Need help writing a Journal Note for Geri.

[cookio11]

I need help writing a Journal Note pertaining to my clinical experience at an adult daycare facility, specifically with the question: What nursing knowledge did you apply when caring for or assessing your clients? My day there consisted of taking and recording VS's. I planned watercoloring as an activity and did that with a group, completed a mini-mental exam, functional/behavioral assessment (listed these as objectives met for Geri), interviewed a senior for a life story essay. Used idea of senescence, declining hearing, vision etc. for How did I apply theory to clinical exp. Feel like I have a block. I'm wasting time with this, not reading for exam because I can't get this note completed. Aslo having trouble with: Did you observe cultural differences in the way geri client adapts psychosocially to aging. I would really appreciate your help.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

what nursing knowledge did you apply when caring for or assessing your clients?

• took vital signs and needed to know and recognize abnormal parameters when taking vital signs for any age group
  
• helped plan a group water coloring activity to accommodate elderly clients with _____deficits (vision, physical dexterity? what was the intent of the activity?) think about the fine hand movements you had to assist some people with. helping clients achieve a normal level of functioning is a nursing skill.
  
• performed a functional/behavioral assessment - you need to know norms when doing assessments and recognize anything abnormal because abnormal cues indicate potential nursing problems
  
• interviewed one of the clients for an essay using therapeutic communication and listening skills.
  

did you observe cultural differences in the way geri client adapts psychosocially to aging?

look at how men and women handle all these different things as well as people from different age groups as well as different countries:

• hearing
  
  
  • some people were hard of hearing and/or wearing hearing aids.
    
    
  • how did they cope with this? did they lean closer to people to hear them talk?
    
    
  • did some isolate themselves from groups and sit by themselves because they could not hear others?
    
    
  • did some not participate in groups or activities because they could not hear well?
    
    
  • were they disruptive in groups constantly asking, "what did you say?" if they missed hearing something?
    
    
  • did the people with hearing problems seem to speak louder than everyone else? did you notice others speaking louder to them?
    
    
  [*]vision
  • some people had vision problems or were nearly blind.
    
    
  • how did they cope with this? did they squint or get right up in people's faces in order to see them better?
    
    
  • did they ask "what was that?" if they missed seeing?
    
    
  [*]physical mobility
  • how many needed assistive devices? and what kinds? were they always appropriate for them? did they use them correctly?
    
    
  • did physical mobility prevent them from joining in any group activities?
    
    
  [*]dress
  • what kind of dress did the people wear: was it up to date or 20 years old and look (and smell of mothballs) like it came out of a 20 year old closet?
    
    
  • were their clothes clean? wrinkled?
    
    
  • notice any incontinence?
    
    
  [*]cultural
  • in some cultures, the elderly are cared for by their younger family. . .did you see any younger family members there attending to them?
    
    
  • what kinds of things did the people talk about (what was of interest to them)? current events? or, did they discuss subjects that happened 20 and 30 years ago?
    
    
  • was any teaching going on?
    
    
  • what kinds of activities (beside the water coloring) were going on that were group (social) activities? singing? card playing?
    [i once watched a group of seniors playing bridge and thought it was amazing until i realized they really didn't know what they were doing and they were all confused!]
    
    

[cookio11]

Thank You Daytonite. This is real critical thinking. Next time I'll try to relax and not stress and ideas such as the ones you listed might come to me. Wow, you thought of a huge range of detals I could have wrote about. This will be of great help to me (opening my thinking) in the future.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I worked with geriatric patients for many years. I'm sure there are a few things I missed.