suggestions for student teaching project

[WhyMEok]

Hi,

My classmate and I are tasked with presenting a teaching project/activity to pts. on an inpatient psych unit. We were thinking of presenting something on creative writing or journaling to help deal with emotions, etc.

Any suggestions on specific writing activities to include, or what not to include? Anyone have experience with presenting on a similar topic? Would also appreciate other topics to present for psych pts.

Thanks!

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I think what you should do depends on who your patients are. The first few thing to consider are: Can they read and write and can they read, write, and think clearlys enough to write about things? Is their illness interfering too much or is it limiting their ability to do what you are asking of them? It's really important to do something everyone in the group can do.

[ccoombs]

I think journaling could be an excellent subject if appropriate for the patients. Most people can benefit from some sort of reflection. These student projects are excellent opportunities for students to practice patient education with often difficult populations. Additionally they can be very special to the patients. Some facilities lack the resources for good group experiences, so your projects could be better than some of the groups they are accustomed to.

Just to share, we had a similar project for our class and while it was not purely educational in design we chose to do a group on self esteem. Essentially we presented every participant (patients, students, instructor, and RN) with a folded sheet of construction paper. Everyone would write their name on the outside and on the inside they would list five private things that they liked about themselves or felt that they did well. We then shifted the personal brochures clockwise and the next person would write something positive on the outside, it could be superficial if they didn't know the person well. This continued and by the time that the brochure made it back to the original owner it was covered with nice positive things. Afterward everyone shared one thing from their brochures that they found particularly meaningful. Most participants were very touched by the experience. I still look at my brochure from time to time when I need a pick me up.

Anyhow, best of luck to you!

[ddunnrn]

When I first started working in the Philadelphia jail system, I worked on the female psych step-down unit, with about 80 women. I was looking for an activity that would encourage the women to express themselves honestly, and not to put on the "face" they put on for staff most of the time. We decided to do a magazine-type publication, with poems, essays, drawings--anything the inmates wanted, within reason. I was quite surprised by the positive reaction, and really surprised by the profundity of the things that were submitted. Some of the inmates you'd have thought were illiterate by their social interactions wrote poems and essays worthy of publication. Unfortunately, I had to stop my involvement due to staffing issues, so the magazine died out.

If you do make such an undertaking, be sure that you give your patients free artistic rein, except that no personal attacks should be allowed. Good luck in whatever you do, I think you'll be very surprised at what you and your patients can produce.

Dave Dunn, RN

[4_Sq]

The previous posts have excellent, valid points, I especially think that dddunnrn has a great suggestion for your project.

Keep in mind that some of the patients in psychiatry may have cognitive impairment from illness, drugs, etc. So selection of your patient population will have to be "handled with care"

Collages are a neat way to work with some patients in psychiatry, cut out magazine pic

paste them on a card board and talk about the feelings some of the pics may evoke.. Can be a group specific feedback rather than individual so that stress is lowered.

Sounds like a "fun" assignment.:flwrhrts: