Most of us who are LPN’s tend to work in hospitals on units such as medical or surgical. It is less often where a job can be found in mental health. Usually, the jobs are for RPN’s.

When I found a posting for a job in a mental health facility, I thought I would jump at the chance. I was all about working in as many areas as I could. I had only graduated a few months before too! So, I went for my interview. Not only was I hired, they offered me a part-time line! Being a mom of two at the time, I did not want the commitment of a line, for daycare purposes. I wanted to stay casual so I could work when my husband was able to babysit.

So, when I started at this facility, I started on nights. I was a nice, easy way to get used to things. This facility was home to 25 residents. All suffered from various mental health issues such as schizophrenia. They ranged in ages from 30s to 80s. I was excited to see the other side of nursing that did not involve so  much personal care. At this facility, I held the keys and did meds while care aides assisted the residents with personal care.

I have to say, once I had worked there a few times, I could really see the difference. I was not coming home physically exhausted from my job, but mentally. These residents had behaviour issues that really tested ones patience!

I will try and think of some stories from my times there, and will share with you next week. It will be good to share some insight from personal experience in case you are thinking mental health may be the area you one day would like to work at. Or, if you are considering taking your RPN.

It seems like only yesterday that I was starting the Special Education Assistant Diploma Program and here I am now – my journey being a Stenberg student has come to an end. Today, I have completed my full practicum which is the last part of the program requirement. As I’m writing this blog, I still can’t believe that it is over. Well, technically, our last day is tomorrow. We will meet our instructor along with our practicum monitors and of course, our classmates for the last time in the campus.

I remembered how uncertain I was when I started the course. I thought it would take me great lengths to adjust. But the opposite happened. I enjoyed returning to school, actually more so than when I went to college many years ago. This is because our class was so amazing and fun. Our teamwork is evident in all the activities we have done. We certainly could not make it this far without our extremely wonderful instructor who never ceased to believe in us, guide us and share with us her knowledge, skills and experience. Her learning strategy helped us have a deeper understanding of our lessons. Her constant positive feedback gave us confidence in our abilities.

I am overjoyed in attaining my aspiration and at the same time, feel sad as I will miss everyone in our class. This is one of lifes realities – changes takes place. But one thing is for sure; tomorrow will be a momentous day for all of us in class.

Since this is my last blog as well, I might as well share a little view of how I made it this far. Please know that anyone can be great. You just have to have that heart of willingness in everything you do. Willingness to learn, to sacrifice and to work is important. Have a goal and stick to it. If you stumble into any kind of hardship during your studies, take it as a necessary ingredient to succeed. Enjoy learning J

I remember the first time I heard the word orthopedics. I had no idea what it meant. That is when my great knowledge of medical combining terms came in! I was able to figure out it referred to bones. This is the second unit I worked on.

I decided once I was confident in my surgical nursing skills, I would try something a bit different. The orthopedic unit was right beside the surgical one, but the patients were different. The unit deals with patients who have had surgery on their bones. Most commonly we see total knee and hip replacements.

I had heard that the unit was considered “heavy”. When I started orientation I figured out why. The patients require a lot more assistance when it comes to mobilization. Our main priority is to make sure they are able to mobilize on their own before discharge. Well, this is true for most cases.

As you probably figured, this unit has patient’s that are elderly a lot of the time. So, we create a plan that is best suited to each patient’s own abilities. We want then to be independent as much as they can, but we are there to help them reach that potential after surgery. And, I have to say patience is huge!

Just think if it were you having major surgery to replace a bone, and what it would be like to move or walk afterwords. It would take a lot of time  to do simple things. You cannot be rushed and you need to take your time, as it can be painful.

The unit can be heavy when it comes to the patient’s who are not able to mobilize and need your help to do any sort of care. Overall, it is a great floor to work on. It has a lot of the same skills as a surgical floor does. This is the unit I will be returning to once I am back from mat leave.

Today, the most amazing thing happened to me on practicum. The student that I thought would be difficult to handle opened up to me. He was last on my list to do a one-on-one as I was still getting enough courage and confidence to do so. I observed him for more than one week. I was thinking that my second week of practicum is almost over and I might not have the chance to assist him. So, I went ahead and just did the best I could.

