IntroductiontoInternship

Location:

St.JosephMercyOaklandHospital
JointCareCenter&OrthopedicUnit

44405WoodwardAvenue
Pontiac,Michigan48341

www.stjoesoakland.org

(248)8583000

Supervisor: BradleyNeideckRN,BSN
DirectorofNursingOrthopedic/RehabilitationServiceLine

(248)2946700

bradley.neideck@stjoeshealth.org

JobTitle: StudentIntern

TimePeriod: May4,2015June2,2015
18Days
83Hours

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Why?
TheprimaryreasonIwanttodoaninternshipatthehospitalisbecauseIwanttopursuea
careerinthehealthcarefield,probablynursing.Sincethesummerof2014,Istartedasa
workingasavolunteerforSt.Joesandwasplacedon7South,whichistheJointCareCenter
andOrthopedicunit.Overthecourseoftheyear,Ivereallycometoenjoytheunitandstaff.I
thoughtthiswouldbeaperfectopportunitytoforaninternshipbecauseofalreadyexisting
comfortintheunit.AsavolunteerIdontreallygettoseemuch,sothisinternshipwouldgive
metheopportunitytobeexposedthenursingpractices.

Goals
ThemainthingIwanttogetoutofthisinternshipistoexperiencetherealityofnursing
andtheworkingsofahospital.IamalltoowellfamiliarwithhowthesethingsworkonTV,but
thisclearlyisntatruedepiction.ByengaginginthisinternshipIamhopingtoseewhata
normaldayforanurseisreallylikeandwhattheytrulydo.Iwouldalsoliketogainexperience
wheninteractingwithpatientsandlearnwhatagoodbedsidemanneris.

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NarrativeReport:MyExperience
MyFirstDay
BeforeIstartedthisinternship,Iwasluckyenoughtohavealreadybeenastudent
volunteer.ThatwasprimarilythereasoninwhichIchosetodomyinternshipintheOrthopedic
Unit.Ialreadyhadastepuponthings:Irecognizedwhothenurseswere,Iunderstoodhowthe
unitoperated,andIhadthegistofhowthingsworked.Thatbeingso,Iwasratherlooking
forwardtomyinternshipbecauseIdidntneedtospendtimelearningtheropesoftheplace.On
myfirstday,IwasdefinitelynervousbecauseIwasntquitesurewhatwasgoingtobeexpected
ofme.Also,thenormalstaffwasntthere,includingmysupervisor.So,Ikindofhadtoshyly
askaroundandseeifIcouldwatchthenursesdowhatevertheydo.Alotofthetimetheywere
kindofconfusedastowhatIwasdoing,orwhyIwasthere,buttheycomplied!Ibelieve,that
day,IonlysawthenurseremoveanIVandadministerapneumoniavaccination.Inallhonesty,
theywerentthemostexcitingofthingstobeobserved.Atthatpoint,Iwasalittlenervousasto
whatthisinternshipwastruthfullygoingtoconsistof.Otherthanobserving,Icompletedmy
normalvolunteeringdutieswhereIfeltmorecomfortable.Allinall,itwaskindofamisleading
day,butstillgood!Fromthatpointonthough,ImadetherealizationthatIneedtobemore
proactivebyvocalizingwhyImhereandwhatIwanttodo.

Language
AsIsaid,Ialreadyhadbeenworkinginthehospitalsetting,soIrecognizedsomehealth
carelanguage.But,sinceIdidnthaveanactiveroleinpatientcare,Ineverreallyneededto

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knowany.Idefinitelylearnedalotoflanguageoverthecourseofthisinternship.Alotofthe
timeIhadheardaword,butnotnecessarilyknowwhatitmeant.Forexample,Ihadbeeninthe
ORwithanurseanesthetist(CRNA)andshekepttalkingaboutthepatientsentitleCO2.
WhenIaskedherwhatthatwas,itturnsoutitwasEndTidalCO2.AnotherpieceoflingoI
learnedwasThepatientisstatingat[97].Thisissimplyanotherwaytosayapatientspulse
oximetrypercentageis97%.Ialsolearnedabbreviations:DIBisDifficultyinBreathing.Ialso
learnedafewnewconditionsanddiseases.Prettycool!

