Today Penny and I worked together on Evington ward.
The staff suggested several patients to us - we began to work with a patient who had been causing some problems because she was abusive to other patients and staff - we were able to give her the attention she clearly craved - as she knew we were artists, she asked if we could do a painting of her mother from a framed photo she had by her bed - I obliged using charcoal - meanwhile Penny asked her about her mother as she wanted to talk about her even though it made her upset - Penny wrote down what she said.
She was difficult to work with because she was demanding but feedback from the sister afterwards made it worth while.
“ You and Penny can come in anytime - you have calmed the patients down today - we were able to give the patient her medication while you were her, we hadn't been able to all day as she was angry and aggressive.You are able to give the patients attention - we just don't have time”
For a while Penny continued to work with the patient and I spent some time with another patient and then we swapped over.
I tried to interest her in an app on my I pad and also in painting as she mentioned that she had been praised for her paintings in the past but she was too distracted and eventually went to sleep.
In reflection it is easy to see how hospital staff become hardened from working with difficult and abusive patients - it is emotionally exhausting - we wondered if we would also become less friendly and dis
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