Grace in Small Things – 330

• It might seem strange that a pedagogical video clip could bring tears to my eyes, but this one did.
• This week’s mission from Brandi.  I love being a kid at every chance I get. Yesterday I put on my striped socks and striped shirt and magic decoder ring and went with Sylvain to see How to Train Your Dragon on cheap movie night.
• I already get in for free when Sylvain shows his Access2 Entertainment card, and Tuesdays we get an additional discount. Frugal date!
• The movie was really cute, and we didn’t even get annoyed at all the little kids around us forgetting to use their library voices when they needed to ask mum and dad questions about what was happening on the screen.
• Tonight was class #2 of my patient care training for hospice. Tonight’s first segment was called Sitting by the Bedside and was presented by a chaplain who is director of spiritual care. After that we went over policies and procedures. I enjoy the classes so much and learn so much!

What I learned today: I raised my hand to ask why the blue volunteer smocks used to be required at the residence home and now are optional. I learned that even though the decision had been made by a committee which included volunteers and everyone had been in agreement over the benefits of wearing the smocks, as soon as they were implemented, the director of volunteer services began receiving complaints about them from volunteers: they are too hot, the side ties get caught on the beds, etc.  I learned that ours is the only hospice in Ontario where volunteers wear them. And I learned that some feel any uniform for non-medical personnel goes against the goal of cultivating a homey (read: not hospital-like)  environment for the residents and their families. After a year of further discussion, it was decided to make wearing the smock optional.  Wearing the photo ID badge is, of course, mandatory.

What I shared or showed:  I raised my hand only twice during the three-hour class, trying to keep quiet unless I had something to share that would add a lot of value for others in the class. Since the majority of people in the course have not yet begun volunteering, I spoke up to share a couple of details regarding what it is like working in the residence.

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