I write this post to all who have started a new job recently and all others who are curious to read on further. In this post i shall write of my experience of being a young person, who has only finished my first year of study towards my bachelor of nursing degree. Myself, I have just started a new job last November as a caregiver in a rest home. This job has proved more difficult then I had initially thought and at times I feel as if I'm not doing good enough. I work too slow, or I get off track and don't remember the way things are ought to be done. These resident's cares are in my hands and sometimes i forget that i have to put myself in their shoes. Are those twisted knickers really going to be comfortable for the rest of the day? Will I be comfortable in this position and for this long?
Before i get into more detail, I shall describe to you a bit about my work. In the rest home, there are two wings. There is the rest home and the hospital. Regardless, of which wing the number of residents with some form or another of dementia makes up the majority of the 60 residents. It is important that dignity and as much Independence is maintained as possible. When you are old, there may or may not be alot of things left and it is what these residents bring with them. From the little property they decided to bring with them to the memories they have retained and all things of the past, present and future, they are all so precious. It is their reality and it is the hands of us, the carers, the housekeepers, the chefs, kitchen hand, staff, family and friends and the wider community that peace shall be upon them and what they have left that they may enjoy. In Eric Erickson's theory, this stage in life is the stage of either integrity or despair. Regardless, there are some good days and some bad days and after all that is life, no matter on what spectrum of the continuum one is at. It is only natural in the cycle of life that we eventually slow down and deteriorate to the days where a great amount of dependence may be the result, like the ways of a newborn where feeding and prompting is needed. But no matter what, they are all precious and they are the result of love, lovers and God has the final decision to fate.
How the workplace is structured is that the rest home provides meals and ensures that residents can be assisted with the daily activities of living , if need be. As caregivers, we are rostered on for shifts. The numbers ranges throughout a day on the wings. In the rest home we may get 1-3 caregivers and in the hospital 3-6. At a time there is one registered nurse on who overlooks the cares given, gives medication and interacts with the MDT. They must be assertive, responsible, flexible and on task to ensure that the best can be provided.
I believe the skills i have learnt as a caregiver, are defiantly good to build on my communication skills, something that really needs to improve, especially more since the days of college as a shy teenager who has ambitions on becoming a nurse someday. The staff ranges with age and I am thankful I am not the only young face working there. Regardless, it is always an advantage to build a good rapport with colleagues and always ask if not sure of things. I guess its only time now that will deal with the will of God has given me, in regards to experiences and developing not just my work skills but also myself, as a young Catholic woman.
In Christo,
Cat
