This semester I have had the privilege
of working at a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) as a speech-language pathologist student.
Not only do I work with some wonderful people and have an excellent supervisor,
I absolutely love my patients. I love them so much, that I become sad when I have
to discharge them, especially the ones I become very close with. I see my
patients every day for at least 30-45 minutes, for 2-4 weeks minimum and
sometimes as long as 2 months. Needless to say, we get to know one another
pretty well. I learn about their likes/dislikes, hobbies, families, and get to
know them on a “friends” basis. By the end of their therapy I no longer consider
them my patients, I consider them my friends! This week I actually had a
patient come back and visit. When I saw them standing in the doorway I had to
do a double take because, they looked so wonderful. I had worked with this
patient on their voice. When we met they were aphonic (which means had no voice).
After a month and a half of working with me they began regaining their voice
back. By the time they were discharged they were producing short sentences, and
we both couldn’t be happier. I will always and remember what they said to me at
the end of our last session:
I told them how proud I was of them for how
far they have come and their continued motivation in therapy. They responded
with “I can use my voice again because of you, thank you”.
Needless to say my heart instantly
sank, I almost cried, and I realized in that very moment that I realized the
sleepless nights, lack of a social life, beyond stress, and total craziness of
grad school is all worth it. It was in that moment, that I received the greatest
gift every imaginable, knowing that I made a difference in someone’s life.
There is no better form of motivation then knowing you made a difference and
seeing your patients making such remarkable progress.
So I say to you all, it will be
worth it! When you make connections with your patients, see them make progress,
and realize you are making a difference in their lives there is no greater
motivation! Remember nothing is impossible and you can do anything you put your mind to! I know I am loving this experience and can’t wait to see what the rest of
this journey has in store for me.
Feel free to comment below with any
questions about working in a Skilled Nursing Facility =)
-Jessica
