How participants reacted
I discovered things about myself, of which I wasn't aware they existed.
sTimul moved me. Getting into the life of a psychiatric patient, that you have been guiding for a while now, is not so evident. Taking that role, demanded a lot of energy. Feelings I didn't know, overwhelmed me and sometimes I didn't know how to handle them. I discovered things about myself, of which I wasn't aware they existed. It was an extension of my knowledge about working on a profound level with people. It's a positive confirmation of my way of working. My enthusiasm is passed on to my colleagues and that is very noticeable.
Eve
De inleefsessie is een absolute meerwaarde in mijn verder bestaan als verpleegkundige.
Door de inleefsessie heb ik zelf ondervonden dat goede zorg vervat zit in de kleine dingen. Die kleine dingen ontbreken vaak omdat we te routinematig handelen op de werkvloer. Warme zorg is heel wat meer dan het routinematig technisch afwerken van een bedbad.
Een streling op je hand, de patiënt het gevoel geven dat hij niet alleen is, een luisterend oor, een goed gesprek, soms volstaat zelf enkel je aanwezigheid en aanraking. Het feit dat men bij je blijft als je iemand nodig hebt (Bv. bij een emotioneel moment), het heeft me diep geraakt, daar krijg je een warm gevoel bij (WARME ZORG...). We moeten veel meer empatisch gaan denken, routinematig handelen de rug toe keren, en niet communiceren over de patiënten heen.
Sindsdien stel ik mijn eigen handelen en houding tegenover de patiënt in vraag (ook non-verbaal), en dit de hele dag door.
Als ik mijn collega's aanspreek over mijn ervaringen zijn ze duidelijk ‘gepakt’ door het gebeuren. Dat is duidelijk merkbaar. Misschien deels door mijn gekozen profiel (tetraplegie). Het AFHANKELIJK zijn heeft mij diep geraakt (31 uur lang niet kunnen bewegen...). Het is zo confronterend om plots totaal niets meer te kunnen.
Besluit: sTimul heeft mijn positief diep geraakt. We zijn met z'n allen goede zorgkundigen, verpleegkundigen, maar we kunnen beter.
Francis
I'm convinced that both us, as students, as the simulating residents learned from these two days of submergence internship.
As third year class nursery, option geriatrics, we worked toward this project to eventually keep “our” division running during two days. Personally I find sTimul a very nice concept. The location in itself is magnificent and during these two days you learn a lot.
I'm convinced that both us, as students, as the simulating residents learned from these two days of submergence intern ship. This came forward during the reflection. Some things really got me wondering. Things that for us, as students, seemed apparent and that we took over from our different internships, but on which we received reactions and made us think. sTimul made me question my “caring”, working as a team, my class as such where we got to know each other in a new setting... and definitely myself as a caretaker, as person to person!!
Ann-Sophie
These experiences received at sTimul will always remain.
These experiences received at sTimul will always remain. I can't let them go, they keep haunting me. Every daily still, smaller bits, details come up. I'm convinced that one looks different at situations, once back in the work field. It's very confronting, if you realize that you perform the same actions at work that I perceived very disturbing in sTimul. While you did this with your best intentions. I'm pleasantly surprised about what this kind of experience does with you.
Miranda
What is very common for the caretaker, is very differently perceived by the resident.
I would definitely recommend this project to anyone who is working in the care sector. What is very common for the caretaker, is very differently perceived by the resident. It would be extremely good if staff could experience what is waiting, what is getting help with meals, what is getting help with washing or being cleaned.
Karolien
It makes you think about the “small” things that are so important to the residents.
sTimul enriched me as a person. It makes you think about the “small” things that are so important for the residents. By trying to get into the position of somebody who is needy, you are aware of actions that you otherwise perform on auto pilot. It makes you experience how important it is, when the caretaker is really working with you personally. No day goes by, without me thinking about my experience at sTimul. I'm convinced that this project brought me even closer to the people and that it is important to realize what you're doing every day. It's recommended to everybody.
Sylvie
The way of communicating on every level and is determining your relation with the residents and colleagues.
One thinks to know what it is like to be aged and dependent, but really undergoing the experiences, feeling them, is a great difference. My biggest experience, that I will definitely take with me, is the way of communicating on every level and is determining your relation with the residents and colleagues. We strive to be at the same level as our residents, but by our manner of communicating we raise ourselves above them (e.g. No, you can't do that). The soothing, the correcting, not openly communicating, works as a stop. Questioning and asking questions to residents and yourself make sure you don't get into routine.
Els
The most important you can do for the resident is not big.
The most important you can do for the resident is not big, but is hidden in small things, that don't seem so important at first but really are to the residents. If we try to respect the individuality and what they stand for, we have come a long way.
Lieve
