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Old 21-07-2012, 12:07 PM   #4
[Frostbitten]
 
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Join Date: Sep 2010

When I was IP, one of the classroom assistants in the hospital school has very obvious SI scars on her arms. As far as I know, no one mentioned them, and no one cared to be honest! We just accepted it, and I think that the patients were able to talk to her a lot more and feel less isolated and more hopeful about SI because we knew that she'd understand, unlike some of the other members of staff who were 'textbook taught'. It also helped us to see that you can still get a job and have a life etc even if you have scars.

I'm hoping to be a nurse, too (although I'm going into the adult general medical branch) and have SI scars. I've spoken to others (lecturers, practitioners, nurses etc) and they've always suggested honesty without too much self disclosure if you're asked, so "yes I used to self harm, but I've found other ways of coping" or something to that effect. I'm not sure whether admitting to ongoing SI would be professional, but accepting it as part of your past can give a more "human" aura to you, rather than a faceless medication dispenser or whatever :)

I guess it is important not to stigmatise SI, so if you feel there is an issue surrounding your scars with a patient, it might be an idea to discuss it with them?

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