Service-learning-related introspection at St. Peter’s Residence

The most gratifying present you can offer is your time, according to a common saying. Each volunteer has worthwhile motivations and stories behind them. I shall describe what I encountered throughout my forty hours of service at St. Peter’s Residence in my reflection. I am appreciative of the opportunity to better myself, understand the reason for my service, test my ability to handle difficulties, and advance my profession.

The St. Peters Residence is renowned for caring for a large number of elderly people with severe dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and behavioral issues. Eighty percent of the facility’s 211 patients struggle with mental health difficulties. There are no personnel concerns, however our assistance is required for socializing and leisure activities. To ensure patient-centered care, service providers must be informed of the purpose, vision, and values of the organization. These methods for getting patients involved in activities enhance their physical and mental capabilities. On the other hand, although managing the number of residents might be challenging for the whole staff, it gets simpler with their assistance. Transporting customers from the building’s six distinct parts to the leisure area is one of the helper’s responsibilities. I clearly recall this woman’s words as she expressed her gratitude for having a cause to grin broadly when she woke up in the morning. She said something that let me understand how my service affects their everyday life. Making polite visits was a wonderful experience that enhanced my communication abilities. It allowed me to put into practice the skills I had acquired in the classroom, such using a therapeutic approach, knowing when to assert myself, being compassionate, and being professional. Last but not least, a sizable portion of the population need assistance to feed themselves. This is one of the reasons why volunteers are required in order for personal support workers to do their duties more quickly.

Personal Improvement via Service-Learning

The enhanced characteristics of a nurse will be covered in this part. My abilities as a care giver are strengthened by my leadership, compassion, and communication skills. Although there were certain restrictions on what we could do, I was able to gain leadership experience by running games and encouraging others to participate. I can recall a situation when there was miscommunication between two residents, and I was able to put an end to it by being transparent and fair. I had the idea that because I was there to encourage healthy living and foster connections, I needed to feel certain in my ability to handle these challenges. I was able to speak with them professionally in relation to this by asking open-ended questions without passing judgment. I’ve learned that the greatest way to solve a problem is to listen attentively, pinpoint the issue, then come up with a workable solution. My empathy for each patient I have dealt with at the nursing home grows with time. I’m certain that in the future, it will come naturally to me to spread optimism.

Difficulties encountered

For every person, challenges have become a natural part of life. Being able to understand others’ emotions or life issues is a skill that must be acquired in order to be an effective advocate. Although caring for those with dementia might be distressing, no one is aware of how these individuals feel about their situation. I’ll be the first to say that I struggle with speaking and comprehending English. During my third week of service, I came across this conflict and a local who was seeking assistance. She was murmuring and kept saying the same thing. I felt incompetent since I was unable to grasp what she was requesting. According to CNO, a nurse must “choose communication approaches that are suitable for the client’s circumstances and requirements” under the section on professional duty and accountability in nursing skills (2209). In this instance, I ought to have provided the customer with a pen and piece of paper so she could list her demands. Although it takes time to learn English, being a resourceful nurse with sound clinical judgment is necessary to go into the field. When a resident refuses to eat, it might be difficult to feed them. This was a wonderful experience since it put my ability to inspire others and, when required, refocus them to the test.

In conclusion, every minute I spent at St. Peter’s Residence helped me become a better person in terms of both my profession and my whole personality. It opened my eyes to the fact that being a genuinely competent nurse requires more than simply being skilled at administering care and medication—it also requires having the capacity to form fruitful therapeutic alliances with patients. The qualities of bravery, tenacity, compassion, and kindness are ideal for providing patient-centered care.