Benefits
Therearemanybenefitsofthisjob.Ivelearnedhowtocommunicatewithbothpatients
andfellowstaffmembers.Thereisahugedifferencebetweenthetwo.Ivebeenexposedto
severalcasesandwhatitsactuallylikebeinganursenotaglamorizedversionillustratedon
TV.ThatswhatIthinkthebestbenefitofthisentireexperiencewas.

Challenges
ThebiggestchallengesIfacedduringthisinternshipwasthelevelofpatientcareIwas
allowedtoadminister.ObviouslyImallowedtobringpatientssnacksanddrinks(when
appropriate)butImnotreallyallowedtotouchthem.SinceIworkonanorthopedicsfloor,
everypatientisconsideredafallrisk,meaningtheyrequireassistancewhenmovingplaces
liketothebathroom,tobed,etc.Imtechnicallynotallowedtohelpthemmovebecauseofthis,
butthiswouldoftenirritatethenursesandaidsbecausemovingthepatientsisoftenanuisance.
SometimesIwouldhelpnursesthoughiftheyneededextrahelp.Anothersituationsimilartothis

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isapatienttransfermeaningfromonebedtoanother.Ifnecessary,Iwouldhelpwiththosetoo,
butIwasneverallowedtodoanythingonmyown,understandably.

StepsTakentobeanAsset
Mymainfocustobeanassetwastobehelpful,yetoutoftheway.OftenIwouldhelp
nursesbypassingthemsupplies,orgettingthingstheyneeded.Iwouldmakesurealltherooms
werestocked,alltheclosetswerestocked,andmakesurenothingwasneeded.Wheneverything
likethatwastakencareof,nurseswouldletmewatchwhattheydo,soIneededtobereadyto
helpiftheyrequiredit.IwouldalsotryandlearnhowtheflooroperatedbecauseIwasableto
coverfortheHeadUnitClerk(HUC).HereIwouldanswerthephone,directvisitors,answer
pages,transferphonecalls,etc.Ifoundthatthiswasprettyhelpfultostaff.Allinall,mymain
goalwastobeaccessibleandavailabletohelpout.

GuidanceandSupervision
AsImentionedbefore,Ihadpreviouslyworkedon7South,soIknewhoweverything
worked.Ididntreallyneedmuchguidanceinregardstooperationsbecauseofpastexperience.
However,IknewBradNeideckandotherstaffwasalwaysavailabletohelpmeifnecessary.

WishIHadKnown
TherereallyisntanythingIwishIhadknownbeforemyinternshipstarted.Ihadapretty
goodideaofwhatitwasgoingtobelike,sothatswhyIchoseit.However,ifIhadtopick
something,Iwouldhaveliketohaveknownthatnotmuchactionwouldbetakingplace.
Orthopedicsisntreallyaplacewhereemergencieshappen,whichIlovetosee.Therewasa
RapidResponseTeam(RRT)calledforapatientoneday,butotherwise,nothingelse.
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Training
TherereallywasntmuchtrainingIcompleted,althoughtherewereseveralinstances
wherethestafftaughtmehowtodothings.Forexample,Ilearnedhowtomovepatients.Iwas
alsotrainedtocoverHUC,asImentionedearlier.Lastly,IlearnedhowtouseGetWell
Network,apatienteducationdevice.Iwouldassistpatientsinusingthistechnology.

Expectations
Iwouldsaythatmyexpectationsweremetatanetscoreof100%.IsaythatbecauseI
didntgettodothingsthatIplannedon,yetIgainedthingsIdidntthinkIwould.Iwasreally
hopingformoreemergencysituationsandintensenursingexperiences.LikeIsaid,thereisnt
toomuchthathappensonanorthopedicfloor.ButIdefinitelybuiltrelationshipswiththenurses,
andIdidnotthinkthatwouldhappen.Itwasapleasantsurprise.

