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Lady in a nursing home
LADY IN A NURSING HOME I shared "Nursing Home Life: How Elders Adjust" (March/April) with one of our social workers. Inspired by the woman looking out of the window, she wrote this poem: She sits at the window, just looking out, Hoping someone will come As in days long gone, when... The children came running home From school, front play Full of stories to tell, hugs to share," Ready for cookies, For hurts to be kissed away. Oh, how needed she was... Then came the young sons atzd daughters With their beaus in tow, Giggling, fidl of plans to share, Secrets to tell to the one Who was always therefor them... Her husband coming home front work, Tired, yet proud of a day's work well done,
Proud of her, loving her In ways only he knew how. And, oh, how her heart sang/... Her husband is gone now, She longs to join him.t "Soon, soon, "her heart says. Her children, too, getting old, And their youngsters, so busy... She's lucky--they conw now and then So...she sits by the window and waits... Yes...she sits, looking out-Well...not so much waiting for someone to c o m e ~ More like.., looking back at the days long gone... Or maybe looking forward to leavingGoing home.~Aldona Kairys I was touched and decided to share the poem. LORRAINE F. BEAL, RN, MS geriatric care coordinator Rhode Island llospital Providence, RI
A 'REPAID' In a long-term care facility, I heard staffsaying to confused ciders, "Come with me. It's time to change your diaper." The need to "change the diaper" may be a reality. However, the terminology is infantilizing. The staffagreed to try to change the terminology. We pondered the options: padding, brief, wet clothing, underwear. The alternatives seemed no better than the original. Then I began to look at the word diaper. By spelling it backwards, one could call a diaper a repaid. The word diaper has since been stricken from our vocabulary when dealing with the elderly client. Now, we ask an elder to come along for a fresh repaid. ANDREA CLAYMAN, RN, MSN, GNP
The GRAND Center at Union llospital Union, NJ
A FREE REGISTRATION TO THE FIRST NATIONAL AJN CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL-SURGICAL & GERIATRICNURSING!!! Submit exaunples of clinical excellence--situattbns where your care "made a difference" in the outcome for a medical-surgical or geriatric patient.
WINNERS WILL RECEIVE: • Free REGISTRATION at the 1989 AJN/GN Convention in Chicago (see ad in this issue) • An award certificate and mention at the convention • Presentation of thewinning examples in a session with Patricia Benner RN PhD FAAN • Recognition on the "Wall of Fame" at the convention To get your entry form, check # 4 on reader #1quiry card or call 212-582-8820, Ext. 634 for more information. Entries must be received no later than June 15th
GcriatricNursing May/June 1989115
Proud of her, loving her In ways only he knew how. And, oh, how her heart sang/... Her husband is gone now, She longs to join him.t "Soon, soon, "her heart says. Her children, too, getting old, And their youngsters, so busy... She's lucky--they conw now and then So...she sits by the window and waits... Yes...she sits, looking out-Well...not so much waiting for someone to c o m e ~ More like.., looking back at the days long gone... Or maybe looking forward to leavingGoing home.~Aldona Kairys I was touched and decided to share the poem. LORRAINE F. BEAL, RN, MS geriatric care coordinator Rhode Island llospital Providence, RI
A 'REPAID' In a long-term care facility, I heard staffsaying to confused ciders, "Come with me. It's time to change your diaper." The need to "change the diaper" may be a reality. However, the terminology is infantilizing. The staffagreed to try to change the terminology. We pondered the options: padding, brief, wet clothing, underwear. The alternatives seemed no better than the original. Then I began to look at the word diaper. By spelling it backwards, one could call a diaper a repaid. The word diaper has since been stricken from our vocabulary when dealing with the elderly client. Now, we ask an elder to come along for a fresh repaid. ANDREA CLAYMAN, RN, MSN, GNP
The GRAND Center at Union llospital Union, NJ
A FREE REGISTRATION TO THE FIRST NATIONAL AJN CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL-SURGICAL & GERIATRICNURSING!!! Submit exaunples of clinical excellence--situattbns where your care "made a difference" in the outcome for a medical-surgical or geriatric patient.
WINNERS WILL RECEIVE: • Free REGISTRATION at the 1989 AJN/GN Convention in Chicago (see ad in this issue) • An award certificate and mention at the convention • Presentation of thewinning examples in a session with Patricia Benner RN PhD FAAN • Recognition on the "Wall of Fame" at the convention To get your entry form, check # 4 on reader #1quiry card or call 212-582-8820, Ext. 634 for more information. Entries must be received no later than June 15th
GcriatricNursing May/June 1989115