Focus

Medication safety, Finnish documentation practice, and behavioral observation in the group home at Solum.

Key Activities

• Medication administration: Carried out scheduled medication rounds under mentor supervision, with particular attention to correct dosing for younger residents and the five rights of medication administration.
• Inhaler training: Demonstrated and coached inhaler and spacer technique for staff and one child, using teach‑back to confirm understanding.
• Behavioural observations: Performed structured observations for two residents showing increased agitation, recorded triggers and effective de‑escalation strategies in the care notes.
• Documentation practice: Wrote daily care notes in Finnish and asked my mentor to review two entries per shift for language accuracy and clinical clarity.
• Team communication: Used ISBAR for handovers at shift change and contributed observations during a multidisciplinary meeting about a resident’s sleep and activity plan.

Learning Outcomes

• Clinical confidence: Repeated practice with medication checks and supervised inhaler administration strengthened my confidence in pediatric medication safety.
• Communication skills: Regular ISBAR use improved the clarity and efficiency of my handovers; mentor feedback helped refine concise reporting.
• Language development: Writing and reviewing Finnish documentation each day noticeably increased my clinical vocabulary and speed.
• Assessment skills: Systematic behavioural observations helped me link environmental triggers to specific interventions and suggest small, practical adjustments to daily routines.

Reflection

This week reinforced how small, consistent practices—double‑checking medications, using teach‑back, and documenting in Finnish—build both safety and professional credibility. Observing behaviour over several shifts highlighted the importance of predictable routines and clear communication between staff and clinicians. I found that brief, focused teaching moments for non‑nursing staff increased their confidence and improved resident safety.

Challenges and Next Steps

• Challenge: Maintaining speed and accuracy when documenting in Finnish during busy shifts.
• Next steps: Set a daily target of completing two full Finnish care notes without prompts and prepare a short case summary to present at the next multidisciplinary meeting to practice leadership and clinical reasoning.