2 weeks down

and while I'm on placement, my boys get to do things like - go to the zoo! My mum woke up this morning and decided to take the boys to the zoo! I got home from work this afternoon, walked in flicked the kettle on and the boys came running up talking about a monkey and lion and Mum mentions 'oh I decided to take them to the zoo today'! How lucky are they?! Nanna and the boys exploring the zoo together.

Last night James and I went to J's kinder art show (they do painting on canvases and it is displayed at an art gallery - parents go - drink wine and marvel at all the clever children - and purchase their childrens painting if so desired - of course we bought J's - it was a masterpiece!) and of course I saw some of the people from the committee who I haven't seen for a while, as well as the other kinder mum's and teacher.. and they were all incredibly interested to see how I'm getting on. When asked about my placement, I can't help but gush! And whilst talking about it last night, I gained a bit of insight into why. See sometimes SW is involved in negative situations - eg; drug and alcohol, child protection, loss - grief, homelessness etc. And obviously, this is no different - being that the criteria to enter this ward is severe head injury.... BUT it is so overwhelmingly positive as well.
Here is how it goes;
People have serious accident/fall etc - have severe head injury/trauma etc
They go to acute hospital - and are medically stabalised - come out of coma etc
Once they are medically stable, they are transferred to our ward - but can still be in post traumatic amnesia (PTA) etc.
Once out of PTA, they then meet an incredibly co-ordinated team of specialists including speech pathologists, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation registrars and consultants - and they work together exceptionally, as the patient begins to recover from the traumatic brain injury.

It is like being privy to watching a person rebuild themselves and watching the co-ordinated effort of all the experts together is mindblowing. I'm not sure I'm able to convey what I'm trying to say about this place, but truly it is amazing. And I'm working there. Obviously I haven't mentioned what SW role is, but it is also incredibly important - as the SW acts as the front for the team, connecting with the surrounding family and friends, as well as the patient - helping with practical matters, educating about brain injuries, coordinating meetings with the specialists, as well as any supportive counselling requested or needed by any involved. And because they are long term patients, you actually do case management (which is not common in other acute settings, due to the high turnover of patients) I'm learning so much, so much more about the brain than I ever knew. Such a positive place to be working in, how am I going to leave this place in 12 weeks? I'm so, so, SO applying for hospital positions next year. Right now, I'm independently visiting some patients and offering support and assistance, how cool is that?

Oh and yesterday I went for an inservice to hear about a PhD's in neuropsychology discuss her research and I couldn't help myself, I found her later on the ward and gushed to her about her work, it was amazing! She was also incredibly interested in my research and we talked about my findings and the similarities between the hospital settings and the stark differences. I love being surrounded by such intelligence, seriously!

Ironically, I'm off to watch 'America's next top model' right now, hey - I don't want to be TOOO smart eh?