Stephanie Moore, Noelle Cuzick, Susan Kersey, Krisann Turner
Some of the member advantages of belonging to this group are:
To get help and information and to understand about the disease of MS. There are approximately 100 members in the group we visited. Many of the members prefer the SL support group to real life because the members are spread around the world. There were members there from the UK, Germany, and all over the United States. Depending on the progression of their disease, some members are wheelchair bound and cannot leave the house; the SL group makes it easier for them to communicate with others. When asked what the members would like us as nurses to know, one member replied that, as nurses we need to remember that there is a person behind the condition we are treating. Another member stated that it is hard to find information about resources and services available, and that the RN’s he has interacted with have only been able to provide very basic information. There are approximately 70 groups in SL covering disabilities, disease, and injury. The members of this group are mainly there to provide each other with resources they have found and to share their individual experiences with each other. Several of the members said that it took 12-18 months for them to be diagnosed and that it was usually through an MRI. One member gave us a website that described symptoms of MS. It was mentioned several times that the members are not there to give advice, just relay resources that they have found helpful and to discuss personal issues such as depression and frustrations that they are working through. The members described the biggest challenge with living with MS is that they generally don’t look sick, or look like they are in pain (the pain is excruciating).
This experience has helped us gain better insight into the needs of the members in the following ways: 1) Have compassion for the patient, 2) Be prepared, read up on what it is that ails the patient, and 3) Be able to provide resources for medical as well as psychosocial issues for the patient.
Symptoms website: http://www.oceansweb.com/MS%20symptoms.htm
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Second Life Virtual Field Trip to MS Help and Support
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Virtual Field Trip to GimpGirl
The great advantages to being a part of this group seemed to be related camaraderie with others with disabilities. The members mentioned that it is difficult in real life to encounter others in the same age bracket who are dealing with similar situations. SL lets them draw from a larger pool of people. Members also said that SL allows them to do things that their physical limitations in real life make impossible.
This experience was great for us as student nurses. We were able to ask questions of these kinds of patients in a non-threatening atmosphere. The members were very straightforward and honest, willing to talk about what they want from nurses in their medical care.
All in all, an excellent trip!
-Lindsay H., Terri, Nuriana, and Olga Click Here to Read More..
Second Life-Traumatic Brain Injury
We talked to a member of the Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury group. He had been in a coma for 5 ½ weeks. Currently the group has 46 members and about half are survivors. The others are friends and family members. The group also has a physician. For this member, the SL group has been very healing and also a lot of fun. He is able to speak about his experience—physical pain, emotional pain, relationships, medications, etc. He is able to get and give comfort, encouragement, and information.
The SL member was glad to see us and seemed excited at our interest. We only spent time with him as no other members of the group were participating at the time. We were impressed by his desire to communicate with others who had similar experiences and to educate friends and family members, as well as us, the healthcare personnel. It is a very simple forum that could benefit the RN as the members share their hopes and desires, fears, and day-to-day coping experiences.
Virtual Field Trip for Multiple Sclerosis
All of us in the MS support group meeting room.
Megan Case
Kymberly Kees
Claudia McKay
Tiffany Smith
Virtual Field Trip Blog
1. Member advantages of belonging to this group in SL?
A couple of the advantages given by members included the benefits of not having to drive to a meeting in RL as well as not having to leave the house if they were physically unable. Another member mentioned that they appreciated the views, opinions, and experiences of others who are going through the experience at the same time. Members also have the advantage of not being judged due to their physical appearance so they are more free to express themselves and have a compassionate response from others. Having a large member base (about 100) also exposes them to more people who are affected by MS than they might be able to interact with in RL.
2. How this experience helped you gain better insight into the needs of the members that would be useful as an RN?
There was a member online who specifically stated that they were there to become more comfortable and less afraid of people with physical disabilities. They expressed a desire to educate themselves to the issues surrounding MS so they would be better equipped to help others with their emotional issues. It was easier for this member to accomplish this online because of the anonymity. This experience helped us understand the level of pain felt by individuals with MS and the various stages of the disease. It gave great insight into the emotional needs and the desire for them to connect with others in the same situation. This could help us as RNs because if we encounter someone with MS, we will have more understanding of their pain and we might be able to connect them with others in the hospital for additional support. Members also indicated that they want RNs to have more current resources to offer to MS clients.
Alcoholics Anonymous Field Trip
We visited an area where there are AA meetings held very frequently. We were surprised by the number of meetings that the founder of the group said were held in Second Life. A very obvious advantage to belonging to AA in Second Life is the anonymity that it allows. The members don’t have to worry as much about running into these people in RL, and probably feel as if they are judged less by their peers. It probably makes the group members feel much freer to open up and reveal themselves with honesty, possibly making the whole experience better and more fruitful for them. It also allows for people to co-mingle with members from all over the world that they probably would not meet in RL. He also mentioned that another advantage to SL is that in RL, meetings are held at scheduled times, but in SL a person just logs on, and even though there may not be a formal meeting at that time, there is always someone available to talk to.
Another obvious advantage is that it allows alcoholics who cannot travel due to extenuating circumstances (disability, loss of license, etc.) to be able to attend the meetings from their own home. This way people who are seeking support can receive it, even if they can’t make the trip out of the house to do so.
This experience helped us to realize how important it is for alcoholics who want help with their disease to feel that they are in a secure, trusting, atmosphere where they can feel free to express themselves and not be judged. That forms the basis for the whole way that the program is supposed to work. This can help us as RNs to understand the need for members to remain anonymous- a very key thing in nursing, anyway. Confidentiality is ever so important, especially when sensitive issues are involved.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury
The Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury group offers therapy, education, and social support for its members. They have an MD and RT on staff, who are available to answer questions from members. There are virtual dogs for fun and also serving as a form of therapy. Although it is an informal group, they have group meetings and private consultations available. They explore new ways to build neurological pathways. They have memory games. They discuss family, friends, medications, pain, doctors, and discuss hopes and “wishes of a pain-free day.”
This experience is useful not only as a resource to refer patients to, but also to better understand some of the difficulties survivors of traumatic brain injury face in the real world and how being a part of Second Life can be a form of therapy neurologically and emotionally.
Janet R, Kelly J, Oksana B, Deanna J, Alison C
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Preferred Family HC Field Trip
1) Some of the advantages of belonging to this group in SL are: the ability to attend a meeting at many different times; being able to get support from someone in this group (or another group) 24 hours a day; more anonymity than in RL; not having to go to an actual meeting, which is helpful depending on where you live, your schedule, or your transportation situation; and being able to connect with members of AA around the world.
2) It would be helpful as an RN because it would give you insight into some of the issues that people who are in AA deal with and what some of their needs are. It would enable us, as an RN, to better care for these people. Knowing these groups are out there is helpful because we can offer to these our clients as a resource.
3) Pictures
Intervention for the 21st Century allowing more availability for helping resources.
