Personal Narrative: My Shadowing Experience At Ub Hospital

My nursing philosophy is influenced by ten years as a critical care nurse while caring for patients and their families during vulnerable and difficult points in their lives. In critical care, patients vary on the wellness-illness spectrum. A young trauma victim with no health history, now has a life altering diagnosis of spinal cord injury. A chronically ill patient requires dialysis and limb amputation due to complications from diabetes and hypertension. I try to assess each patient’s situation independently to decide the best approach during my care. Nurses can easily become focused on the mechanics of the Intensive Care Unit and forget a human is connected to the machines and medications.

Witnessing the patience, strength, and compassionate attributions that nurses convey within their care was remarkable. Having the opportunity to make a positive difference in the life of another human being was a very overwhelming and humbling experience for me. Therefore, these encounters set the foundation towards my pursuit of a nursing career.

I was able to see the hospital setting for the first time during this experience. This shadowing took place in Palmetto Health's Pediatric ICU. I shadowed Dr. Hubbird during college, and I gained more under his leadership then with any other doctor. He truly showed the passion of healthcare in his daily routine, and he challenged me to use critical thinking skills under pressure to help patients. I witnessed surgeries to get children breathing again in front of their grieving parents, and I knew at this moment that I wanted to make a difference and save lives. The humanitarian spirit was released in me during this experience, and I know that I want to do this work for the rest of my

Time spent at my mother’s bedside in the intensive care unit changed my perception of the nursing profession. I realized what unique value was integrated in comprehensive nursing care, which was built on excellence, compassion, and respect. I knew right then and there that nursing was a professional path which I would like to take. Changing my college major to nursing was not a difficult decision – I wanted to repay for all that courteous care my family received in the most vulnerable time of our lives.

The following essay is a reflective account on an event that I, a student nurse encountered whilst on my second clinical placement in my first year of study. The event took place in a Fountain Nursing Home in Granite City. I have chosen to give thought to the event described in this essay as I feel that it highlights the need for nurses to have effective communication skills especially when treating patients that are suffering with a mental illness. Upon arriving to the Nursing home for the second time on Thursday November 14,2013; assigned the same patient as before. On meeting my patient the first thing I noticed myself doing without even thinking about it was giving her a visual inspection. Before nursing school I never really looked at

I realized I wanted to be a nurse in 2010 when I was sitting by my grandfather as he was diagnosed with a stroke. As the physician explained to my family and I that the man we knew and loved would not be able to speak or walk again we were struck with heartache. The compassionate and holistic care that the nurses provided him solidified my determination to become a healer to patients who were not able to care for themselves. Today, I have the joy to work in an Emergency Department caring for acutely ill patients and their families, as they are vulnerable and grieving just as my family was. Nevertheless, I have come to realize that my journey will not end until I become more involved with patient care by earning a degree as a Nurse Practitioner. In this paper, I will discuss my educational and professional goals, short term and long-term goals, and how earning a Nurse

Today I shadowed a registered nurse. I saw a variety of appointments. The first pt was in for a well child check up. The nurse recorded her vital signs and asked several safety concern questions about her lifestyle and home life. The pt also received a portion of the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine can cause fainting spells or an allergic reaction, so the pt had to wait 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine for observance purposes(S). Between each pt, the rooms were cleaned and a new sheet of paper was stretched out over the bed(IC). The next pt was a 6-week-old baby who had been hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV(D) is a common and very contagious virus that affects the respiratory tract. RSV in babies can lead to serious problems like breathing rapidly and cause the lips and fingernails to become cyanotic(MT1). The last pt has a history of repeated ear infections. The doctor suggested a

Having to deal with difficult situations and people is a daily task in the nursing profession. As Crystal said, never let them know that you are affected (Noah). Hospitalization is not normally a shining moment in someone’s life, it is normally a low point. Because of this, having compassion for the people that you are serving on a daily basis is a key factor in being successful as a nurse, as well as being rewarded from the people that you are treating.

