4
B
en Hartung is no
stranger to dementia
care. With a mother
who's a nurse and
grandparents who lived
with dementia, he was
inspired by his own
life experience to
become a geriatric nurse.
As he transitioned from nursing
school to the professional world,
Hartung noticed many of his
peers going through a difficult
adjustment period.
"You learn a lot of textbook
knowledge in school," says Hartung,
now an advanced practice nurse at
Baycrest. "But as a new nurse, you're
faced with another reality of a patient
with dementia who could be pacing the halls,
yelling, looking for their loved ones. Handling that
can be emotionally burdensome."
What Hartung was picking up on is a phenomenon
called "reality shock." The term was coined by
theorist Marlene Kramer in 1974 to describe the
reaction of new graduate nurses who discover the
theoretical work situation they prepared for in
school doesn't match up with the realities of the
practical field.
Psychologically adapting to the reality of dementia
care can be so difficult for new nurses that
they choose to leave geriatrics, or even nursing
altogether. This increased turnover can impact
continuity of care for patients and result in more
money spent by institutions and the healthcare
system at large.
Hartung is on a mission to help make that transition
for new nurses smoother. That's why he developed a
new dementia communication workshop for nursing
students.
Workshop for nursing students
tackles 'reality shock' in dementia care
Ben Hartung,
Nurse, Baycrest
"Point of care staff
are some of the best
innovators."
