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As a caring volunteer I provided limited direct patient care, assisted patients with mobility, grooming, and dressing, answered patient call buttons promptly, assisted in transferring patients from bed to wheel chair and visa versa, transported patients to and from procedure rooms, escorted patients, families, and visitors to their required destinations, assisted patients during meal times, managed patient records and assisted patients and families in filling out admission forms, made frequent rounds in assigned departments to assess patients' needs, prepared patient beds and equipment for procedures such as endoscopy or ultrasounds, aided patient discharge by managing appropriate paperwork, answered phones and relay messages, assist patients
during rehabilitation services such as physical therapy.
When I learned that one individual can only do so much while a group of passionate individuals can even move mountains, I took on the role of a shift leader to moderate volunteers and joined the emergency department to study a new environment the hospital offer. During that time, I trained numerous volunteers and assisted countless staffs in saving lives at an effective rate with quality services. Many volunteers I trained are continuing their ardent determination to thrive in the small volunteer room alongside with zealous
In the beginning of my senior year I was eager to expand my understanding of how it would be to work in a hospital. An opportunity arose allowing me to volunteer in the hospital at the University of Chicago. I was able to volunteer at the children's playroom, which consisted of a weekly commitment. The daily tasks I had to perform where to enlighten the spirits of children and reduce the amount of anxiety that developed within them when they approached a hospital visit. I would play games, read books, or just company the patients at their bedside. I especially love to interact with the younger patients because their laughter and innocence warms my heart up.
Some duties within this field include giving patients intravenous lines for fluid, blood or medication, administering medicat...
...ds and clothes, a free flu vaccination or a simple clinical examination seems to be common for an averaged-salary worker, but it can be the entire world to a poorly sick elder who could not afford for just a short doctor 's visit. As I believe that the medicine does not only emphasize on the physical treatment of a disease, it is also necessary to establish essential connections with others at both critical and noncritical moments in their lives. Meanwhile, I have witnessed the powerful impact of compassion, perseverance, and problem-solving skill on our society through volunteering; these valuable life elements will be the keys leading to the success of an osteopathic physician. Thanks to the volunteering opportunities, it confirmed and made me realized that pursuing my dream to become a physician is truly what I want to do, not just a curiosity like I have thought.
Since I am a volunteer, the lowest on the totem pole of health care, I have no specific duties. Mainly, I observe the work of the PTs. I also assist in cleaning the immaculate therapy room. As I wash down the tables with ammonia, trying not to inhale too many fumes, a Dr. Riddel is paged over the hospital intercom. Then someone else is paged, "Thomas Lykins to front desk. Thomas Lykins to front desk." Front desk actually means office, and usually social workers are paged to clear up some problem.
I had a great day at clinical, where I learned and perfected many skills. I really enjoyed working with my primary resident, answering call lights, and meeting potential second resident. Strengths included communicating effectively with staff (objective 2), implementing strategies to promote, maintain and restore health (objective 4), and demonstrating professional behaviors at a beginning level (objective 6). An example of objective 2, was when caring for my primary resident, the first thing I checked was his oxygen tank level and for any redness behind his ear; that could demonstrate irritation from the oxygen tube. I noticed his oxygen was getting low but wasn’t in the red, refill zone. At the end
At the beginning of this volunteer experience, I walked in hopeful that I would gain some knowledge about the different careers that the medical field possesses, but I got so much more than that. I learned that community service is about making an impact in the lives of other members who share my community.
that the all healthcare staff give. They did not only care for the patient but also calmed the others that were around; because of this I have been inspired to follow the medical career path.
In May 1995 I began working once a week at Massachusetts General Hospital. I imagined myself passing the scalpel to a doctor performing open heart surgery, or better yet stumbling upon the cure for cancer. It turned out, however, that those under age eighteen are not allowed to work directly with patients or doctors. I joined a lone receptionist, Mrs. Penn, who had the imposing title of "medical and informational technician." My title was "patient discharge personnel." Mrs. Penn had her own computer and possessed vast knowledge of the hospital. I had my own personal wheelchair. Manning the corner of the information desk, my wheelchair and I would be called on to fetch newly discharged patients from their rooms.
Delegated tasks, and monitoring all direct-patient staff, including LPNs and Dialysis Assistants, assessed care needs and developmental assignments.
My community service work at County Hospital is to care for the rudimentary needs of each patient. My goals are to provide inspiration during the healing process, teach kindness and compassion, and discover my own abilities for empathy. "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I'll try again to tomorrow (Mary Anne Radmacher)." My hope as a volunteer is to help each patient find that voice, find that courage to go forward.
I assisted nursing staff and medical providers with various procedures including splinting, wound repair, central line placement, intubations, and chest tube placement. I also aided in the stablization and care of critical patients. Additionally I transported patients from the ER to the main hospital when they were admitted.
Family members, such as my uncle, taught me the importance of self-sacrifice and I took on my culture’s communal values, determined to use my experiences and time to benefit those around me. Beginning in high school, I used my free-time to volunteer within my city, helping out with charity events and more. Through volunteering in my community, I saw how my own efforts and services could aid others. As a university student, I exposed myself to a variety of volunteer-work in the realm of medicine, learning more about healthcare as well as how medicine is related to community-service. By volunteering in events such as Vietnamese Health Fairs, where I helped provide health screenings to low-income Asian-Americans, and by volunteering in urban hospitals such as Texas Health Dallas, I not only learned more about medicine but I bared witness to how diverse my community was and discovered more about the struggles of the individuals living in it. Additionally, I sought positions where I could encourage and mentor others within my university. By acting as the President of Molding Doctors and a General Chemistry Supplemental Instruction Leader, I have been able to use my experiences as a student to guide my
This moment really showed me how much I should cherish my health and reinforced my belief in wanting to help others. This was a profound experience that represented to me the responsibility and the magnitude of the power that physicians possess. Physicians must regularly deal with the haunting reality of encountering situations where the results that transpire are not as promising as they hoped. Not only did this volunteering experience allow me grow as an individual, but also become a better person. I would volunteer for 5 days a week for around 4 hours and I can say I met some great people including the nurses, doctors, and receptionists at the clinic where I was assigned. Another experience that recently occurred was when I was on my way to volunteer at the hospital this summer. I saw a homeless man that was injured and just lying on the sidewalk near the train station. He was crowded by a couple of people and when I came closer I noticed that he was bleeding profusely. I rushed over to help immediately and we tried our best to apply pressure to the wound using a shirt. We awaited the EMT’s and kept reassuring the man that he was going to be
Skills that I was able to both witness and perform included: assessments, suctioning, tracheostomy care, wound care/dressing changes, bed bath, diapering, medication administration with pediatric pumps, patient discharge, positioning, education, and G-tube feedings. I felt that both the patients and their family members were willing to have a student participate in their care, and my nurse explained what she was doing and why is was importance. I felt that I had all of my questions answered by the end of the day, leaving me grateful for the experience. While the situation was heartbreaking, I was also able to witness a rapid response (Called CAT) on a patient my nurse had only received a few minutes prior. While I stood back in the situation, as I did not want to get in the way, I was able to perceive how the staff members worked together to reach a common goal. While multiple physicians were present, one took control, and every individual played an active role in the situation – translator, documenter, medication administrator, comforter, decision maker, and leader. After responding to the initial situation, we were able to transfer the patient to the PICU for further observation and