Psycho Circus

And yes, I am a member of the KISS army.

Well, my first venture into the land of the living sure has been a unique one...

I was told of some problems they have had with students in the past about posting material on a blog (such as this one!) so my information is going to remain very general and short, as some of the extremely interesting incidents are quite identifying...

I am at Worcester State Hospital on ward 5B, which is a unit for "clients" that have been here for at least a couple months. The other area where I will spend my time is 1A, a forensic evaluation unit where people (prisoners) go to receive court evaluation.

The clients on 5B are crazy. There is a wide range of disorders, most involving some sort of psychosis or pyschotic disease (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, simple psychosis, etc.). There are also some clients with borderline personality disorder. Talk about walking on eggshells... these people always think you have something against them or dislike them, while they desire strong relationships, they constantly yell everything and engage in self-mutilating behaviors, and seem like they compete with one another to see who can be the worst borderline in the hospital.

It is both boring and interesting. There isnt a lot of patient interaction, but there is a lot of observation and busy work. I did get to perform an otoscopic exam and check out a nasty boil on someones lip...oh, and I almost got bit by a patient trying to assist the nurse taking a blood pressure. Other than that, it's pretty quiet. Maybe it'll get a bit spicier when I am down on 1A.

Hope everyone else is doing well. Write soon!