Surprisingly, we had a great time talking. I was thankful for being able to experience working with this student. It is hard to describe the rewarding feeling when you get a response from the student. The receptiveness is what every educator always wishes to occur when teaching. There are quite a number of students that are under the program that I was assigned to and my goal is to assist all of them. Since I had reached my objective, my focus now is to finish my leave project. I decided to do a visual routine schedule for two students. I am still in the process of drafting it and getting all the picture symbols that I need. Since I don’t have the necessary computer software at home, my integration teacher has kindly allowed me to work partially on my project in the school.

Hopefully, I will be able to complete my 2 routine schedule projects this Friday. I am so looking forward for the coming long weekend and would like to just spend it with my family, take my much needed rest and not do any school work!

Supporting a special needs student may seem difficult in the beginning, but when you get to know the student’s strengths and concerns, you will find the process of working with them easier than expected. This is what I observed during the course of my practicum. Being a keen observant is one of the skills a special education assistant should have.

You need to be attentive of how the student communicates. In addition, you have to be intently aware of their behaviour, learning skills and the method they learn best. If you get a chance to read the student’s IEP (individual educational plan), that would be very helpful as it gives more information in managing the student. The report also provides the expectations in the student’s behaviour and learning skills for a certain period. Usually on the first day of practicum, the student’s EA (education aide) will share strategies they follow in assisting the student. Take advantage of this period by listening and observing how the EA work. Take notes as much as you can, especially on how they prompt and reinforce the student to keep him on task.

My current practicum experience compared to my working in an elementary school setting is totally different. The variation is more in the area of getting the students engaged in an activity or in a mere conversation. I find the younger ones more willing to comply. But of course, it is a case to case basis. Things happen that may upset the student you are working with. Don’t expect a good response during that time because you won’t get it. In such situations, you just have to do the best you can. For me, to sustain my enthusiasm at what I am doing is to treat small reactions as an accomplishment. It may be a hello or a smile, a short talk or simply getting a question from the student. That is enough to make each of my days a rewarding one.

Today happened to be the last day of my practicum in grade school. I was already feeling sad days ago counting down the end of my three week great learning experience. I will definitely miss the students as well as the staff there. They made my stay so wonderful. To thank them for their generous assistance, I made sure that my leave project would truly reflect how grateful I am for their effort.

I spent hours preparing my projects. We were supposed to do only one but I did two – one is publishing a story book and the other is the calendar board. The plan for publishing a story book was proposed by my practicum monitor. It was a great idea that I would like to do for students that I will be working with in the future. The reaction I got when I gave the book to the student was very touching. I think that in every opportunity, we, as education aide should find ways to make something special of the work that the student made to boost their self-esteem.

It reinforces them to do best in their field of interest. My goal for my second project is to teach the concept of the calendar – to show the students how to identify the name and number of the days and months. With it, the students will also identify what date comes before and after. I made it also possible for them to learn the abbreviation of the name of the months and date as preparation for their next learning level of using the calendar. My second project took most of my time. I almost gave up and thought of doing only one project but the school I worked with deserved much more. So even though I know the second project will certainly take double effort to create, I went ahead with it. When I presented both my leave projects to staff, it was met with praise and positive feedback. Lacking hours of sleep for two days were worth it.

I am off to my second part of practicum next week in a high school setting. I hope the odds of being fortunate again to having a great practicum experience is on my side.

One thing I learned when I started working was to share my knowledge and skills with my colleagues. For me, those attribute will only become more valuable when shared with others. So when I went back to school, the habit of sharing what I know, either from studying or from my own personal experience, came naturally. It felt great to know that you have helped someone change for the better because of what you contributed. I continuously share due to my belief that in every positive action you put out, you will reap the reward.

I guess in some way I am getting those blessings now, in my practicum. I am in my second week and each day is filled with gratitude because I get to work with people who are not only professional but generous enough to share their knowledge and skills so I can learn. The four senior special education assistants (SEA) that I have been working with are all very kind and willing to help. They constantly give me tips and strategies on how to support students with exceptionalities. They are also easy to talk to. I can ask them questions or receive clarification without difficulty. All of them are also open to suggestion. In short, I didn’t have any problem approaching them.

Last week, I had to go with the flow on what work needs to be done. But this week, they made a specific schedule just for me so I can experience every area of their program for special needs students. I get to work with four SEA’s who each handle different cases. I was fortunate also to support other students who don’t have disabilities but are lower in their math and reading level. In addition, the school freely shared with me their learning resources. Browsing the educational sites they are using is an added activity in my daily schedule sheet and a valuable resource.

Overall, my almost two weeks of practicum has been so productive. The support I got from the people I am working with is overwhelming. That is why I am also doubling my effort to give my best in assisting the students as well as the staff.

