Experiences

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Interprofessional Professionalism

What?

In this workshop, we focused on the concepts of collaborative healthcare and patients expectations. We discussed how and why effective teamwork directly influences the quality of patient care.

The highlight of this workshop was a video on how to be unprofessional in 10 easy steps! This video demonstrated examples of ineffective teamwork and the reasons behind it. Gossiping, trash talking, personal issues, miscommunication, devaluating dietitians, and arguing were a burden to success in effective healthcare service. Unprofessionalism left the patients confused, disappointed, and with mistrust.

Donna, the workshop instructor, stated that the government allocates funds to improve collaborative healthcare system because this is what patients want. Clients need to have trust in professionals working in hospitals and other care centres because they are the ones who are the decision-makers in critical moments.
So What?
Many people staying in hospitals suffer from multiple chronic or acute problems that treatment demands a collaborative approach. In today’s world, healthcare is so complex and treatments are diverse; therefore, it is impossible to treat people in a nondisciplinary and individualized model.
As a collective healthcare approach, everyone is responsible to act professionally and be respectful towards colleagues in a healthcare setting. If everyone brings an emotional baggage into the setting and people fall into dramas and gossips, the objective of healthcare is lost. The patient’s care is the first and foremost objective of all members. Patients put all their trust in us; therefore, it is our job to honour that with quality care and accountability.
Now What?
As a healthcare provider in the future, I think we should have more training in interprofessional collaboration in healthcare since it is key in providing care to our clients. Personally, I think this is one of the areas that I want to invest more time to learn and experience even if I decide to focus on private practice. I understand we all are different and our experiences affect the ways we perceive and act. However, teamwork related skills such as listening, cooperation, empathy, and easy going are all important skills we can learn and improve. I have this quote saved from Chi Cejalvo in FNH 380, which I read very often. It is about listening intently to clients. But, I relate the same principle to coworkers and people I interact with on a daily basis. It says, “Listen and listen to your client! Maybe they just are having a bad day or they just want to talk about what happened to them. Listen and trust what they are talking about. The more you listen, they are going to trust you more and they are more likely to listen to you. Trust your words and be open and accepting”.
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Indigenous Cultural Safety

 

What?

 The main objective of this workshop was on cultural safety and stereotyping especially indigenous community. It was delivered by Allan and Donna, two culturally sensitive and passionate individuals. Donna was the instructor for my other workshop, and I was very happy to see her again.  Allan is a two-spirited first nation from Kelowna and North of BC.  First, Allan got all of us to participate in a series of rhythmic movement. It was weird at the begging but soon everyone fell into the rhythm, and we all made unified movements and sounds. Then, he told us a few personal stories of everyday struggle with stereotyping and prejudice. Allan told us about an incidence just the night before the workshop when he was checked by the security in Shoppers drug mart. He also explained how he approached these problems in a systematic manner away from frustration because he is well aware of the roots of a problem. My group was consist of few female medical students, a male nursing student and I. We worked on topics of stereotyping, humility, vulnerability, and power. We discussed how all of us could be stereotyped. For example, I am perceived as a person who must eat healthily and not touch the cake!  A female Dr. Could be stereotyped as “physically weak and less important”. We all came up with many stereotypes and of course, some were very funny. Later, we worked on ways to use those stereotypes as the power to make a difference in our profession. For example, a female medical Dr. can serve other women who are more comfortable to be seen by a woman and other similar practices. I could use my stereotype as an education tool about a balanced diet.

So What?

This workshop was interesting because through activities we realized most of us are stereotyped in some way; however, some minority groups experience it in ways not comparable to any. Education and becoming consciously aware of those stereotypes helps all of us to stay away from prejudice in practice. The class rhythmic performance very minded opening to me in the sense that we are part of one culture and country regardless of our colour, religion, and gender. I was touched by that experience because it was led by an indigenous person. He invited us to do his ancestral dance with him in his land. It gave me a feeling of belonging and unity. It reminded me this poem by Saa’di, a Persian poet that

“Human beings are members of a whole,

In the creation of one essence and soul.

If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.

If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.”

Now What?

Personally, I have always been conscious of the indigenous people of Canada and their cultures. These people are the ancestors of this country, where we all call home. As an immigrant to this land, it is my responsibility to do what I can to preserve this land and respect its people. Regardless of where I serve in Canada, I will always be aware of the indigenous vulnerability and treat everyone the same. Last not least, I love my class of Dietetics 2021 because of its cultural diversity! We are all from a multicultural background, serving multicultural communities in Canada. I am equally happy to have Mike and Tatyana in our class! We learn together and serve side by side!

