On the Job: Geriatric Nurse

CNA

9 Dec 201704:35

Summary

TLDRThe video script documents a first-person experience of a new nurse's first day at the geriatric monitoring unit at Anderson Hospital. The narrator expresses nervousness about making elderly patients uncomfortable and recounts challenges such as bathing, feeding, and changing diapers. They also share the emotional impact of witnessing patients' embarrassment and the physical and mental exhaustion from the day's work. The script concludes with a deep respect for the nursing profession, highlighting the commitment and dignity with which nurses handle the demanding physical, emotional, and social aspects of their job.

Takeaways

🕗 The narrator starts their day at 7:00 a.m. at the geriatric monitoring unit, feeling nervous about their first day.
👨‍⚕️ The narrator expresses concern about making elderly patients uncomfortable and aims to keep up with the nurses' pace.
🚿 The narrator recounts an incident where they may have been too rough while bathing a patient, highlighting the need for gentle care.
💤 The narrator mentions the challenge of feeding a patient who kept falling asleep, emphasizing the need for patience and attentiveness.
👶 The narrator reflects on the importance of taking care of the elderly, likening it to caring for a baby.
🩲 The script describes a process of changing a patient's diaper, indicating the hands-on nature of the job.
🌡️ The narrator mentions the need for a thermometer, suggesting the importance of monitoring patients' health.
💩 The narrator recounts an incident where a patient had a bowel movement, causing discomfort and embarrassment for both the patient and the caregiver.
🧴 The narrator talks about applying creams, indicating the routine care tasks involved in the job.
🗣️ The narrator acknowledges the communication challenges due to language barriers with patients, showing the importance of interpersonal skills.
💔 The narrator expresses emotional exhaustion, particularly from dealing with patients' feelings of shame and embarrassment.
🏥 By the end of the day, the narrator feels drained physically and mentally, highlighting the demanding nature of nursing work.
🌟 The narrator concludes with a deep respect for the nursing profession, acknowledging the commitment and dignity with which nurses perform their duties.

Q & A

What time does the narrator start their day at the geriatric monitoring unit?
-The narrator starts their day at 7:00 a.m.
How does the narrator feel on their first day at the geriatric monitoring unit?
-The narrator feels a little bit nervous and hopes not to make any of the elderly patients uncomfortable.
What incident causes the narrator to question their approach during the shower scene?
-The narrator is unsure whether they were too rough on the patient, possibly due to using too much soap.
What challenge does the narrator face while trying to feed a patient?
-The patient keeps falling asleep, making it difficult for the narrator to get him to wake up and eat.
What is the narrator's task when it comes to changing a patient's diaper?
-The narrator needs to remove the old diaper, clean the patient, and put on a new diaper.
How does the narrator describe the physical demands of their job?
-The narrator mentions aches and pains from standing for nearly the whole day and bending over to carry patients.
What emotional challenges does the narrator encounter?
-The narrator finds it mentally tiring to use interpersonal skills to communicate with patients, especially due to language barriers.
How does the narrator feel about the nursing profession after their experience?
-The narrator comes away with a deep respect for the nursing profession, acknowledging the physical, emotional, and social aspects of their job.
What incident made the narrator feel uncomfortable?
-The narrator felt uncomfortable when they had to handle a patient who had pooped themselves.
How does the narrator describe the nurses' attitude towards their work?
-The narrator describes the nurses as handling their job with commitment, no complaints, and dignity.
What realization does the narrator have about the care of the elderly?
-The narrator realizes that the elderly truly need to be taken care of and that this responsibility is not an easy task.