Realizing that in many cases the nurse is the patient’s advocate, I will plan to also attain a bachelor’s degree in social work. This will allow me to be the nurse understands and addresses a patient’s physical needs, but their human needs. Ensuring a patients and family members receive compassion, empathy and total respect they deserve. It is usually not a pleasant time during these situations, and the experience is something that remains with the person for a long time after the actual event. The doctors involved, and especially the nurses, who have a lot of contact with the patient, are remembered by the patient. I remember my advocates during my times of trial. If I can be that for someone else, then I will have attained my life calling.

I was at Hamad General Hospital shadowing medical professionals of different specialties to get an overall idea of what the medical career was like, I was at ED (Emergency Department) when suddenly and with no previous warning “Cardiac Arrest !,” yelled the nurse, in moments emergency specialists were standing above the 16 year old male patient head sorting out CPR, AED etc..; first shock was delivered, the second and third followed, but the teenager didn’t even blink, he lay lifelessly, few more attempts and the white blanket was pulled over him; I couldn’t believe my eyes, I had witnessed an in-hospital death for the first time; trembling and shaking, I walked out of Bay-1, with a completely new meaning of medicine.

On the 27th of January, I had the pleasure of Job Shadowing Billie-Jo Deal at the ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation) Region Five Office in La Grande. ODOT is responsible for the construction, improvement, maintenance, and safe operation of Oregon’s transportation system. Billie’s official job title is a Region Five Traffic Safety Coordinator and is the only one working as a Coordinator in all of Eastern Oregon. On a normal day, she is typically working on writing grants, coordinating safety and enforcement programs, or giving presentations to schools and workplaces all across Eastern Oregon. I specifically chose Billie for my Job Shadow not only because I already knew her, but I have always been curious about what her job is like. I

As a Magnet designated organization, Vanderbilt will provide me with the opportunity to make the safe transition from a novice to competent nurse. In behalf of VUMC’s appreciation for nurses as critical members of the health care team, I will be able to achieve each of my goals to learn and grow while sharing Vanderbilt’s philosophy of caring for others. Ideally, my wish is to begin my practices in critical care. My experience as a student extern on the intensive care unit solidified this decision as I was intrigued by the complexity of each patient, individualization of care, and the need to balance efficiency and competent care with genuine compassion. In addition to the persistence, teamwork, and time-management skills I have developed as a student-athlete, I believe that my comforting presence and the empathy I hold with patients and families will be most advanced within critical

For my shadowing day I shadowed Mr. Jay, who works for Big Red Rooster company, however I spent the majority of my time with three of his coworkers. The first part of my day I spent with Mason Miller, a graphic designer, then to Sarah Mape, and environmental designer, and I ended with Brady Schneider, an architect. From talking to the three of them I learned that there is really no typical day at work. Any problem could come up at any moment and one should be ready to tackle the task immediately, however most days are not like that. When work is not time threatening or difficult, day can be more relaxed and chill. The backgrounds from those who work there varied. The designers found themselves in more artistic classes when they were given

The profession of nursing tends to be seen as a career that only consists of taking vital signs and “following the doctor’s orders”. When in fact, nursing is a multifaceted occupation which consists of nurses being a direct care taker, advocator, educator, and much more. The movie, The American Nurse: Healing America, follows 5 excellent nurses who specialize in different areas of nursing. Yet they all have a story to tell as to why they chose to be a nurse, and how they want to make an impact on the health of their patients in a holistic approach. This movie shows the hearts of millions of nurses around the country. The nurses in the movie not only worked in the hospital, but cared for the incarcerated, patients in nursing homes, hospice patients,

During my clinical experience, I encountered an unforgettable situation which holds significance to me as a nursing student. My patient had an intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as dementia. As a result of her conditions, she was a two- person assist. While researching my patient’s health conditions the night before clinical, I became concerned about how I was going to take care of my patient due to the anticipated immobility. When I first met my patient, I began to feel apprehensive because I realized that it was a patient who I had seen on the unit two weeks ago. This patient was groaning and crying at night, disturbing other patients who were trying to sleep. Due to her restlessness, the nurses moved the patient to the nursing station every night and then moved her back into her room in the morning. Looking at