Omotoyosi Ogedengbe may still be a nursing student, but she’s not one to stay idle. With a former career in accounting, Ogedengbe decided to transition her career into nursing to help care for patients first-hand.
Already happily married with a 17-month daughter, Ogedenbe decided that it’s never too late to make a difference. She went back to school and decided to start working in an elderly care facility to learn as much as she could about caring for patients.
Of particular interest to Omotoyosi Ogedengbe was learning how to make the experience of the residents better, even if it was in the simplest of ways. One particular way she improved the experience of residents was advocating to add meaningful photos to their rooms.
“It was sad to see that many of the rooms were empty and that many of the residents didn’t get visited as frequently as they should,” says Ogedengbe.
Aside from helping residents feel more connected to others and to their own memories, Ogedengbe decided to learn more about communication to make residents feel safe, cared for and at ease.
“Even if you know they have memory loss, you have to remember that they are still human beings who deserve dignity, care and respect. They also deserve belongingness,” says Ogedengbe.
“They’re alive. They’re ok. You have to communicate.”
Ogedengbe says it’s crucial to walk patients through how you will care for them before commencing. This puts them at ease because they know you’re going to help them and they know what to anticipate so nothing comes as a shock.
She goes on to say that we need to have empathy and put ourselves in the shoes of patients. We need to imagine what it would be like to be in an unfamiliar setting without your loved ones around you, having strangers take care of you. That’s why it’s important to do everything possible to communicate with and soothe the elderly as we provide quality care.
Another tip from Omotoyosi Ogedengbe: “Be easy with them.”
People are emotionally intelligent and patients will be able to read your emotions and body language. That’s why something as simple as speaking to them in a calm and relaxed tone can help to put them at ease and build trust. Though it sounds simple, nursing can be a stressful job, and it’s possible misdirected agitation or simply tiredness might come across in the wrong way.
“Nobody wants to feel like a burden, so we should remind patients in care facilities about their value.”
Omotoyosi Ogedengbe’s personal approach to nursing is empowerment. She says she wants to do everything she can to empower the elderly to live in a way that feels meaningful to them. She wants them to feel part of something, and like an integral part of the community.
Aside from the knowledge she’s accumulated so far and the impact she’s had both in the care facility and by advocating for care and compassion in nursing, Ogedengbe says she wants to continue her journey in nursing by empowering the elderly.
