Final Thoughts

This experience has given me the opportunity to experience the medical field up close and understand the reality behind the different medical professions. As a high school senior, it is a bit nerve wracking choosing a career that is going to stick with me for my entire life. Going into this program, I knew that I wanted to study nursing, but this experience has allowed me to feel confident in my decision and excited to begin a career I feel so passionately about. During my time at the Valley Hospital, I have worked in numerous departments; including 2B Surgical, Cardiac-Pulmonary Rehab, the Pharmacy, the Laboratory, and a few other departments here and there. Within these departments, I have been able to network with many nurses, doctors and other clinicians who were more than willing to help me reach my goal of becoming a nurse. This truly was a wonderful experience and I am forever grateful for the opportunity.

What happened this week? 5/15/2017

Before our Pulmonary class this Tuesday, I was able to observe a presentation by a doctor at Valley Hospital explaining the new techniques used to diagnose and treat different levels of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The department in which I work, deals with patients suffering from COPD every day. However, there have been recent studies that help clinicians create a care plan more specific for individual patients. There are many factors to consider when diagnosing COPD, including, sex, height, weight, oxygen intake, scar tissue of the lungs, etc. The doctor had mentioned that the leading cause of COPD is in fact smoking. Smoking creates a large amount of scar tissue, while also creating inflammation, making it difficult to breathe. One fact that I found especially interesting is that the number of smokers globally has reached a record high. I would have thought with all that we know and the harmful effects, the numbers would decrease. It is extremely important to educate others on the serious effects to help prevent disease. The presentation overall was extremely interesting and I was glad to get a better understanding of COPD.

What happened this week? 5/8/2017

This week happens to be National Nurses Week. The Valley Hospital definitely values their employees and works very hard to keep a happy and healthy workplace. Everyday this week, they have provided different events, speakers, food, and small gifts for all of the nurses in the hospital. During my time at Valley Hospital, I have definitely seen and felt the closeness and community of all of the staff. All employees are welcoming and kind, and they are especially willing to lend a helping hand. As an intern, I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with nurses who are dedicated to helping me gain as much experience as possible. It is truly amazing to watch them act quickly and efficiently. Many of these nurses truly inspire me and have impacted the way I look at nurses, which I admire and aspire to be.

What happened this week? 5/1/2017

After every class in Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab, there is a corresponding education session. In my opinion, these sessions are a crucial factor in the program. Patients must be referred by a doctor in order to participate in the program. I believe this is an excellent way for patients to truly understand their diagnosis and learn how to handle their episodes. These sessions can include topics concerning their diseases, environmental effects, diet, exercise, etc. Many patients enjoy these classes because it is more personal rather than being handed pamphlets upon pamphlets. Luckily, the staff is very knowledgable towards all topics and are usually able to answer all questions or refer them to someone who can.