I enjoyed reading your post. During my clinical rotation, I had the opportunity to be part of hospital huddle. The physician, surgeon, dietitian, assigned nurse, charge nurse as well as the parents of the patient’s (minor) were all present discussing the patient health status from the day of admission to current day (day of huddle). Each member was getting a turn to give their insight of the patient’s health condition, plan of care, and new approach that can be taken to improve patient outcomes. During the huddle, the parents were given the opportunity to ask questions about the treatment plan, surgery options and any other concerns they may have. Then, the surgeon explained the risks and advantages of the surgery, how the surgery
Almost thirteen years ago, my life changed when my youngest daughter was born with undiagnosed medical problems. The challenge of finding answers consumed my life. My family and I spent a significant amount of time searching for answers in and out of doctor’s offices and hospitals, always by our daughter’s side. Throughout my journey, I was able to learn a lot about the medical profession, including the differences between good and not so good healthcare professionals. We were fortunate to meet a lot of excellent doctor’s, nurses, and support staff, however, we also had our fair share of medical professionals that were not so great. At times our journey was extremely frustrating because we had to depend on medical staff that was uncaring and
This charity programs have traditionally been built on three parts; reducing the financial barriers to treatment, support systems to soften the family stress that’s linked with transplantation or cancer treatment, and developed with the opening of the Kids Beating Cancer Pediatric Transplant Center. Kids Beating Cancer Pediatric is an exceptional facility providing treatment for children needing transplants to survive their disease. Kids Beating Cancer removes barriers to treatment for children with cancer, leukemia, and sickle cell. Parents seek their services in need of a marrow or stem cell transplant providing support for the families as they facing a challenging situation towards a cure. They also provides the pre-transplant testing
Hospitals are not the best places; no one wants to stay, but one was my favorite place for six months. People think of hospitals as some place to sit and wait for bad news. Brunswick hospital is the hospital I visited every day. It had plain white walls, red seats to sit in while waiting, and had a great staff. I was in sixth grade living life as any normal eleven year old. Life was a breeze. Then on February twenty-sixth, my whole world changed. My mother found out she had stage three Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. “Mom was going to die,” was the only thing running though my little scatter brain. She would not see my graduate or follow my dreams.
Back when I was not sure, I aimed to find out more about what healthcare means for people today by volunteering. It was through this at the Orlando Regional Medical Center that I began to understand. I witnessed firsthand the kindness and empathy medicine requires of its practitioners. Consoling and guiding patients were my primary responsibilities, along with restocking supplies, helping transfer patients, and guiding visitors to their loved ones. I learned to work with people recovering from surgery, terminal patients, and many others only wanting company; I listened to them, wished them a happy birthday, or simply sat with them while they told me about their lives, their struggles, or how they met their spouses. A human connection was essential.
This hospital is affiliated with Compassionate Care Hospice, which allowed me to meet Nancy. Nancy pleasantly confirmed consent for me to interview her over a span of two days. Nancy has been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. The first memories Nancy could recall was when she was four years old. She is the eldest of three sisters and she grew up on a farm in New Jersey. She remembers learning how to milk a cow, her father taught her. She grew up with a mother and a father. Her mother was strict but still a loving woman. Her father was the head of the household, the only male, and “he ran the show”. Her sisters were both younger, one is two years younger and the other is four years younger. Nancy’s grandmother died of lung cancer when she was ten years old, her grandmother was of great importance to her. Church was a huge part of her life, she grew up as a Roman Catholic. She has had the measles three times and the chicken pox. She never had any dangerous accidents or was ever in a dangerous situation. Nancy enjoyed being a girl and loved playing with her
Each of these individuals took time out of their schedules and consoled with my family. They had explained the treatment plan in detail, precautions, risks, and had answered all of our questions. At the age of thirteen I didn’t understand much of the details the doctors had explained. Although, I knew my father had cancer and he needed to be treated. I saw my father undergo a thirteen-hour surgery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, chemotherapy and radiation, and rehab. My father was strong enough and defeated cancer. This life experience has influenced me to become a physical therapist because I saw my father undergo physical therapy. By undergoing therapy sessions, he was able to walk on his own without a walker and speak more fluently. Seeing my dad defeat cancer for the second time, motivates me to work harder and help others going through such situations. I hope I have the opportunity to provide and care for patients and their families as the
Our scenario takes place in the cancer center of peace health hospital in spring field. As people know the cancer is the most horrible disease in the world. That is not because of cancer is often incurable but the fear of caner is usually more fatal than cancer itself. The peace health hospital is one place in Eugene to treat patient and encourage them to be optimistic, to feel that they are being cared for and listened to. Meanwhile the WVCI clinic as the biggest area of cancer treatment, their stuffs need to do a lot of work during the time they stay with cancer patients. Today, as an interviewer, I will now take you behind the scenes to let you know how these guys work.