The poem retrieved on November 4th, 2018 from:https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Saadi

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Inquiring Minds Workshop

What

This workshop was on mental health and practical ways to prevent mental problems. In this workshop, we explored different levels of mental health explained in a chart. The chart categorized people into four groups from “healthy, reactive, injured and ill” As well, the workshop provided us with some real cases in mental health. The students shared their experiences with depression, anxiety, addiction, and substance abuse. Later, we participated in discussions and case scenarios presented and had an opportunity to give feedback on this workshop. This was the first time UBC is offering enquiring minds workshop, so some areas needed revision.

So What

A human brain is complex and it can get challenging when combined with environmental factors. Approaching this issue is difficult, and discussions in this workshop were not an exception. Once we were working on the scenarios, we had a difficult time putting proposed cases in those four categories, and we realized that mental health was not a static linear approach. For example, a person may be angry all the time over a problem, yet be healthy in their other emotions. Moreover, helping people with a mental disorder is more challenging than physical injury. Some people who are challenged by mental problems prefer to solve the issue on their own and are not open about it.  In these cases, it is important to respect their privacy and simply keep the gate open. Lastly, we all agreed that as students, we go through a lot of stress and anxiety. We can definitely reduce those negative emotions by regular vigorous rhythmic exercise, running, yoga, listening to music, and most importantly stay socially connected to others.

Now What

While in my first bachelor program, I just studied for the courses and classes and did not leave any exercise or activity in my schedule. However, now I come to the realization that having a balanced life is more important than just doing well at school. Now, I have my weekly kickboxing and yoga sessions, no matter what! I preach this to myself every day, “a healthy mind is in a healthy body”. As well, I want to fit jogging into my crazy schedule. That is my next goal towards a healthier me.

 

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Foundations of Ethical Practice

What?

My first Interprofessional Education was in ethics. We were assigned into groups and worked on a few ethically challenging situations. As well, we reviewed and discussed ethical principles (code of ethics) across different faculties from nursing, medicine, dentistry, and dietetics.

So What?
Our group’s sharing of our code of ethics was the most interesting part of this workshop. Nursing students have a 60-page code of ethics document versus dentistry students who have only a 2-page one. First, we were surprised and then discussed some of the reasons why this might be the case.
In our group, we talked about several reasons. Nursing students are probably going to face much more ethical dilemmas in their future careers since they are in the heart of health care system where they might face life/death or good/good situations a lot.
Dentistry students, on the other hand, may not reach these critical points of decision making at all. Dentistry students said that as a dentist, they can turn down any patient they are not comfortable working with. It could make sense because “people don’t die for losing all their teeth”, but their lives really are in the hand of nurses, doctors, and dietitians in intensive care units; therefore, their decisions matter. Seeing these two ends of the spectrum in ethics across the health care system in Canada was thought-provoking and interesting.
Now What?
When I look at my profession in the healthcare spectrum, I see that dietetics practice involves a lot of ethics and challenges mainly because food is such a personal thing and socially influenced. As a dietetics student and a future professional, I should strive to develop skills to make the best decisions for my client. The first step in such a process is to know my client’s standpoint.
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Dietetics and Client-Centered Care

What?

Our group got to choose our top favourite topic on Client-Centered Care. To us, it was such a hot topic since “the client” is the core in professional dietetics practice. Our team was very cohesive and cooperative. This group was different from my previous UBC group projects. We worked really well alongside each other to work on this project. I believe this is because in this class we all share the same vision and objective. The class is very focused on dietetics practice and studying in such an environment is very enjoyable. On the very first day, Sandra made a facebook group so we could discuss the project. In our group page, we shared whatever we found relevant and useful to our topic, it was more like a brainstorm to learn about our topic. Then, we had a meeting to divide the topic into sections and everyone dug into their parts. 

So What?

The focus of our tutorial mainly was on the client as one person. In this model, we discussed and explored the role of a dietitian in identifying the client’s needs and goals. In our tutorial, we used check-in questions, case scenario, and discussion to engage all students in class and exchange ideas. We rounded up our discussion with some great questions Kara brought up to the class about struggles and challenges we will face in counselling. Ethical issues are huge in nutrition counselling since food is a personal and emotional thing! When Kara asked about our experiences with food advice to people, many of us had already felt the struggle. Both Jenniffer and I talked about frustration with our parents’ diabetes and why our relationships with them come before anything else. 

