The following is a copy of a journal written during my clinical rotation in Mental Health Nursing at the Parthenon Pavilion. I believe it shows reflection of my time spent as well as personal insights into this aggregate population.
I think perhaps what I found most interesting was the types of persons on this unit. The patients could have been anyone you meet in a store while shopping. They came from all walks of life and an array of backgrounds. Reading my patient’s chart gave me a sense of how something so early in one’s past, such as abuse, could turn into this snowball and affect everything her life.
I have a new sense of empathy and more understanding of these patients. In the past I have tended to be one of those persons who thought depressed patients should “get over it.” I am proud at how much I am learning about this aggregate and how much my views are changing. This clinical is definitely helping me be a better person in the future, especially with this population.