StandardDay
Forthemostpart,eachdayhadthesamestructure,butwhatIdidwasdifferent.Iwould
arriveby12:00,andgetsituated.Iwouldchangeclothingintomyuniform(khakipantsand
collaredshirt),getmyworkphone,andreadthebookingboardtoseewhatwasallhappeningon
thefloor.Afterthat,Iwouldgoeachofthenurses,andtheywouldgivemereportjustasthey
wouldtoanyothernurse.Reportisbasicallywhothepatientis,whatiscurrentlyhappening,
andwhatistobeexpectedofthem.Afterthat,Iwouldwanderaroundaskingwhoneededhelp.
Atabout1:00oclock,theHUCwouldgoonlunch,soIwouldcoverforthem.Nurseswere
prettygoodabouttextingmewhentheyreabouttodosomething,sothatwayIknewtogoand
watch.Otherthanthat,thatsaboutit.Itreallydependsontheday.
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ImpactonFutureCareer
Beforestartingthisinternship,Iwasquitesetonbecominganurse.Iwasabitnervous
thatthisinternshipwoulddetermeawayfromthat.Thisdidnotoccur,thankfully.Workingwith
thenursesonmyfloor,andwatchingwhattheydoeverydayjustmademewanttobecomea
nurseevenmore.Itsdefinitelyapieceofmotivationforthenextfewyears.

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Technology
Beingahighschoolstudent,Ireallycantdotoomuchthetechnologyinthehospital.
TheonlypieceoftechnologyIwasabletouseandmanipulate,otherthanstandardcomputer
operations,wasmyVoaltephone,whichisanapplicationonaniPhonethatisusedto
communicatewiththehospital.Itsprettystandard.
AnotherpieceoftechnologythatIthoughtwasfascinatingwastheSoteraViSiMobile
patientmonitoringsystem.Thistechnologyconstantlyobserves,records,andmonitorsa
patientsvitalsigns.Vitalsignsincludebloodpressure,heartrate,temperature,pulseoximetry,
andrespirationrate.Italsocantellthepositioninwhichthepatientisstanding,sitting,laying
downetc.Itmaynotseemthatgroundbreaking,butitis.Anursewillonlyhavetomanually
checkapatientsvitalswhentheyareadmittedtotheflooronlyonce!Fromthatpointon,
nurses,orotherhospitalstaff,havetheabilitytocheckacomputerscreenlocatedanywherein
thehospitalandviewthepatientsvitals.Thissavesalotoftimefornurses/aids,aswellas
increasestheoverallsatisfactionforpatientsbecausetheyarenolongerbeinginterruptedtobe
checkedon.
TheactualcomputersystemthattheViSimobileisconnectedtokeepstrackofthe
patientsvitalsandmonitorsthemautonomously.Itkeepsthetrendsofdifferentvitals,andalerts
thenursewhensomethingisntquiteright.Therearealsoparametersinwhicheachvitalmustsit
in,otherwiseitwillsetoffanalarm.Forexample,pulseoximetrymustbebetween85%100%.
Similarly,respirationratesmustbebetween5and35.Analarmwentoffonapatientbecause
theirpulseoxwas72%andrespirationwas44.Thisisntgood.Iwentintheroomtoseewhat

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washappening,andthepatientwashavinganasthmaattack.Sincethecomputercaughtthis
irregularity,themedicalstaffwasabletotreatthepatient.Withoutthisconstantmonitoring,
situationswouldntbeasquicklynoticedorrespondedto.TheSoteraViSiMobile,Ipredict,will
bethefutureofhealthcare.Itisclearhowmanyadvantagestheyhaveandhoweasilythatcan
savealife.

ViSiMobile

MonitoringStation

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Highlights
Below is a list of the different things I was able to see, do, or assist with
during my internship.

CoveredforHeadUnitClerk(HUC)
RotatedicepacksinJointCareCenter(JCC)
Boostedapatient
SoteraViSiMobilecalibration
Preparedsurgicalkits
Broughtspecimenstolab
Answeredpatientscalllights
Bladderscanner
Malestraightcatheterization
Woundmarker
RRTResponse
Broughtcrashcart,EKG,othersupplies
Gotaphoneandlogininformation
Broughtbedsdowntosurgeryforcases
4Eflooded,receivedthosepatients
Learnedappropriateisolationguidelines
Fecalmanagementsystem
Tooktemperature
Transferanddischargepatients
MonitoredSoterapatients
Visitedotherpartsofhospital(4Goncology)
Huddle
Drewblood
AttemptedIVs
NasogastricTube
PatientdetoxingaskedCIWAQuestions
Surgery:
Lefttotalkneereplacement
Righttotalkneereplacement
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Laminectomy
Thymectomy
Thoracotomy
CesareanSection

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InternshipPictures
My desk. Everyday I would come here and
drop my stuff off. When I was doing paper
work or other small things, this is where I
would sit. Just to the left of here is the Head
UnitClerk.

