help me help a friend

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Hi all

I have a neighbor 18 yrs old who I just found out she has DYSAUTONOMIA since she is 12...very sad ...she is always home...no friends ...and I think she is pretty unmotivated/depressed. However, her mom told me she is intersted in becoming a nurse , but she might need someone to motivate her to get started. So I need some advice WHERE/how to get started...I would really like to help her. I am 2nd semester nursing student but I am doing an accelerated BSN program. Anyway I know her condition will improve over the years but as of now she might need to start by taking one class online ...she cant really leave the house

Please if you have any ideas how to get her motivated and started with this whole process ...let me know

thank you

L

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Its very nice of you to want to help this girl. She could start taking gen ed classes at the local community college. I'm curious as to how you "know her condition will improve over the years".

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thank you so much for your advice!

that is what her mom told me...she said doctors have told them this condition improves but it takes years....right now she is in a weelchair

I just hope I can motivate her to get started!

thanks

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In addition to an online class, I would try to take her to do some volunteer work. Not only could she potentially make some friends but volunteering is always a morale booster for me and, when I get discouraged, it helps me refocus on why I decided to embark on the nursing path to begin with.

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I would suggest a terminology class....best thing I did! 26 years later....

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oh she cant volunteer...she cant even leave her house ...she is in pain all day every day :(

thank you

L

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Have you looked into this condition? It is my understanding that it isn't as cut and dry as her Mother may be indicating. It could make for an interesting term paper topic as you continue in school. My heart goes out to her and again thank you for being her friend.

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thank you so much...yes, I am trying to get some more info on it...however her mom is saying she is been improving slowly...she has it for 6 yrs and last year she was only in bed...and now she can walk for a small distances ...mostly around the house ...I hope she will get better

L

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