During my second semester in the UW-Madison Nursing School, I had the opportunity to be placed at Hematology/Oncology –B6/6 at UW Health University Hospital for my clinical rotation. During that clinical rotation, I was able to interact with the people
Working as an oncology nurse has been a life changing experience. I have grown not only as a nurse, but also as a person. My eyes have been opened to the value of life, and not just life itself, but the precious thing that is a healthy life. I cannot count the number of patients from the beginning of my nursing career until now that have told me, “Well, I just didn’t think my symptoms were a big deal” or “The doctor told me I needed additional tests but it didn’t seem important at the time and I didn’t have any money”. The lack of patient education and provider follow-up in situations such as these is disheartening to observe. Experiences I have had with patients combined with their life stories have fueled my desire to become a family nurse practitioner. A healthy life is something that I want everyone to know.
As a young girl, I dreamed of growing up and becoming many different things. I wanted to be a princess, a journalist, and even a forensic pathologist. But during the summer of 2012, all of those dreams floated away and my life was forever changed. That summer, I got the wonderful opportunity to volunteer at Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham. I held several positions during my time there. I entertained children in the clinic waiting rooms and helped patients and their families navigate around the hospital. But my absolute favorite place to be was the oncology clinic. There, I met a young girl with leukemia who would come in for treatment during my volunteer shift. She was the happiest little human that I had ever come in contact with.
Hospitals are uncomfortable. You’re sick, you don’t always know what's going on and you in a foreign environment away from friends and family. Unless you make the hospital your family. I was born and diagnosed with multiple medical problems. One of my big diseases is Common Variable Immunodeficiency an immunodeficiency that 1 out of every 50,000 people are diagnosed with. 3 out of 4 of my brothers including myself were diagnosed with this disease. So going back to what I said earlier the hospital isn’t a foreign place for me it is my home I was with my family. However that doesn’t mean I wasn’t ever scared. I was, several times especially when I was young needles hurt and your body can do funny things. But through the scary and confusing times I was lucky to be blessed with a patient advocate or child life specialist someone to hold my hand through the scary times. To support me and my parents through the lonely times. Who gave us the best of times in the worst of situations. I benefitted from this community and I’d be more than happy to
As a granddaughter of a cancer survivor who was hospitalized after almost every treatment, a daughter of a man living with heart disease and who has had three heart attacks and an open heart surgery, and the sister of a boy who spent two months in the hospital after birth on a ventilator, St. David’s mission statement resonates its importance to me personally and professionally. My duties in the volunteer program entail not only what has been in written in the job’s description, but to serve, to the best of my ability, each and every patient or guest to make sure that they have an exceptional experience at St. David’s. Exceptional care of each and every patient or guest demands the use of excellent communication skills, and specialized care
On a warm April morning, a vase full of yellow tulips sat on the table next to my seven-year-old sister’s hospital bed. Across the colorful Phoenix Children’s Hospital room my mom and stepdad sat reading medical journals and any information they could find on Austyn’s new diagnosis, Type 1 Diabetes. My family and I were heartbroken, she was so young and did not deserve any of the problems she had to cope with. However, she did deserve the highest medical treatment and facilities we could reach. The doctors came in every day with smiles and presents for her, and with support and information for my parents.
In order to understand a patient and how to provide care for them, it is important to hear their life story and background. After meeting and hearing Red’s background, it is apparent to me that Red has many strengths to brag about. Red’s cognitive status is intact as evidenced by his sharp memory recall. He is also physically active as he would get up early in the morning, though a little stiff, to gather fresh eggs. He has close friends and remains socially active by having a weekly gathering at the VFW. He is also active in his church. Family members are important also in the care of the patient. Red’s son and family lives nearby who can provide him assistance if needed.