As a nursing student...
By mz_Ira
@mz_Ira (1090)
Philippines
November 21, 2008 12:36am CST
Yesterday we had our first exposure to the community. Our group was assigned to this remote area where you can really see how life makes it difficult for them.Each one of us are assigned to a family, should be 2 families for each student but plans changed. I met the Mrs. of the Family and my first impression was--- she looks nice and humble. She was so kind to show us her place and very generous to give us her smile which is very unlikely that we'll see from the other residents at that place. Well some showed us how shy they are for us to stay at their houses with no electricity blah blah and that they are kinda worried that they can't give us food for our stay but then rest assured that we are not going to have anything from them instead we will bring foods, that are affordable for them or something that we can cook. Our CI says its the least we could do to make them feel good because most of them thinks were arrogant and everything...
Next week I will be spending 6 hours with them. Although I am worried and clueless... What do I have to ask aside from the members of the family and situation..
-Questions that won't make them feel down.
-What topics do you think that I should talk about with them?
As you all know sometimes no matter how nice we could be to a person we just simply hurt their feelings not knowing.
Would love to hear from you guys specially those who have experienced Community Exposure... TY and Happy earnings all!
2 people like this
5 responses
@sirrob (4108)
• Philippines
22 Nov 08
Getting to know them more and interacting with them with life around is what it takes to have a good relationship and a rapport. Understanding their way of living and asking non judgmental question do miracles. Talking to them in their own language matters as well, explain your your role and your presence in the community. When I said talking to their own language, that would mean avoid using English language as much as possible and talk to them in social way and not structured on your community health plans. Talk to them as if you are talking with anyone else in just an ordinary day but don't feel so homey unless they have told you so and always ask permission when you are doing something or would like to use anything around.
@sirrob (4108)
• Philippines
22 Nov 08
Just don't talk to them with English all the time, you may use Taglish but utilize more the Tagalog language than English. I couldn't tell if they would mind most of the time it could be misconstrued. What I did before is just talk to them casually just like the normal days you have, the usual thing when you meet someone or long lost friends. One of the mistakes that we commit with effective communication is we ask them questions based on our guides and that we tend to forget how to communicate with them naturally. I understand that we need informations for the health care plans but they would keep their distance if you won't be wearing their slippers. You know what I mean? We might have different situation but the only thing is that, I am exposed to community nursing for a long time like the whole 2nd semester of 2nd year and first semester of junior year. And that is not all of it, we handled 2 different communities then at the last semester of junior year we have another, I think, 2 or 3 weeks rotation before we engage in a 4 week immersion in the community which is a requisite to become a senior student and that we only went home ones a week. We work with them the whole day, have fun activities, we cook for our own food, we go to wet market by our own, we take a bath using the same source of water they have (fetch them by our own), engage in their own daily activities as well and then before we leave them at the end of the week, we'll have a fun night with fun activities together with them. We always involve them in all kind of activities we have which in turn is a success for both of us. Just want to let you know that your first few days won't be that east to get along with them if you really don't know what it was to be at their side but it is not hard to learn as well.
@icedcoffeemallows (649)
• Philippines
22 Nov 08
I just recently graduated from nursing and yes,I can say that community nursing is one of my least favorites.
