Page 60 of The Girl in the Castle

“I’ll decide what you need and what you don’t,” said the baron, ignoring Gorn’s words. “In the meantime—” He turned and called out to a passing figure. “Take this girl to the keep.”

“My name is Hannah Dory—notgirl,” I said as loudly as I could.

I took a stumbling step sideways; I was having trouble keeping my balance.

“I know who you are,” Baron Joachim said. “You’re a thief and a fool.”

His words stung for their truth. They echoed in my ears.

But no. Not anymore.

“I was those things once,” I said. “But now I am only a beggar.”

My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground. “Please,” I begged, as darkness came down over me like a cloak. “Please help.”

FIELD OBSERVATION REPORT INTRODUCTION

by Jordan Hassan, CC’25

The purpose of this assignment is to record observational data via close attention to the operations of a psychiatric hospital, with a particular focus on patient care. I have been able to shadow numerous RNs at Belman Psych, as well as interact regularly with patients via recreation time. I hope to be able to make connections between class content and real-world experience.

Delia F. Belman Psychiatric Hospital was founded in 1901 with a bequest from its namesake, Delia Belman, with the goal of providing compassionate, specialized care to improve the lives of people and families affected by psychiatric illness.

Ward 6, where I have engaged in my observations, is an adolescent and young adult unit, serving approximately two dozen patients ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-two. The days on Ward 6 are carefully organized, with a typical schedule looking something like this:

8:00

Breakfast

9:15–9:45

Room cleanup, personal care time

9:30–11:00

(varies by patient) Individual therapy meetings

11:00–12:00

Group cognitive behavioral therapy