Comments | ashkosis: Job Update

ashkosis

Job Update

Feb 11, 2009 21:29

I thought I'd give a brief update about my new job. It's with The Center for Community Independence in Revere, MA. This agency works with folks who have brain damage to help transition them as close to independence as possible. Although a few clients have congenital damage, most of them are there due to a traumatic injury. As you might expect, ( Read more... )

Comments 11

bythebootstraps February 12 2009, 03:53:47 UTC

I had a hard time with that population. If you can crack the code, please let us know.

ashkosis February 13 2009, 02:23:51 UTC

I certainly have no secrets, especially since I just started. :) But I'm going to guess a lot of patience, discipline, and compassion.

bythebootstraps February 13 2009, 02:38:33 UTC

my only advice is to anticipate short-term thinking on their part. =)
and what you said. but that applies to everyone. ;-)

ignusfaatus February 12 2009, 06:03:31 UTC

neat. I know a lot of people who work in this field. High calibur character

ignusfaatus February 12 2009, 06:05:03 UTC

being a mum to somebody like this, I guess it means a lot to me about the people who choose this and do well.
namaste!

ashkosis February 13 2009, 02:27:41 UTC

Thank you...I appreciate your kind words. I actually enjoy this kind of work, so it isn't any kind of sacrifice on my part. But there are days...

Kuddos to You... countess77 February 12 2009, 16:26:31 UTC

This line of work I am sure is similiar to working ( ... )

Re: Kuddos to You... ashkosis February 13 2009, 02:29:36 UTC

I am fortunate in having a few years of clinical experience before this job, so I've learned, more or less, how to pace myself. I had some hard lessons last year that I will not repeat this time around.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Re: Kuddos to You... countess77 February 13 2009, 23:52:32 UTC

Glad to hear it.
Wish I had listened to others myself First!!!
Congrats on the Job.
P.

keter_magick February 12 2009, 23:53:11 UTC

I'll have to second countess77's "mixed blessing" message.

I grew up nursing my adoptive mother, who was severely crippled by rheumatoid arthritis and rendered mentally and psychologically unfit by the medications she was taking for it. I had considered becoming a doctor, but burned out too much on her care and learned too much from fighting with her doctors. Then my daughter had meningitis at 10 months of age that burst a blood vessel in her brain and left her with a catastrophic seizure disorder and just enough "her" left to be really frustrated and pissed off. After a couple of years, I ended up having to give her up to the state because I could not afford her care and had a well son who needed a parent.

Caregiving of this type is both rewarding and draining, and is actually an experience I think everyone should have at some point in their lives, although perhaps not of the sort I ended up with. I hope you benefit from the experience as I am sure your patients will benefit from your care.

ashkosis February 13 2009, 02:31:57 UTC

My job does not entail the kind of efforts or hours that your experience required. Naturally caring for one's family member involves much more emotional investment than clients. That said, I agree that virtually all people would benefit from spending some time caring for those in need.