Nursing Home Clinical, I'm having a very hard time

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The biggest problem for me is the communication. I cannot effectively communicate with most of the residents, especially the one I was assigned. She has quiet, garbled speech and I can't understand her. On top of that, I feel uncomfortable and awkward taking care of her because she doesn't like to be touched. Today we are doing physical assessments, and I am so nervous I'm shaking. Any words of wisdom or encouragement?

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I just finished my LTC rotation and understand your frustration. I found it very helpful to ask the aides about how to work with the residents. They work with them everyday so they can tell how to best communicate, what their routine is like, and also offer you good general insights. Aides were my key to LTC! Good luck!

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Aides are lifesavers at some facilities! We had one that helped us so much in knowing how to approach clients that we gave her a gift at the end of the term :) Even if you don't have a helpful aide, your instructor should be able to assist too - just explain how you feel - "Professor, I am confused about how to handle my patient because she doesn't like to be touched - what do you think is the best way to go about it?"

But I had one of those too, and honestly, the best thing for me was to go in with a big smile and a professional attitude as if I were already a nurse and not a student, and handle it with pretend confidence and as though I wouldn't take any nonsense from her. She barely argued and I was able to give her the bath and assessments I needed to. Fake it till you make it!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Just get through it, I found our first semester LTC clinicals to be extremely frustrating and I felt like I learned nothing. The assessments were nothing like we were being taught in school because it was just a completely different environment. I actually did learn best communication but I have always been really good with stuff like that with strangers, but I had plenty of awkward moments with similar situations you described. Now I am in second semester and at the hospital and I am loving it. So completely different and I feel I learned more my first night then I did my whole semester last semester. Just hang in there.

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Thank you guys so much for your responses. The second day was definitely easier, I'm a little more comfortable, I just have to get in there and be confident (or at least pretend to be!). Talking to the aides and watching them with the residents helped so much, and my instructor understood and was supportive. Hopefully it will only get better:)!

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Thank you guys so much for your responses. The second day was definitely easier, I'm a little more comfortable, I just have to get in there and be confident (or at least pretend to be!). Talking to the aides and watching them with the residents helped so much, and my instructor understood and was supportive. Hopefully it will only get better:)!

It will get better. My clinical this first semester is a nursing home and my first client was a woman who always refused to let student nurses examine her. By my 4th meeting with her, we had a great rapport.

Communication is the key. It's tough when someone is out of your generation let alone with impaired speech. But everyone can understand a gentle touch and a smile. Look confident take cues from the aides. Good luck! :yeah:

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Also, it helps to squat down so you are eye-level, and facing her directly, rather than looming overhead.

:)

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