What were Celia’s professional roles in the nursing home?

Question

Celia O’Neil, a 39-year-old baccalaureate social work student, was assigned to complete her internship in a nursing facility where she had been employed for the past 12 years and continued to work three days a week as the Activity Director. The social work director, Betty Williams, LSW, was Celia’s task supervisor but new to the nursing home setting. Therefore, Sally Jones, LCSW, served as Celica’s preceptor. Celia’s client, Mr. Brown, was a 47-year-old man admitted to the nursing home in June 2001 with numerous psychosocial needs. Celia was frustrated by what she interpreted as Betty’s lack of effort to assist Mr. Brown. She began to wonder whether her supervisor cared about the client, and she found the nursing staff uncaring and non-supportive. In addition, the nursing staff made rude comments about Mr. Brown right in front of him, which upset Celia a great deal. She felt the comments were abusive and she wondered how to advocate for Mr. Brown.

Answer 1

Celia had two roles at the nursing home: first, as the activity director, and second, as a social work intern. She continued to earn the same salary from the nursing home where she worked as the activity director three days per week and completed her internship two days per week. She experienced some conflict in defining and keeping clear boundaries between the two roles.