Blog 2

Part of our Community Health Clinical in Panama involved a visit to a psych clinic. I went to the clinic wanting knowledge on the differences in treatment, between the United States and Panama, in regards to psych patients. Although my first degree is in Social Work and I am well aware that, as a nurse, I will come into contact with many patients that have a psychiatric diagnosis, I have known for quite some time that I did not want to work in the mental health field. Going into the hospital we had several activities planned.

As the tour of the unit started I felt uneasy about the hospital. Honestly, the layout and patients made me uncomfortable. We decided that we would work with the female patients. I was surprised how touchy the females were, I had assumed that the males would have behaved more this way. As the activities started, we became aware that it was going to be hard to complete our activities with this group of patients. We improvised  by doing the patients nails and makeup before lunch and then coming back after lunch for a dance party. By the end of doing the patients nails I was much more comfortable in the hospital and with the patients.

During the dance party, I was still apprehensive with the patients but feeling more comfortable. Several patients showed and played with their breast while dancing. They did not give personal space while dancing. I understand that personal space and dancing are different among cultures. There was touching in places that, being from the United States, I would consider private places.

All in all, I feel that this experience was a good one to have. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone, which I feel is a good thing every now and then. By the end of that day I felt a lot more comfortable in the hospital than I did during the initial tour. I would not be as uneasy if I was to ever visit that type of environment again.