Excitement and eagerness were my feelings during the first day of practicum. I tried to block out any nervousness because I know worrying won’t help. I have been prepared for this and that is what I kept on my mind. Be positive and everything will fall into place was my maxim that day. Having that thought manifested into giving me a wonderful learning first-day experience. I am so grateful to the school I was assigned for making the effort to explain their program for their students with special needs. I actually felt like a guest there instead of someone providing a service. They wanted me to get a well rounded experience in a special education setting. So, I am involved in the adapted and modified learning program. In addition to that plan, all the staff I met was very welcoming and accommodating.

We were told that the first meeting with our supported student may be challenging. The change – working with new person, may be quite difficult for them to handle. Fortunately, the students that I am assisting are very cooperative. It is also amazing how all the lessons you have learned are coming back one by one once you get to work in an actual setting. As early as it may seem, I already found rewarding moments during this week. The kids I am supporting are warming up to me and starting to initiate the conversation. Even a mere waving of the hand when they (and other students) see me in the hallway made my heart grow.

Well, I do hope that the rest of my classmates were also having fun at their designated practicum site. While I was writing this, I just can’t help but miss them. A shout out to SEA0909 – enjoy and take care!

I can’t believe that I’m almost finished practicum. The time has simply flown by but here I am with just four more shifts to go and I’ll be done. Every single day I learn something new and more and more I’m working on my own. Even though I don’t have a set unit, I think I’ve been fortunate in that working the float position; you get to see and do things that are so different that working in one unit you might not usually get to see or do. I’m also spending a lot more time searching for a job now – it’s become my obsession (and necessity) and the closer I get to completion of practicum, the more stress I’m feeling about not having anything yet (especially as some people have already been hired from our class). I have to trust myself more and trust in my instincts (which are usually correct). I was really proud of myself last night – I caught that a doctor had ordered a medication to which a patient was allergic, and got a big ‘well done’ from my preceptor – that made me feel good.

So my focus is on being the best student I can be and the best person I can be, putting my resume out there and creating contacts, trusting to the universe that things will work out in the end (and it doesn’t hurt to have my fingers crossed at all times). Not to make light of the stress side of it – I cannot deny this is causing me some lack of sleep at the realization the end of the course in near and now the hard bit of getting my foot in the door is one final hurdle that must be overcome.

I just finished a shift last night at the hospital. As it was Easter Monday it was very quiet – with the exception of Emergency, which I’ve come to realize is hardly ever quiet. Up on the units, when we did our first round as the float nursing unit clerk, we got the same story; nothing happening due it being a bank holiday. So we settled in to what I thought would be a very uneventful night – I don’t like it so much when it’s quiet, and even though the night didn’t really get very busy, there were still a couple of lessons waiting to be given to me.

The first lesson was to do with awareness; how aware you have to be to what is occurring around you at all times. While admitting a patient to CCU, one of the machines started sounding an alarm and my preceptor said in a low voice, ‘Be prepared, we may have a code blue.’ Now, I’ve been waiting for a code blue (which we have to attend as the float), but at the same time dreading it a little. I continued on with my work, all the time with one ear to what was happening over in the corner. We never did have an official code blue – a couple of STAT orders were called for and entered into the computer and the immediate crisis was over – but just the mention of the words code blue were enough to get my heart pumping. My preceptor then advised that what we had just done was like what you would do in a code blue situation; this has made me feel a lot more at ease with what I will need to do when my first code does happen.

This lesson was quickly followed by a lesson in speed and accuracy; a patient needed blood and we were asked to pick it up ASAP from the bank – so I had to quickly complete the previous chart orders (making sure I didn’t make any mistakes) and hoof it down to the Lab to pickup some packed red blood cells – you must check and double check everything when picking up blood – so this was an interesting lesson (and kind of cool in the neat sense of the word, not the heat sense of the word). Finally, when we made it back to CCU with the blood, feeling rather pleased with myself, a lesson in clarity; if you order STAT blood work, make sure to mention STAT to the Lab when you call it in, and not urgent as they are two different things – the Lab called back to clarify if the blood work just ordered was STAT as in now, or urgent as in ASAP as I had entered in the computer as STAT and mentioned it as urgent when I phoned…I will be sure to be specific in future when I call in any blood work.

I thought the night was going to be quiet and boring – it was quiet for sure, but it certainly wasn’t boring, there were still lessons to be learned on a quiet night on a bank holiday when nothing is happening.