We visited the GimpGirl community in SL. GimpGirl is a community of people with disabilities who meet to talk about issues in their lives related to care, general daily life, and coping with their disabilities. It was a very informative session, and the most important thing we talked about is how important communication is when caring for patients with disabilities. Each patient is different and has different needs and desires---we must effectively communicate with them to find out the best way to care for them.
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
1 comment:
Your description clearly shows some of the benefits from this group, both to themselves and to healthcare professionals.
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