Life-Span class is shortening mine.

[Peeps Mcarthur]

I'm just whinning........certainly to a group of intellectuals that can somehow utilize this contradictory load of crap.

I'm certain this will be the only useless part of school, but I just can't get "up" for this.

I've been staring at it since early this morning. I can't see any content when I read it. It's like one of those pictures that you're supposed to look at and kind of let your eyes go out of focus and out pops a spaceship or some other such image that's not apparent by just looking at it. It's as if it's just someone talking about how thier day went or making casual conversation. When it does try to make a point, it only speculates, never settling on one thing, but presenting a range of possibilities.......all possibilities.

So they can never be wrong.....................how convienient.

I'm supposed to be writting a bibliography. I have to read and summarize ten papers.

I have to summarize speculation................beautiful.

Morons.

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Cheerful,

thinking back through your years of experience, if you think of a clinical situation in which this could be applied just type it here.

I will use it in a thread to open up a discussion about the use of life-span and gen. psychology in constructing nurses notes, report, relationship with the patient, care planning(a real one, not the "play" nurse kind).

I am open to discussing the material's actual use in the conduct of everyday operations, until then it's just a few classes they added to charge 6 credits tuition because they have an ABUNDANCE of psych instructors and enough students that like it to fill up those classes.

I'm positive I will see this again in the way of papers to write. It is soooo easy for an instructor to have me write abut Erikson's theories instead of the common performance of everyday nursing. Exeryday nursing is just not sexy enough to teach like, what are they going to do with that? Like...."Get the meds passed and your patients cleaned up or the next shift will talk about you behind your back"...A paper about nursing reality by Peeps Mcauthur.

I say that anything Life-span and gen. psych could tell me, I could observe for myself in my patients without using words like "generativity" and "operationalize" and Erikson's Yin and Yang of crisis. Whatever it is they are saying is lost in the need to sound like they have something new and thought provoking. If they would just speak in plain english,I might even like some of it.

Pehapse clinicals will unravel the mystery for me.................but I'm not holding out much hope.

Life-span and gen. psych is ruining my GPA and I'm really bitter about it. It's watering-down the curicculum with practicaly useless information when more suitable subjects could be taught.

How about a primer for the diseases we'll encounter, medical terminology, cellular biology, first-aid, policy and procedure................etc.

You love psychology and you couldn't give me an example. You've been out of it for 5 years(good for you),still remember Erikson's theories but not a situation where it could be used. That's because it's in your head. Your thinking about it, not doing it, that's why you have no example. There really isn't one.

I'm glad you like it, really, but it's impractical for use as a nurse and it is retarding nursing's growth as a profession.

[Peeps Mcarthur]

It's been fun sharing this with you, and I hope after you complete the course you will have a flashback to the importance of learning this material when you begin your clinicals

Oh, I'll have flashbacks alright:p :chuckle :roll

[live4today, RN]

I appreciate your honesty in regards for your dislike for that course. I agree with your take on Psychology being something one LIVES...not just talks about...but when dealing with patients as healthcare professionals, we need more than "street-psychology" to help us understand them, where they are coming from to where they have been, and what's going on with them that they don't often verbalize to us for various reasons; most of all...what their body language often indicates to us...which is a very strong indicator when something other than their known disease process is going on.

IF you do decide to continue in nursing, I would love to hear from you...say six weeks into your orientation. Your disagreeance with the necessity of this particular course will have an altered touch to it once you are actually serving our patient population in the role of NURSE. I'd guarantee that statement as sure as I am sitting here saying this to you. :)

I'd be willing to bet that if you put all that negative energy that you are using to fight having to take that class into actually applying yourself as a willing subject in that class, you'd be

able to at least tolerate it long enough to pass it...because there is NO WAY around it. You've got to have it! :)

Even though you are only 10 years younger than I, I can read a lot of my "oldself" in your "take" on life. :chuckle You impress me...and that's why I am choosing to have this discussion with you. Now...you want me to give you examples??? Okay brain...let's give it a whirl.

PATIENT: 10 year old Susie is crying because she wants her dolly and tiger pooh from home. She's been hospitalized all of one night, mommy and daddy are at her bedside...Susie hates being there...wants to go home to her own room and have her own stuff around her...especially her dolls and stuffed animals that she collects from every state her family has visited in her 10 year old life. Susie is a patient because she needed surgery on her right leg for a tumor that was noted, but the docs were able to remove the tumor, save Susie's leg, and give her and her parents wonderful news that the tumor was noncancerous.

SITUATION - Nurse comes into Susie's room...finds her crying...parents are fit to be tied...can't calm her down...Nurse asked Susie: "Susie, what's wrong? Why the tears?" Susie responds...sobbing through her statement..."I want my dolls and stuffed animals around me. I don't like it here." Nurse replies: "Well..I'm sure you'll be able to go home soon and be with your dollies and stuffed animals." Susie retorts: "You don't understand. It's not the same...I need them with me NOW!" (Parents scold Susie for being rude to the nurse by yelling at her) Susie continues to cry. Nurse says, "Well, I'm sorry you are missing your dollies and stuffed animals a lot right now....blah blah blah...the drama continues to unfold................................

