Mentoring Visit 2

Today I met with Janet and Simone for our second mentoring session. Today we visited patients with Janet's Golden Retriever, Rizzo. Like her "sister" Hannah, Rizzo is the ultimate Doggie Brigader with a calm demeanor and an ever-wagging tail.

{Rizzo dressed for Easter}

We started our visit on 8100, the psychiatric unit. This floor is vastly different from the medical floors. The patients spend the majority of their time in the open activity area or in group sessions. These patients are medically stable so there are no IV poles or monitors. Patient rooms are semi-private and are only used for sleeping at night.

There were 4 and 5 kids petting Rizzo at the same time and she was just laying down right in between them all and looking very comfortable. Janet reported to us later that Rizzo looked up at her at one point but was quickly reassured by a pat from Janet.

Next we visited 8200 which is a sort of mixed-bag unit. Patients who use ventilators at home are cared for on this floor when they are hospitalized as well as Ear Nose and Throat patients and Neurosurgery patients. A nurse was attempting to get one of her young patients to walk a few steps so Janet had Rizzo sit outside of her room as an enticement for the little girl to take a few steps.

We then visited 7100 and 7200 which are both Infant/Toddler units for patients between 0 and 5 years of age. We had a few really good responses here with lots of smiles and laughs. Janet explained that when either a small patient or her dog seems uncomfortable, she often finds it helpful to turn her dog around. She explained that it gives a bigger area for the patient to pet and "takes the teeth end out of play" reducing the chance of a nip. A very good lesson!

Gilda will get to come with me to our next mentoring session in 2 weeks and I can't wait! We are getting closer and closer to being official!