Now What?

I think it is very important for me to learn how to gauge my questions and conversations to succeed in counselling. Loving to help others achieve their goals is one important characteristic of a dietitian, yet, having people’s skills and communication is paramount. As well, being able to carry on with uncertainty and acknowledging that we will not be able “to get people in our way” are equally important skills. 

Last not least, since dietitians work in such broad areas, in most cases the client may not be just one person; it can be a community or even whole populations. It is wise to say that as the level of the hierarchy of practice goes up, our roles and responsibility to the public health and well-being rises exponentially.

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Meeting Mankirat!

Mentor’s Meeting!

What?
My meeting with Mankirat was a blast! Joy Wong and I signed up for meeting with her to learn about her experiences as a fourth-year Dietetics student. She was one of the kindest girls I met. I felt a bit nervous before our meeting, but as soon as we met, I knew she was no stranger to me.
So What?
Mankirat spent her time and walked us through the path she has taken. She said that how overwhelmed and worried she was at the beginning. It was comforting not only to hear that everyone could worry when entering a new program but also how confident they become through education and practice over time.
Mankirat listened to our concerns regarding clinical courses in that they require a lot of background information from previous courses. Then, she explained in great detail how those courses are being taught and that we will be reviewing those topics in clinical theory class before heading for practical courses. I have taken those courses a few years back and it was a real concern of mine. Finally, she put my mind at peace.
Next, she talked about her job as a diet technician in the Surrey Memorial  Hospital and her responsibilities and her relationship with the dietitian.
This meeting was informative and I enjoyed listening to all the detailed description of the courses and opportunities ahead!  In the end, I asked if it was ok to stay in touch with her for future help or concern. She kindly offered her big helping hands! I hope to see her again soon!
Now What?
I can’t wait to reconnect with Mankirat again regarding clinical course shes is taking this year. I have made a smart goal to reach out to her again and ask for her course material to borrow them if she is allowed to share them. It is very crucial to me to make sure I revisit/review any material related to the clinical segment of my education to bring my old knowledge up to date.
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Meeting Sabrina at Lions Gate Hospital

What?

Today, September 24th, our group visited Sabrina, a dietitian manager in Lion’s Gate Hospital. First, she gave us a tour of the kitchen and dishwashing facility. She is responsible for Evergreen department which is a long-term care unit in Lion’s Gate Hospital.

So What?
We asked her about a typical day in management, interaction with other managers in the kitchen, and how her role differs from a clinical dietitian.
Since Lions Gate Hospital is a huge facility, they have a few managers in the kitchen; for example, one manager is responsible to communicate between her and the chef managers. She is responsible for managing staff, special menu designs and planning bistro events. She showed us some photos of the events she had carried out. I believe setting up different events and menus is a great way to boost patients spirit in healthcare facilities. It is a way to make patients feel at home and enjoy their time in the hospital. Moreover, it breaks the stereotype that hospital food is always boring and the taste is bland. I believe implementing such strategies breaks the stereotype that hospital food is always boring and the taste is bland. It is a step away from The Skeleton In The Hospital Closet Issue that is a big problem happening even today.
Sabrina’s role differs from her clinical colleague in the sense that she mostly manages people and has less face-to-face interaction with patients. The clinical dietitian focuses on nutrition counselling, screening, ordering feeding tubes, and follow-ups. For me, listening to the real-time experience of two different dieticians in the same facility was interesting.
I personally found it very interesting to see what dietitians do in a large/commercial kitchen. When I volunteered in Mahak, I did not get to see how the kitchen operated and it was a smaller facility than Lions Gate.
 Sabrina talked about her relationship with the staff and how creating a friendly environment makes everyone’s time and work worthwhile. As Sabrina described, in that kitchen, even dishwashing is fun since the team members work cohesively and communicate effectively.  Last but not least, Sabrina brought us food which was shepherd’s pie and steam vegetables from the kitchen. It did taste quite good actually.
Now What?
My networking with Sabrina was a positive one, and I will definitely use her managerial and leadership practices in the future. As a manager, it is very important to connect to the staff especially in facilities where the tasks are repetitive and boring. In my opinion, a workplace is also a living space. It is absolutely the manager’s responsibility to not only keep her employees motivated to perform their regular duties but also make them feel safe, loved, and connected.

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