NURSING INTERVENTION/DOCUMENTATION/CARE PLAN NOTES:...Okay, Peeps...what is REALLY the problem with Susie according to Erikson's stage of development? How could the nurse and the parents have rectified that problem for poor little Susie? How will you ...Susie's nurse...document in her records what is going on with her according to Erikson's theory? After you answer these questions, I'll tell you if you are correct. I have a feeling you will MASTER this with no problem. I just have that feel about you...:chair: :chuckle

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Cheerful,

This is very nice of you to extend such courtesy. If more discussions were conducted in such a manner we would all learn more about eachothers viewpoints.:kiss

The child is simply in an unfamiliar surrounding. That makes the fear of the unknown greater. I would suggest that if she had her favorite stuffed animal she would have a "friend" with her all the time to make it more comfortable.

The parents are in an unfamiliar surronding also and have not yet thought of threatening you with a lawsuit to get everything they want pronto..................but they will adapt to thier new surrondins soon.

In the meantime they are reluctant to interfere with the childs course of therapy for fear of altering its course. They know the doll would calm the child down, but they feel akward about what they see as usurping the caregiver's power of discretion.

I don't know how Erickson fits in here, but I'm sure we could somehow do it.

Any ideas?

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Oh yea, the notes.

Do we have to write it in the notes? Does the oncoming shift need to know why the child now has a doll? Is an order required?

Can't you just give the kid the doll?

[Furball]

Peeps..you're killing me!!!!:chuckle In a good way though.... The thought of an MD writing an order for a dolly just about KILLED me hahahaha

I didn't like the psych gobbledeegook either and I'm female. Fun reading ya'lls opinions. Hope ya'll have a safe and fun fourth!!!!

[live4today, RN]

Originally posted by Peeps Mcarthur

Cheerful.....This is very nice of you to extend such courtesy. If more discussions were conducted in such a manner we would all learn more about eachothers viewpoints.:kiss

I don't know how Erickson fits in here, but I'm sure we could somehow do it.

Any ideas?

GOOD TRY...Not half bad, Peeps! Now...about Erikson :)

Okay...let's take a look at HOW Erik oh boy plays into this...psychologically speaking from a nurse's professional point of view:

As a nurse trained in the theory of Erikson via that much needed course of Life Span...that our beloved Peeps and others hate so much...nauseating...I know, I know...:chuckle...but...nonetheless, we must apply ourselves if we expect to pass that nauseating course.

ACCORDING TO OUR OL BOY ERIKSON'S THEORY, Little Miss Susie is in the: Industry vs. Inferiority stage. In that stage...Susie being 10 and all...the problem lies in the fact that children in this age group are "collectors". They love to collect anything from marbles, dolls, stuffed animals, seashells, jewelry, stamps, poetry, and other trinkets. When they are separated from their "collective items" that are very near and dear to this stage of development, they are fearfully out of touch with those things they seem to connect with...for whatever reason...unbeknownst to most parent...as reflected in Susie's parents' behavior towards her. BUT...Nurse Peeps comes along and upon learning why Susie is so upset...being that she successfully passed with understanding her Life Spans course in her student nurse days...knows exactly how to respond to Susie's needs...at the same time relaying any added anxiety to her already suffering dilemma. This is what Nurse Peeps does:

Giving Susie a doll may comfort her...may not...that isn't what is upsetting Susie. She feels at a 'loss' in a big empty space called "hospital nausea"...parents focus is on Susie getting well so they can take her home, etc....Susie needs to feel "secure" in her surroundings...so her anxiety is due to insecurity of being away from what makes her feel secure...her own stuff that she collects and forms an emotional attachment to.

Nurse Peeps sits next to Susie's bedside so as to provide her with direct eye contact. Don't baby her. That's the LAST thing a 10 year old wants when they are missing a part of themselves that nobody seems to relate to but them. You provide Susie with therapeutic communication skills that you learned in nursing school...keeping in mind the stage of development Susie is in...Life Span...you know...Erikson...that STUFF. As you allow Susie to vent her anxiety to you, your job is to stay focused on her at all times...listening more than talking...then not belittling her for what you might think is silly...you say to her "So, what I hear you saying is you feel unsafe in a place that does not have your personal things surrounding you, especially your dolls and stuffed animals. Is that correct, Susie?" Susie says, "Yeeeesss" as she sniffles, drying up her tears. You wait for her next response. Your focus should never be on the parents, but on the child --- she's the patient -- even though in pediatrics...pedi nurses know that the true patients at times are the parents. Susie may still miss her collection of dolls and stuffed animals, but at least you...Nurse Peeps...because of your professional judgment in being able to "connect" to the stage of development Susie is in...were able to resolve her anxiety for the time being. Next time you enter Susie's room, she will have added you to her most favorite people list.

