Psych patient teaching for class assignment..HELP

Specialties Psychiatric

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Specializes in LTC, Alzheimer's patients,Cardiac.

Hello all! I need to teach a group of psych patients something....nutrition, relaxation, dealing with med side effects, etc. I was wondering if any of you had a fun idea. Of course I can go in and lecture them for 45 minutes on why they need to eat right (they have heard that a million times) but I want it to be fun and interesting. Do any of you have an experience you would mind sharing that might spark some ideas for me? I appreciate any imput, thanks!!!

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Specializes in psychiatry.

On the unit where I work the nurses always run a morning goals group and end of the day reflection, and relaxation group. Each morning the patients set a goal for the day to accomplish. Prior to night time meds the goals are revisited to see it accomplished and if not how to be able to do it the next day. Also reflect on a coping skill that they utilized that day to make it through the day. This empowers them each day.

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Specializes in LTC, Alzheimer's patients,Cardiac.

Thank you for the response!

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If you talk about Nutrition, take plastic models of various foods. The pts can handle them, put protein foods in a group, fats in their group, etc. Get from RD or food companies.

Get a set of big teeth and a big toothbrush, floss, and talk about dental hygiene. Get from dentist.

Or get another topic that lends itself to visual aids, things they can handle. Maybe big models of pills and capsules. Get from Pharmaceutical firm?

Exercise: what's available to them? Do exercises together?

What age clients? Gender?

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Specializes in LTC, Alzheimer's patients,Cardiac.

It is an adult facility and currently the age ranges from 20 to 65 roughly. There is fitness equipment available if you are a level three (it is a privilege) but it is off unit. The mental illness ranges significantly from severe depression to severe schizophrenia and everything in between. I would just like to interest them, not bore them to tears you know? Thank you for all ideas!

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

We used to run relaxation groups. We had relaxation tapes that we would put on, turn the lights down and have the patients either lie down or relax in chairs. A word of warning, though: Review any recording you plan to use beforehand. I put on a track I had not listened to before that contained sounds of wildlife around a lake. There was one bird that had a very strange call, and the patients started laughing every time they heard it. It rather defeated the purpose of the group.

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Specializes in LTC, Alzheimer's patients,Cardiac.

thank you soooo much for the ideas. My classmate and I thought we would do "relaxation". What do you think about the effect music has? An example would be how fast heavy metal will get you revved up and easy listening jazz or classical will calm you down. It was a thought anyways. Thank you to all for your ideas!!!

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Specializes in ED.

I loved my psych rotation, we did our teaching in the inpatient lock down highest level acuity unit. we decided to do our class on art. I talked about some artists who had been diagnosed with significant mental disorders (schizophrenia and bipolar since that was most of our patients), brought in some books, had each patient draw/color/paint a picture, and then explain to the rest of the group what their picture was about. it was really about utilizing another way to express emotions rather than talking, etc. I think they all enjoyed it and we found some beautiful artists in the group!

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