Running Head: MY CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AT LYLE TORRANT CENTER 1

Title

My Clinical Experience At Lyle Torrant Center

Student: Valeria Pereira-Brown

Pediatrics

Teacher: Jen Wheeler

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My Clinical Experience At Lyle Torrant Center

The day of my clinical experience at Lyle Torrant Center my feelings were a mix

of excitement, nervousness, and curiosity all at the same time. I had never taken care of

medically fragile students and I was a little unsure about being able to help them and do

everything I was supposed to do. Jen gave us a tour in the building, which it was a very

good start. I was so impressed by all decorations, arts and crafts that the students made

and also the organizations and all the equipment in the school. By the end of the day I

was completely in love with the children and the staff. After I left Lyle Torrant Center I

felt so special and happy, because I was able to help these children and I enjoyed every

single second with them.

PROVIDER CARE

The predominant diagnosis in the classroom that I attended was Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders affecting mobility, balance, and

posture and thought to result from injury to the developing brain before or soon after

birth (NINDS). There are many associated problems with Cerebral Palsy such as

intellectual disability, stiffness of the legs and arms (Spastic Cerebral Palsy), dental

problems, drooling, seizures, and balance and coordination problems (Ataxia Cerebral

Palsy) (Centers). It is very hard caring for children with this severely medical fragile

condition. It takes passion, love, and hard work to do this job.

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As soon as I walked into the classroom I saw three nice people there: the LPN, the

teacher, and the paraprofessional (aid). Their smiles welcomed my partner and I

immediately and I felt the warm and positive environment of the classroom. Each one of

the caretakers have different responsibilities with the children, but all of them have the

same love, passion, and dedication for those children because their disorders cause them

to not be able to walk, talk, move, and eat without help. I was so impressed with the

organization and interaction between the caretakers. They were so dynamic but at the

same time so soft with the children. After the children came to the room, the LPN taught

me how to give water from a G-tube. Everyone interacted with the students and the

children were relaxed and happy. I got busy helping the aid with diaper changing, moving

the children in and out of the standing equipment, interacting with them, and feeding two

children, one at a time. When the time came to leave, I really did not want to leave the

classroom and my heart was so filled with love for all of them: children and caretakers.

MANAGER OF CARE

Managing care for Cerebral Palsy children is what will give them the basics that

they will need to manage their lives. The caretakers provide security, stability, and the

basic care that these children need. The teacher interacted with the children and tried to

stimulate their ability to focus and learn by putting the news and some children stories on

the TV screen for them to watch. The aid, helped the children with potty training, put

children in the individualized equipment to make them stronger, and changed the

children’s soiled clothes using standards precautions. The LPN, did all the specialized
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procedures such as water and feedings by G-tube and watched and helped the children

with their motor skills. Knowing that these activities are essentials for these children

survival, I felt very proud of myself when I contributed by doing a G-tube feeding with

the LPN supervision.

MEMBER OF A PROFESSION

After my experience at Lyle Torrant Center, I am so thankful for all the

professionals, volunteers, and schools that support these children with disabilities. The

experience I had, help me to understand how hard everybody involved in the treatment

and caring for these children works, and how they make a huge difference in these

children lives. These children are learning how to be as independent as possible

according to their limitations. Having the opportunity to work with these children, gave

me the love and respect for their courage. The Lyle Torrant Center professionals made a

huge impact in my life, with their extreme competency and also willingness to help us, as

nursing students, learn more closely what an average day is like in these awesome

children’s lives.

My heart is filled with joy for the opportunity to stay, work and learn with them

and I will never forget that. I cannot thank Jen and the people from Lyle Torrant Center

enough for the valuable, unforgettable, and loving experience I had this week.
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Works Citied:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, April 26). Retrieved October 26,
2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/

NINDS and NICHD release final Strategic Plan for Cerebral Palsy Research. (2017,
October 02). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/News-
Events/Directors-Messages/All-Directors-Messages/NINDS-and-NICHD-release-final-
Strategic-Plan

Disability and Health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/disability-and-health

________________________________________________________________________

Val, I am so very pleased to read your written reflections about your time at the school

this week and working with the special needs children. By taking the time to consider all

the things you’ve learned while there and writing it all down in this work truly shows me

that you are developing the critical thinking skills I look to see you all demonstrate at this

level of your learning. ~Nice Job!!

I am so pleased that you stayed over and helped the children and staff get through the

busy hustle and bustle of lunchtime. That shows a true dedication to being the very best

provider you can be. Occasionally, we need to sacrifice ourselves by being willing to do

whatever it takes to make sure tasks are complete before we leave for the day. You show

such amazing integrity and strength in nursing character by making this decision Val. I

am so proud of your hard work in the classroom, I just can’t say enough and am inspired

that you’ve mentioned an interest in going back as a volunteer. I think that would be such

a wonderful learning experience for you. I encourage you to do this and will help you in

any way I can, just ask!!

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Thank you for taking such AMAZING care of the children this week Val. I am so very

proud to have students like you demonstrate such professionalism and represent the very

best of our nursing program in the community clinical setting. OUTSTANDING JOB!!