Outlines

00:00

😟 First Day Nervousness and Elderly Care Challenges

The narrator begins their first day at the geriatric monitoring unit at Anderson Hospital, feeling nervous about potentially making elderly patients uncomfortable. They recount their experiences with bathing a patient, ensuring they were not too rough, and the challenges of feeding a patient who kept falling asleep. The narrator also discusses the physical and emotional demands of the job, such as lifting and transferring patients, and the importance of interpersonal skills in communicating with patients who speak different languages.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Geriatric Monitoring Unit

A geriatric monitoring unit is a specialized department within a hospital that focuses on the care of elderly patients. It is where the video's narrator is working, and it sets the scene for the challenges and experiences they encounter. The narrator mentions being 'outside the geriatric monitoring unit at Anderson hospital,' indicating the setting where the events of the video take place.

💡Shift

In the context of the video, a 'shift' refers to a period of work, typically of a fixed length, during which the narrator is expected to perform their duties. The script mentions 'study or shift around this time,' highlighting the routine and timing of the nurses' work, which is crucial for understanding the daily operations of the unit.

💡Nervousness

Nervousness is a feeling of anxiety or apprehension, often felt in new or challenging situations. The narrator expresses feeling 'a little bit nervous' on their first day, which is a common emotion experienced by individuals starting a new job, especially in a demanding and sensitive environment like a geriatric unit.

💡Elderly Patients

Elderly patients are individuals who are older and often require special care due to age-related health issues. The video revolves around the care provided to these patients, as the narrator mentions their concern about 'making any of the elderly patients uncomfortable,' emphasizing the delicate nature of their work.

💡Femur

The femur, or thigh bone, is the longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human skeleton. The script mentions 'drop the femur,' which could imply a physical challenge or a metaphor for the potential fragility of elderly patients, highlighting the physical demands and the need for care in handling patients.

💡Soap

Soap is a substance used for washing and cleaning. The narrator recounts an incident where they 'put a bit too much soap,' which could be a metaphor for being overly cautious or inexperienced in their tasks, reflecting on the learning curve and the need for precision in caregiving.

💡Diaper

A diaper is an absorbent garment worn by individuals who are unable to control their bladder or bowel movements. The script describes the process of 'remove the diaper' and replacing it, which is a fundamental aspect of caring for elderly patients who may have incontinence issues, showcasing the intimate and personal nature of the care provided.

💡Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to communicate and interact effectively with others. The narrator mentions the challenge of using 'interpersonal skills to communicate with the patients,' which is essential in building trust and providing compassionate care, especially when language barriers are present.

💡Mandarin

Mandarin is a group of Sino-Tibetan languages, often referring specifically to Standard Chinese, the official language of China. The script mentions the narrator's lack of proficiency in 'Mandarin or dialects,' which presents a communication challenge in a multicultural setting, emphasizing the importance of language skills in caregiving.

💡Respect

Respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. The narrator concludes by expressing 'a deep respect for the nursing profession,' acknowledging the physical, emotional, and social demands of the job, and the commitment nurses show in their daily work.

💡Dignity

Dignity refers to the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. The video's theme includes the narrator's observation of how nurses perform their duties 'with no complaints and dignity,' which underscores the professionalism and the high standard of care provided to patients despite the challenging circumstances.

Highlights

Starting the first day at the geriatric monitoring unit at Anderson hospital at 7:00 a.m.

Feeling nervous about making elderly patients uncomfortable on the first day.

Struggling with the challenge of bathing an elderly patient without being too rough.

Concerns about possibly using too much soap during the patient's bath.

The difficulty of keeping elderly patients awake during care routines.

The importance of maintaining hygiene and the process of changing diapers for patients.

The realization of the intense care needs of the elderly and the emotional impact.

The discomfort and embarrassment experienced by a patient who had a bowel movement.

The mental and physical exhaustion felt by the end of the first day.

The physical demands of the job, including standing and bending over to assist patients.

The communication challenges faced due to language barriers with patients.

The deep respect gained for the nursing profession after experiencing the job's demands.

The commitment and dedication of nurses in handling the physical, emotional, and social aspects of their job.

The lack of complaints and the dignified manner in which nurses perform their duties.

The acknowledgment of the complexity of caring for the elderly and the skills required.