Back at the Nursing Home

Bright and early Monday morning (5:45 am), I was back at the nursing home for clinical rotations. 3 of us volunteered to go help with rehabilitation since they had told our instructor that they started at 6 am. After waiting for a half hour, we were told that they don't start until 9 am. Our instructor then told us to go find a CNA and follow them around and help with whatever we could. It turned out to be quite a learning experience helping with getting the people up and ready for the day. Helping them with diapers, bathroom use (for which some have to harnessed into a lift to use the toilet), changing from pajamas to clothes, making their beds, etc. Then, we took them to breakfast and I got to sit at a table and help 3 of them eat their food. I decided at that time that they were just like really large children. There was even a bit of hitting and grumbling because they didn't want to do what they needed to do. We then took them to whereever they wanted to go with their choices being in the hallway or back to their rooms to watch TV or go back to sleep.

Tuesday dawned early as well. Actually, it is still very dark at 5:45 am. This was the day that they all needed to receive their flu vaccinations. I was in the first group to learn what to do with administering and charting. We started in the Alzheimer unit. I had never given an IM in the deltoid before, so that was fun to learn. We each got to give six. Since I had been in the first group to learn what to do, another student and I ended up standing next to all the charts and helping the other students make sure they were charting properly for the rest of the day. The day went by quickly, and I was almost sad to leave the nursing home. I had started to know the people's names and started having my favorites.