Spending Veterans Day with Vets (taken from the SON blog)

Buenos dias! 

Psych clinical has been going great. As everyone else has said, it’s a very different environment and pace from med-surg but the change is good. We spend a lot of time talking with the patients and have even put together a few group sessions and parties for them. Most recently, we helped the staff on the unit put together a Veterans Day party. During med-surg it was easy to forget that all of our patients were veterans, but it is quite evident in psych because many of the mental illnesses that the patients suffer from have to do with their time spent as a soldier. Almost all of the patients are Vietnam veterans and I have learned how much they went through from spending time in that treacherous environment.

After hearing all about the hardships of the war and post-war period, it was my honor and pleasure to help with the Veterans Day party. A lot of food was prepared, decorations were put up, music was put on, and games were played! The patients don’t have a whole lot of excitement during a typical day on the psych unit, so it’s always nice to give them something to do. We ate with them, colored in American flags, and talked with them. The patients love having us around because we always love talking to them! Spending time at the VA has really given me a new perspective and appreciation towards veterans. I see how much pain and suffering they have been put through. Some of them are still suffering from PTSD and depression over 50 years later. The average age of a Vietnam soldier was 19. That boggles my mind because I cannot imagine having someone younger than me be put through an experience like that. I am learning from the veterans every day and am exciting keep working with them for the rest of the semester.

Adios!