Because of the different environment that you would really have to encounter for you to graduate with the course. Haha. Nonetheless, I have fun with the community. I'm so glad that we were not exposed to the community that much, we just have to survey a barrio in Nueva Ecija and have to ask the families assigned to us with some questions. We have some difficulty figuring out how we would approach them in a way that they would not offended because of some personal questions like salary .. etc.. ^__^ I have friends in my RLE who can express themselves well in english and speaking tagalog is really hard for them. Usually if you can't really speak in tagalog fluently, I suggest that you find a partner who speaks tagalog well so that in any case that you can't express yourself anymore and the one you're talking with doesn't have a clue of what you're talking about. HAha! A partner would be a great help. ^___^ Establishing rapport is the basic step of communication. You must at least have an idea about the community, way of living, and culture to help you out. ^__^ About you asking questions, I think there is a guide/format of "must" questions for you to be able to have a concise report about the community. ^__^
Don't worry my friend. ^__^ Community nursing is a good opportunity for nursing students to be aware about the reality that most of our fellowmen experience. Wishing you good luck! Let me know about what happened! Hehe. ^___^
Because of the different environment that you would really have to encounter for you to graduate with the course. Haha. Nonetheless, I have fun with the community. I'm so glad that we were not exposed to the community that much, we just have to survey a barrio in Nueva Ecija and have to ask the families assigned to us with some questions. We have some difficulty figuring out how we would approach them in a way that they would not offended because of some personal questions like salary .. etc.. ^__^ I have friends in my RLE who can express themselves well in english and speaking tagalog is really hard for them. Usually if you can't really speak in tagalog fluently, I suggest that you find a partner who speaks tagalog well so that in any case that you can't express yourself anymore and the one you're talking with doesn't have a clue of what you're talking about. HAha! A partner would be a great help. ^___^ Establishing rapport is the basic step of communication. You must at least have an idea about the community, way of living, and culture to help you out. ^__^ About you asking questions, I think there is a guide/format of "must" questions for you to be able to have a concise report about the community. ^__^
Don't worry my friend. ^__^ Community nursing is a good opportunity for nursing students to be aware about the reality that most of our fellowmen experience. Wishing you good luck! Let me know about what happened! Hehe. ^___^
@anikakim (364)
• Philippines
22 Nov 08
I'm a nursing graduate and with work. Putting your shoes to them or your empathy. MAke mingle with them. But if you are a rich girl and a sosy girl that a hard part on you to cope with them. Be observant. Talk like a squatter girl or community girl. Low level with them. ty
@mz_Ira (1090)
• Philippines
22 Nov 08
Yes empathy... But how should I talk like a squatter girl? That is what I meant when i said I dont want to make them feel bad.Regards to the class i belong to, I can mingle with different people although yes It might be hard for me as well, I understand situations they could be but sometimes I cannot understand how and why their attitude are very impossible if you know what i mean.
Thanks for responding anikakim^_^.. Would love to hear more from you heheh... I sometimes in need a bit of courage from nurses/nursing student who were in the same situations as I am in now..
@mz_Ira (1090)
• Philippines
22 Nov 08
waaa in a good mood? you are not scaring me are you? haha.. well I just hope they will be. It just reminds me of my friend, when we were given our assigned family we had to ask the name of the owner. She asked politely with a smile, the owner gave her name with a very serious look and sounded angry.. -_- My poor chica!
@icedcoffeemallows (649)
• Philippines
22 Nov 08
You don't have to talk like a squatter girl my dear. Hehe You just have to be yourself and talk in a respectful manner. ^___^ People in the community are usually friendly. I just hope that they are in a good mood when you arrive. ^___^
You just have to be yourself and talk in a respectful manner. ^___^ People in the community are usually friendly. I just hope that they are in a good mood when you arrive. ^___^
@RebeccaLynn (2256)
• United States
21 Nov 08
What a wonderful opportunity for you!
I think that honesty is best in a situation like this. If you can't ask the questions that you need to then you won't be able to understand how to help.
I would tell the family that I am not trying to be rude or make them feel sad but there are things that I need to know so that I can understand their' life and how I might be able to help.
And I would watch everything that they do very carefully. That is also a good way to see the things that they might not feel comfortable talking about.
I wish you all of the luck in the world! This is a good thing!
@anne12d (676)
• Philippines
21 Nov 08
I'm a nurse now. I've experienced that when I was still a student. But of course I have different university from you I guess because when we had our interview with the family assigned to us, we were given hand outs of our CI what to ask them that they wouldn't be offended and its part of our survey of their community. Just ask them politely and don't often ask WHY because some people misunderstood the question WHY as they were being interogated and regret the life they have now. Encourage rapport with the client to promote trust and become comfortable throughout the interview.
I hope I'd help you with your upcoming close encounter with your assigned family.
Good luck mz_Ira!
@pzygtt (193)
• China
21 Nov 08
I am sorry,I haven't experienced Community Exposure so far.
So I couldn't give you any advice.
Nursing is a sublime career,wish you a good nurse!
Happy everyday!
