by Jordan Hassan, CC’25
The purpose of this assignment is to record observational data via close attention to the operations of a psychiatric hospital, with a particular focus on patient care. I have been able to shadow numerous RNs at Belman Psych, as well as interact regularly with patients via recreation time. I hope to be able to make connections between class content and real-world experience.
Delia F. Belman Psychiatric Hospital was founded in 1901 with a bequest from its namesake, Delia Belman, with the goal of providing compassionate, specialized care to improve the lives of people and families affected by psychiatric illness.
Ward 6, where I have engaged in my observations, is an adolescent and young adult unit, serving approximately two dozen patients ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-two. The days on Ward 6 are carefully organized, with a typical schedule looking something like this:
As noted by the American Journal of Psychiatric Nursing, “When wards offer a wide range of activities, including art, meditation, organized games, and exercise opportunities, service users reported better moods and decreased levels of boredom.”