Things One Might Face As a PSW

If you're old school you may still call yourself HCA. That's okay, we're all one in the same. If you are a new psw, you've embarked on a unique journey that only our kind understands. You'll figure it out soon enough.
As a preview, here are some of the challenges you may (and probably will encounter):

1. Interpersonal differences with co-workers: This is a female dominated field and women tend to be hypercritical of other women. It's a competition thing that I have never understood, but I can't deny it's fact. You will be judged. As an example, I was in a discussion with coworkers about one particular woman we worked with. I defended her to the shocked group. Suddenly, the woman they all were griping about started treating me extremely well, (which she hadn't prior). Forewarning: You never know who's listening and telling what you say!
2. Politics: As non-registered staff psws are often put down and then conversely asked to take on responsibilities that fall outside their scope of practice. Don't do it. Registered staff are there for a reason and it's not to dump their work load on you. And they'll try, believe me. Take for example, the administration of medications. (I don't mean assisting which is necessary in the community.) Psws are often asked to administer medications for the RPN despite the fact that the RPN knows they could lose their liscence for it. Make no mistake though, any wrong doing would ultimately be placed on the psw if harm is caused to the resident. I'll list my dont's for psws at the end of this blog.
3. Blame/anger from family members of residents: It may come from a place of guilt or grief. The only thing I can say is to try not to take it personally.
4. Violence: The medical field is one of the most dangerous fields to work in with it being so physically demanding and volatile nature of sick people. I have been kicked, punched and bitten several times and nearly escaped several more times. This is where observational skills are so important. Watch for changes in behaviour/attitude and always be aware of where a residents limbs are. They may come flying at you!
5. Government involvement: The increasing lawsuits, especially in the US is forcing more and more government involvement in medical care, which I personally think is a good thing except for all the added paperwork and no time to do it. I have no fear when the ministry comes to examine the inner workings of where I work. The way I figure it, I do the best I can every shift I work and genuinely care for the well-being of my residents. I welcome any suggestions they can come up with for improvement.
6. Lack of resources: Inevitably, equipment breaks down or there isn't enough supplies to go around. This is where psws must be resourceful and make due with what they have.
7. People with english as a challenge: It's not a second language yet! As fate would have it, many psw schools push through people who do not speak english. This devalues the psw certificate as a whole, but what can I do. In the workplace, this makes communicating very difficult. I have learned to be very patient and have learned some phrases in several different languages to boot.
8. Dr. Gevorkian syndrome: Okay so I can't spell his name, but you get the drift. Old/sick people are apt to pass away. And yes, turning a person who is palliative can expediate the process, but I promise-you didn't kill them.
9. Seemingly inappropriate in-jokes: Humour is the best way to get through the day. I once worked with a resident who insisted, "No soap on the pussy!" and yes we joked about her for years between the staff. Anyway, sometimes this job is really stressful, especially when someone is quite ill. In order to perform our duties, we put up emotional walls to defend ourselves. This does not mean we aren't empathetic. Don't be overly sensitive about coworkers jokes. "Flipping the pancake" is certainly offensive on a level since it refers to a human being as an inanimate object. I agree. But we have to guard against the sadness of watching a person helplessly struggle to breathe. It's hard to watch. So we extract ourselves emotionally in order to give them the care they deserve and then go and turn the person. That's all.

Dont's for the PSW:

1. Administer medications: Ever. Period. End. Stop.
2. Make accusations in the communication log: What you write can and will be held against you. Talk things out with a coworker you have an issue with.
3. Make diagnoses: It sounds simple, but here are a few you may not know about. Depression is a diagnosis. You can't report that someone is. Death. Only a nurse or doctor can say someone is dead. You can report you think they are dead only.
4. Forget you truly are a working class hero. Your job is invaluable.

From Roddy Piper to Eminem

I had a unique celebrity experience in my teen years when I was in full throtle of my angst. I was working at my local KFC, just preparing to open for the day when there was a knock at the door from a customer. Even though we were not open yet, I was required to let him in and offer a complimentary drink for his wait, so I did. After that I was obliged to pass the time with conversation, head office suggestion was the weather. I hated the awkwardness that was caused by this topic, so I suggested to the man that we not discuss it and that I had other things to discuss. I told him all about how the authorities, government included propoganded a particular prejudice against my age group. I complained that because we were considered impossible to understand we were treated like enemy aliens, from strangers, teachers, our parents and even from media groups. Often, I found myself defending myself and others from those who tried to use their power and authority to dominate us into submission. It seemed like this lack of understanding led to a fear of our group. We were the dreaded generation X and we had to be squelched.
The man listened. He didn't reproach me. He didn't patronize me. In fact he seemed really interested when I spoke about standing up to people who abused their authority. He laughed when I called myself the lone wolf rebel because others my age were too afraid to stand up for themselves.
Then my cook at the back came out front to get a drink. Immediately, he recognized Roddy Piper. I appologized for not knowing who he was and Roddy said don't worry about it. He was cool.
I became a fan of wrestling of course. And that is where I noticed that people cheer for the underdog who is going up against the establishment. I felt good that at least if people don't want to stand up, secretly they cheer for those that do. And I have continued to stand up for my beliefs and my rights no matter what the cost may be, I'm stubborn that way.
I have watched and cheered those in the entertainment industry who continue to rail against the "evil" man. In particular, two "characters" stand out the most.
The first is Stone Cold Steve Austin. It's no wonder I identified with the character. From battling the boss, to the logo don't trust anybody, I really felt what he was all about. I cheered along with millions, especially when he pretended to be turned by the boss only to get him in the end. I understood his appeal to the masses and celebrated that because I always wondered what my peers thought of my antics and battles.
The second is a little harder to explain. I appreciate Eminem because he points out the flawed outlook of the babyboomers in particular. Take his video for "My name is". The images from how the "perfect family" was portrayed in Leave it to Beaver versus the reality of our world. Then there's the Clinton scandal. It's as if he was saying, "These are the people who were judging us so harshly from such a young age? They thought they were the perfect one's and we couldn't be understood? How dare they be so hypocritical?" It really struck the right cord for me. If anyone wants to understand the Generation X point of view, finally Eminem is telling the world who we are and what we're about.