CARE PLAN FOR SUSIE:

In the area of psycho/social behavior, you would write the following Nursing diagnosis:

Anxiety r/t feeling insecure -- ie. "I miss my dolls and stuffed animals." a) offer therpeutic communication skills with the understanding of patient's stage of development according to Erikson: Industry vs. Inferiority (b) offer Tylenol prn as ordered for patient comfort © offer comfort measures: direct eye contact when speaking/listening to child allowing her to vent/express emotional feelings (d) have parents bring patients favorite selection of dolls and stuffed animals to ease patients anxiety until discharge..............blah blah blah :)

[Peeps Mcarthur]

So,

I can't just give her the doll?

I knew she was needing something familiar.

Do nurses REALLY write about Erikson in the progress notes?

BTW..........Industry vs Inferiority is a theory applied to the learning of new things(industry) and the the feeling of coming up short when not accomplishing the "tasks" (inferiority). I think "trust vs Mistrust" would fit the scenario better(food,comfort,the familiar), but then we have to assume that the patient needs to get past it and move on to the next "task" in order to develop.........according to Erikson they are still an infant.

Anxiety/feeling insecure 2nd to unfamiliar surroundings.

Giver her something familiar.

Avoid eye contact with exhausted and angry parents at all costs!!!

Like the point about eye contact with the patient and listening, but the rambling/blubbering will continue until the favorite item has been secured. That was my intervention. I didn't need a day of psychosocial training to tell me that.

IF I am EXPECTED to write that in my notes, then that's a different story,but I knew the kid needed a familiar item and the crisis would have been quelled all the same.

I have not failed to "treat" the patient.

You are sooo right about the parents being the patient. A major reason I will not end up working in peds.

[live4today, RN]

hello again my newfound psych student!

i don't really know what nurses today write in patient charts...more than likely...they are using whatever clinical nurse education mandates for them to use...just my guess. i do know that we used it quite a bit during my nursing school college days...especially when writing our patients' care plans that we had to be graded on quite frequently. then, when i became a nurse, i continued to use erikson in defining my patients psycho-social needs according to their age. as long as there was a place on the patient care plan for it, i made use of it...in theory and in practice because i am a 100% fan of erikson. why? because he has the best theory of all in regards to a person's psycho-social behavior unlike some of the other nut cases i had to study...freud, piaget (sp?), and others i tried not to remember after testing on them. :chuckle

trust vs. mistrust is for infants from 'birth to age one'. btw: are you a parent, peeps? if not, the first year of a human being's life is the foundation for them to learn trust vs. mistrust. if a parent or guardian fails to establish this very important truism in their little ones during that time of their life, those are the human beings who...unknowingly...suffer throughout their lives for not being able to tap into why they are so insecure, can't seem to trust anyone, always doubting if they are loved, the most fearful for whatever reason they can't seem to connect with, and so forth. these are the kids...turned adults...that society sees in therapy most times. i am one of those kids...turned adults.

tomorrow, i would like to continue our saga of "life span" together. i really do enjoy this topic, and if it helps to ease your tensions...or any other student's tension...about the importance of this course, then it will be worth it all for us to discuss it until the cows come home...if you like. :chuckle however, right now i am going to pop me some popcorn and watch the july 4th fireworks. if it doesn't get too late, i may sign back on late tonight. i hope you are enjoying your july 4th time with your loved ones, and look forward to chatting with you or any other student later. not only do i enjoy helping and encouraging students, i also enjoy learning from students. imagine that, peeps! i believe i can learn something from you about this...i already am. :kiss

[Peeps Mcarthur]

No disrepect intended Cheerful,but how on earth are you supposed to establish whether or not someone mistrusted as an infant?

How could anybody remember that?

That must be one of the great unanswered questions because I just can't figure out how the Erikson boy got that to pass muster.

But anyhoo,

God bless America:kiss

We had a heck of a great fireworks show out here in Columbia, MD.

You have a great 4th Cheerful.

[live4today, RN]

Peeps...our fireworks were pretty darn good too! Glad you enjoyed yours. :)

I don't know what more to say to you in regards to my favorite Psychologist...Erik Erikson. Maybe after you finally get through that course and begin your nursing classes...IF you still want to continue in that direction...perhaps then you will begin to see some of what I have already dealt with as a RN in the area of psycho/social development among the patient population. Some people get this guy, and some don't. Go figure. It's been fun sharing this information back and forth with you. :) Having been a clinical instructor once upon a season for CNAs...I am use to students who "get it".........students who "don't get it"..........and students who just don't give a damn one way or the other because they are bored stiff with the material (these are the students who drop out...or if they succeed through the course...my bet is they don't last long in the health field). Nursing is mostly ATTITUDE and PERSONALITY with a good blend of CHARACTER, SUBSTANCE, COMPASSION, and a lot of ESP. :chuckle Which category are you in, Peeps? I have an idea...but......only you know what you are capable of pulling off. Have a great weekend! :kiss

[Peeps Mcarthur]

But you must answer how you came up with a theory don't you?

You can't have a "theory" without an "hypothesis" that is not yet disproven

That's how science works.

That's why psychology seems made-up to me. Why should I believe Erikson? How did he establish his theory?

Seems irresponsible to just believe without proof.