Reflective Journal
Reflective Journal File
As I write this, it is raining. As grey as the clouds are now, so were my apprehension about this assignment when it was first handed to me. I am trying my best to pen down my thoughts about this reflective journal. It seems as though time has taken a pause as I try to fit my whole life experience into the given word limit.
The sessions that I had at the Cancer Council Cottage Hospice were truly informative, educative and best of all, ENRICHING! The experience was better than what a textbook could offer and it was a real treat for me as a health care worker. Topics that were introduced to me were palliative care in health care service, holistic assessment, team work, grief, bereavement, and mouth care and bowel management. The topic I truly felt I could most connect with was pain management.
Making the decision to come to Australia was a huge step for me. Personally, I hate flying and it simply scares me. I can only attribute my fear to the string of past terrorist plane hijacks. The thought that I might be caught up in one fuels this fear. Although I am aware of the heightened security measures taken, I am still not very much convinced. So I was forced to come out from my comfort zone. I felt suffocated as I had no control over what was to come.
In relation to this palliative care unit, I realise that fears and pains that an individual faces at any point of time should be addressed. We should never brush them aside. Instead, we should nourish it with constant reassurance and guidance and together with the support of loved ones, all obstacles are conquerable or somehow seen less unbearable.
There was abundant information and screening to see what was really needed was necessary. The demanding process of it all was having to sieve through and making sense of the clutter. While researching, I got very involved and passionate about the topic. Personally, I feel as a nurse, we are sometimes too quick to brush away the pain that
As I write this, it is raining. As grey as the clouds are now, so were my apprehension about this assignment when it was first handed to me. I am trying my best to pen down my thoughts about this reflective journal. It seems as though time has taken a pause as I try to fit my whole life experience into the given word limit.
The sessions that I had at the Cancer Council Cottage Hospice were truly informative, educative and best of all, ENRICHING! The experience was better than what a textbook could offer and it was a real treat for me as a health care worker. Topics that were introduced to me were palliative care in health care service, holistic assessment, team work, grief, bereavement, and mouth care and bowel management. The topic I truly felt I could most connect with was pain management.
Making the decision to come to Australia was a huge step for me. Personally, I hate flying and it simply scares me. I can only attribute my fear to the string of past terrorist plane hijacks. The thought that I might be caught up in one fuels this fear. Although I am aware of the heightened security measures taken, I am still not very much convinced. So I was forced to come out from my comfort zone. I felt suffocated as I had no control over what was to come.
In relation to this palliative care unit, I realise that fears and pains that an individual faces at any point of time should be addressed. We should never brush them aside. Instead, we should nourish it with constant reassurance and guidance and together with the support of loved ones, all obstacles are conquerable or somehow seen less unbearable.
There was abundant information and screening to see what was really needed was necessary. The demanding process of it all was having to sieve through and making sense of the clutter. While researching, I got very involved and passionate about the topic. Personally, I feel as a nurse, we are sometimes too quick to brush away the pain that
References: Lessons in dying and living. (2003, September 1). The Age. Miaskowski, C. (2001). Different kinds of pain. Pain Management Nursing.2 (4), 119-120. Redmond, K. (1998). Barriers to the effective management of pain. International Journal Of Palliative Nursing. 4(6), 276-283. Taylor, B. J. (2000). Reflective practice: A guide for nurses and midwives. Australia: Allen & Unwin.