Miami Children's Museum -- Second Visit

Today I spent my first visit, aside from orientation, with the kids at Miami Children's. I was there for only 5 hours, but I was very exhausted when I was done! I love kids, but they can wear you out!!! I can't count how many times I've explained the human body and it's body parts -- I think I've memorized my "anatomy speech" to the kids by heart now. At the museum, there's a Baptist Health "ER Room" where kids can learn about the human body from a doll stuffed with fake organs, and x-ray machine with cool x-ray films of different body parts, and a video on what kids experience in the "ER".

It helped to have other nursing students there, as I was not comfortable approaching the kids until I've watch their techniques on teaching the kids about health care. I felt more comfortable by the 3rd hour, when I was trying to explain to two sisters how the spine looks on x-ray film. The older sister was VERY competitive, answering all of my questions before her little sister can get a word in! It's nice that they know a lot about the body, but it's important to give others the opportunity to learn as well.

Today's vocabulary word: Culture. According to the ATI book (pg. 18), culture incorporates the learned, shared, and transmitted values, beliefs, norms, and practices of a particular group that guide thinking, decisions, and actions in patterned ways.

• Culture is learned.
• Culture is taught.
• Culture is social.
• Culture exists at many levels.

The girls I encountered at the museum were very competitive, as well as their parents, who were encouraging each girl to top her sister. Some individuals are culturally raised to be competitive people, as evidenced by many individuals in the U.S. who pride themselves on individuality and succeeding in the workforce, school, or even their social lives.

It's interesting to note how powerful cultural influence is, from or moral, ethical values down to our personality.