extended project (L.R) to be due on late June (we are far away behind, this will be FUN,)
3. Get prepare of the next core subjects (regroup with other nursing specialists)
   
4. 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.

Manic depression (Bipolar Disorder)

I found this in the net, youtube.com server. Its about an interview with a manic depressive patient. Quite interestingly, she know about her illness very well

This is a nice animation done by a nursing class. About bipolar as well.

Our curriculum: what have we learn

Since this blog was not active for nearly a month, might as well I present of what is going from the past week since March.


So far we have cover the curriculum as listed below:

Psychopharmocology (Status: Complete with test)
This topic covers of the medication of how it works in the receiver (the client). Nurses' role were discussed in this topic such as how to identify the 'EPS' or Extra Pyramidal Symptom, how each drug works of the pharmocodynamic, pharmocobiomechanism and pharmacokinetics. To test our understanding of this, a 60 item multiple choice was examining on our understanding towards this topic. So far, a lot of this is new or have known of this topic. Nevertheless, we are still learning towards the administration of the drugs being given to the client.

Anatomy and Physiology in Mental Health Nursing approach (Status: Follow up)
This topic covers of how the brain function. From a minor understandable terms to the complex terms. Some topics will be cover here such as the neurotransmitter that is responsible for our brain function for example: Serotonin, Acetycholine, Dopamine and others

Research Critique (Status: Complete with assignment passed on 4th April 2007)
This topic covers of the nursing research process of how it works. Basically based on identifying, searching for literatures, assessment, mode of research style and evaluation. The highlights of this topic was that it is very useful for our Extended project which is part of our nursing curriculum. Nevertheless, using this topic of getting our literatures in presenting our cases and issues that need to be understand or to be resolve.

Melayu Islam Beraja (Status: Complete with assignment need to be submit on 16th April 2007)
This topic is very important based on understanding of how Government works based on using Malay and Islamic principles. Not only that, issue of nursing also revolves around MIB such as the use of non-halal medication, communication between male and female, personal space, culture and in our Mental Health profession, suicide issues, how to deal with this. Nevertheless, this topic has provide a grounding level of the whole understanding of Brunei Darussalam healthcare delivery.

From the topics that we've covered, it hope we too can benefit from all the knowledge we obtain. In providing an excellent service to the people of Brunei Darussalam in improving their health status coinciding with the health services and resources.

The 2nd Annual Academic Sessions

From 20th to 21st of March, the College of Nursing attended the the Annual Academic Session 2007 that bears the theme "Cultivating Research Talents through Interdisciplinary Collaborations".

The main aim are

• To bring together health professionals as well as biomedical and lifescience researchers
• To provide a platform for them to share and highlight their inter-disciplinary collaborations
• To create awareness of the importance of research and sharing information within the medical, health and basic science communities in Brunei Darussalam and the region.

Highlights of the sessions was the introduction of the Brunei Darussalam Journal of Health published by the Institute of Medicine. Now a research centre has been establish!

In this sessions, from the nursing parts, some interesting topics were presented by our Staff Nurses from RIPAS, SSB and PIHM Hospital. It was the highlight for these nurses to present their findings about pertaining to nursing issues or others that might affect the nursing management of a client in improving the healthcare delivery system.

Critical evaluation of international guidelines in hospital emergency management of care for the trauma victim in Brunei by Salleh Kamal Badaruddin

The Importance of psychoeducational approach in improving medication compliance in schizophrenia by Hajjijah Harris (*VERY RELATED TO OUR PROFESSION*)

Effects of on-call work to healthcare workers' health by Hjh Milazita Leman

All of the papers presented were good based on it applicability to Brunei healthcare system and it is hope the nursing services would look upon to their work in order to improve the current situation.

Our college nursing educators also presented their topic regarding of improving the nursing education in Brunei Darussalam which was very interesting and significant findings (I will upload this soon)

Nurses' and midwives perceptions of the relevance of human anatomy and physiology in their profession by Julaini Latip, Khadizah Mumin and Maimunah Othman

Small scale explorative study on nurses and midwives knowledge in the Islamic perspectives of the ethical frameworks by Khadizah Mumin

An analysis of health promotion models utilized in the community health practice in Brunei Darussalam by Hjh Salmah Hj Mohd Noor and Khadizah Mumin

It is hope in the future this annual academic sessions should continue in order to know the current evidenced based practice that can be applicable to all health care profession especially mental health nursing as this needs to be investigate further.

Thank you Rahman for uploading the pictures.

2nd Annual Academic Sessions of the Institude of Medicine 2007 (10/03/2007 till 11/03/2007)