My Volunteer Service At Ochsner Hospital

The guiding principles of Catholic Social Teaching have the overarching, dominating theme of human dignity (Condit, 2016, p. 371). The focus is, that human beings were formed in God’s image and in return, humanities purpose is to follow in God’s footsteps and portray the same love and grace (Coleman, 2008) (Condit, 2016, p. 371). Consequently, this affects how human beings interact with each other, requiring commitment, to look after, encourage, maintain and promote each other (Coleman, 2008) (Herbert, 2016, p. 7). One way to apply, this Catholic Social Teaching of human dignity, is to understand the nurse’s relationship with the patient. Nurses need to approach the patient with respect and maintain the person’s privacy, acknowledging that they are a fellow human being, with their own personal characteristics and beliefs (Condit, 2016, p. 371) (Walsh & Kowanko, 2002, p. 143-144, 149).

Being a volunteer at the UM Charles Regional Medical Center is a great way to give back your community and in a small way help society to become a better place. However, before you can become a full volunteer there are certain requirements that you will need to fulfil.

An underlining principle that forms all nursing practice is respect for the inherent dignity, worth, unique attributes, and human rights of all individuals. (Jimenez-Lopez, Roales-Nieto, Seco, Preciado, 2016) Nurses are to always treat all patients with dignity. For example, closing doors before you start providing patient care. It’s also essential as a nurse to respect patients regardless of their background, race, culture, value system, or spiritual belief. (Jimenez-Lopez, et al., 2016)

dignity of the patient are essential components of caring. Caring in nursing is there to meet the

I learned that as a nurse it is my duty to always consider my own well being, along with my patient’s. I must keep a high moral character both in the workplace and in my personal life. I must continue to educate myself and keep myself up to date with all the latest nursing practices and research. I must subject myself to peer review and evaluation. I must never let my personal feelings about a patient’s lifestyle affect my care for them. When met with a tough choice that places me in an ethical crisis I must keep a good head on my shoulders and always have my patient’s best interests in mind. If I feel that a situation at work is in direct conflict with my personal values or my oath to be an ethical nurse I must go through the proper channels to work through the problem.

A basic part of modern age humanity is dignity. It is self-imposed pride that is susceptible to damage through the verbal and physical actions of others. Hospital and clinical settings can leave a client’s dignity vulnerable. It is where people, now clients, are weak and in some cases unable to function like they once did. This can wound their dignity, but it is the duty of nurses to preserve it. Through respect, support, and by relieving pain and suffering, nurses work to preserve the dignity of their clients. Likewise, nurses are able to easily damage the dignity and integrity of their clients through inappropriate behaviour, a lack of respect, and being irresponsible while on the job. A passage published by a hearing tribunal from the College

I did my volunteer hours for Sprenger Hospice. Sprenger Hospice is a third generation family-owned and operated company. They have been an established company providing care throughout northeast Ohio for over fifty years. Sprenger Hospice Care is available in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Wayne counties. Sprenger Hospice’s home base office is located in Lorain, Ohio on Oberlin Avenue. My volunteer hours were spent in Massillon, at Roselane Nursing and Rehabilitation were they provide hospice care, comprehensive rehabilitation, senior housing, and home health services. The head of the hospice department at Roselane Nursing and Rehabilitation is Andrea Hess, she is a case manager and a registered nurse.

As healthcare providers, maintaining a patient’s confidentiality, human dignity and privacy is expected at all times. Nurses are faced with maintaining patient confidentiality on a daily basis. The Coded of Ethics for Nurses is the framework of nonnegotiable ethical standards and obligations that all nurses are to uphold. Nurses are to be accountable for their actions and are expected to advocate and strive to protect the rights, health and safety of patients (American Nurses Association, 2011).

It is important for me to continue to have respect for myself, my coworkers, but most of all, respect for my patients in my chosen profession. I must treat them with honestly and in turn, they will do the same. My patients must know that they can confide in me and count on me at all times. I will honor nonmaleficence and strive to beneficence my patients at all times. By doing this, I will remain accountable to myself, my patients, and to the code of

Human dignity is respect for an individual regardless of sex, race, or gender. This ethical principle promotes respect for life, freedom and privacy. A nurse can promote dignity by providing patient privacy during nursing care procedures, allowing independence, and upholding the cleanliness of the patient. For the nurse, human dignity does not only apply to patients but also to our peer and colleagues. The nursing student can promote human dignity by being respectful to his or her fellow classmates, faculty, and staff. They can also promote dignity by decreasing prejudice, judgment and competition among students (Shaw & Degazon, 2008).

Being involved in church my entire life has made the world hunger and economic poor situations to be brought to my attention several times. I had never really made an effort to do something about it besides the occasional gift basket we would send overseas. But then my friends at my church told me about a breadline in my area and how the experiences there have changed their outlook. This made me want to join and try it myself. I thought it was not only important for me to become a better person but, to help those in need.

Dignity is a core element of nursing care. In nurses' clinical practice, maintaining the dignity of patients is an important issue because a lack of dignity in care can affect the health and recovery of patients. To treat a patient with dignity is to treat them in a way that shows they are valued and important, in a way that is appropriate and respectful to the individual. A patient needs to feel safe and secure in the nurses care and should be made feel comfortable, in control and valued at all times.

I reluctantly took a step back as I stared at the commodious bleach white building towering above me. I have not been here for years and I instantly feel my stomach erupt in butterflies. Today was the first day of my volunteering program at the University of Florida. I stand outside in the clammy incalescence Florida weather dredging to go inside the enormous superstructure that reads HOSPITAL in big red letters. My first impulse is to turn around and whisk back home, but all I can hear is my mother’s stern voice saying “You need to this, this opportunity will look amazing on your college application.” I wiped my sweating hands on my dark blue jeans and with all my pugnacity I walked through the scratching automatic doors.

I chose to do an internship for my senior capstone project. I found an internship at Warren Memorial Hospital. It was a part the Healthcare Hospitality Career Advancement Program (HHCAP). I chose this as my project because I thought this would be a great first step into the medical field. My core question was, “what can I learn and experience by participating in an internship with Healthcare Hospitality Career Advancement Program (HHCAP)?” I was hoping to learn if I would like to work in a hospital environment and if the medical field is truly, where I want to study.

I think it’s essential to your profession to be aware of your attendance, to work well with your co-workers, to practice dressing appropriately for your job, and to be attentive to your patients; this can transmit or be viewed as achievements. I practice these qualities of values by having proper etiquettes, thinking oneself as efficient in care, by my body language, maintaining a well-ordered body appearance, and maintaining eye contact with whom I was speaking to. First impressions are important when caring for patients, talking with families and understanding how staff reacts to me. All these distinguishing characteristics speak dynamically about my abilities, ethics, proficiencies, and how compassionate you are. (Living Values, n.d.).