Middle nurses station. There are 3 placed

around the floor. Here, staff would chart, do
paperwork, monitor patients, make phone
calls,etc.

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Omnicells.Mostsuppliesandinstrumentsare
kepthere.

Crash Cart. There are 2 crash carts on the

floor. Kept inside are most emergency
instruments, tools, drugs, and equipment. In
the event of a medical emergency (code blue
or RRT), this cart is wheeled into the room
andusedasnecessary.

Patient room. This is what each patient room

lookslikeontheinside,justminusthebed.

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Patientroom.

Patientroom.

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Unfortunateselfieof myself.Primarilyused
to show my scrubsandgearI wore duringmy
dayinsurgery.

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JonChristopherGiolitti
7941AcademyCtWestWaterford,Michigan48329

T:[248]7626244
E:joncgio@gmail.com

JG

June4,2015

ToWhomitMayConcern,

IwasexcitedtoseethatthereisanopeningforaPatientCareTechnicianinthehospital,andI
hopethatyouheavilyconsidermefortheposition.

Inthenearfuture,Iplanonattendingnursingschooltofurtherpursuemypassionformedicine,
butmostofall,caringforpeople.Asindicatedbyplansonfurthereducation,Iamavery
motivatedandhardworkingperson.Iworkedveryhardthroughmyhighschoolcareerandwill
continuetoworkwiththesamepassionanddrivethroughoutmyfuture.

Oneofthemostimportantaspectsofpatientcare,inmyopinion,isteamwork.Icomefroma
pastofstrongteamworkandknowhowtointeractsuccessfulinsuchanenvironment.
Communicationiskey,andIamverygoodatkeepinguponthat.Ivelearnedhowimportantit
istonotnecessarilylistentosomeone,buttogenuinelyhearthem.

Inthepast,Ihaveworkedasavolunteerandstudentinternon7Southinthehospital.Through
theseexperiences,Ihavegainedatremendousamountofknowledgeinregardstohowthe
hospitaloperatesasawhole.Thisopportunitysetsmeabovemostothercandidatesbecause
Imveryawareofhowthingswork.IhaveagoodideaofwhatbeingaPCTislike,andfeelasif
Imeettherequirementsexceptionally.Ihaveacaringandcompassionatepersonalitythatis
crucialfortakinggenuineandmeaningfulcareofapatient.

IamconfidentIhavewhatittakestobeaPatientCareTechnicianasindicatedbythejob
requirements,andmostimportantly,asaperson.

Ilookforwardtohearingfromyou!

JonGiolitti

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June3,2015

BradleyNeideckRN,BSN
St.JosephMercyOakland
44405WoodwardAvenue
Pontiac,Michigan,48341

DearBrad:

Icantthankyouandtherestofyourstaffenoughforhowwonderfulthisexperience
withyouhasbeenoverthepastmonth.Iveespeciallylearnedhowfastpacedandbusythings
canbe,soIreallyappreciatehowwillingyouweretoteachmeandgivemeaqualityexperience.
Ivelearnedatremendousamountovermyinternship,notablywhatittrulymeanstobeanurse.

Asavolunteer,IfiguredIknewmostofwhatnurseswouldbedoingduringmy
internship:theywouldchangedressings,passmedications,andhelppatientsmovefromone
placetoanother.Iwaspleasantlysurprised.Ivefoundthatnursesdoatremendousamountof
workinregardstopatientcare.Iabsolutelyhaveanewandprofoundrespectforthenursing
profession.Asopposedtothephysicalcareahealthprofessionaldelivers,Ihavefoundthe
amountofemotionalsupportthatisprovidedtobeincredible.Iknowthathavingagoodbedside
mannerisimportant,butIdidntrealizehowpowerfulofanimpactithasonapatient.There
wereseveralinstancesinwhichIobservedhowbeinggenuinelykindandpersonablewentalong
waywithapatientandultimatelyimprovedtheirstay.

Again,thankyousomuchforeverythingoverthecourseofmyinternship.Iappreciate
allthetime,knowledge,andopportunitiesyouwereabletogiveme!Inregardstoafuturein
healthcare,Istillfeelasifnursingismyplacetobe.Afterobservingandfollowingdifferent
nursesforamonth,Icandefinitelyseemyselfintheirshoesoneday.Thiswillbeanexperience
Iwillholdclosetomeforalifetime.

Sincerely,

JonGiolitti

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