Need some ideas..adol psych

[TsavarenaRN]

I work with female adolescents on a pych ward, everyday the nurse is required to give a one hour nursing group related to the patient's probs, meds, etc. I've been doing this for about 4 months and I'm burned out on the flat boring material that the facility provides for nursing group ideas. I've run med education, stds, and self respect groups in the ground. Does anyone know of websites with some good printable material related to female teens and the problems they face? That might actually be interesting? ( I know, shot in the dark! lol) I also run into a problem keeping their attention for longer than 20 mins, but don't know if that could be helped

[Mr Ian]

http://www.starwards.org.uk

Why do they all have to be MH or problem related? Try doing something indirect - like "beauty therapy"; "budget management"; "sexual relationships"; "women's health"

Or other female topics for future use: "Motherhood"; "Women in Employment"; "Women's Rights"

And also look at completely non related topics - "Who's the best boy band ever?"; "Feng Shui"; "Fashion"; "Why men are useless".

If you reduce the 'direct' therapy component I'd suspect the girls will get more out of it in general and are likely to participate more in all groups.

Failing all that..... you can always ask them what groups they'd like? ;o)

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Can you cook on the unit? How about making cookies and just talking? Even the kind that are preformed and you just break them apart and bake them (avoids having to keep track of dangerous utensils). You can start out by throwing out a general "what brings you here?" question. Some might say "my dad brought me here." That lets you know there's some lack in abstract thinking! Then you can explain what you mean. I've found that if patients are involved in something real life, you can see how they function with doing things, and how they get along with each other people. They also often open up about their lives more when you aren't sitting down in an official "pour out your guts" therapy group. This could even be a group to ask them what to do tomorrow, topicwise.

[Jules A, MSN]

I like doing what I feel are productive life topics such as discussing articles that show the difference in income for people with college educations compared to people with high school diplomas. I tend to be pro-feminist and believe that one the best things I can give my girls is the line of thinking that they absolutely deserve to be treated with respect. My groups vary from making your own decisions for your body ie. different bc options, preventing STDs etc. We often talk about having a good job so you don't need anyone for money and the importance of having a good network of intelligent, kind and responsible girlfriends. I use articles written by foster kids that I feel give them hope and also point out that just because their families may be unreliable there are other ways to get support. http://www.fosterclub.com/funstuff/fam_fosterKids/index.cfm I've had them each pick a career, I research it and at the next nurses group we have a discussion about the opportunities. Hope in the future and the tools to make that happen is so important, imo.