Running head: PRACTICUM REFLECTION 1

Practicum Reflection

Morgan Butler

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

NUR 4215P

Professor Sangha & Professor Vasel

November 15, 2017

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Practicum Reflection

For my practicum experience, I volunteered at a Remote Area Medical Clinic, otherwise

known as RAM. The services provided by this organization help countless people who may be in

need of medical treatment, but dont necessarily have the means to access medical screenings or

treatment. Their mission, as outlined on the RAM website, is as follows: To prevent pain and

alleviate suffering by providing free quality healthcare to those in need, (Remote Area Medical

Volunteer Corps, n.d.). The purpose of the RAM clinics is to provide quality medical care, at no

charge, to those living in underserved areas. Without the services that area provided through

these clinics, many people would not receive any medical care at all. The work that is completed

through these clinics is very important.

Noticing

I was able to volunteer at the RAM Clinic in Warsaw, VA. The areas surrounding

Warsaw are very rural, and there arent many options or promotion for health care. When I

arrived to the clinic site, an elementary school, I was overwhelmed at the amount of people

there... including patients and volunteers. I was placed in triage on the first day of the clinic, and

spent the entire day triaging patients as well as working with nursing students and pharmacy

students. Each patient that came to the clinic had the option to see medical and another specialty

- either dental or vision. While in triage, I met a lot of patients who had uncontrolled

hypertension and diabetes. Most patients that I worked with did not know what medications that

they took, why they took them, or what their medications were treating if they even took

them. Most patients also stated that they did not really receive any regular medical care.

I also saw a lot of families who were coming in to receive physicals and get dental care

for their children. As previously stated, without the RAM clinic, these patients would not have
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received any care. I was expecting to see situations like this, and I was not totally surprised by

the lack of health care knowledge by these patients. One patient stayed with me in triage for at

least 20 minutes, much longer than other patients that I had been checking in- because she didnt

understand her health conditions and had so many questions. I could really tell that this patient in

particular was trying to gain every bit of knowledge that she could and make the most of her

visit, as she had not seen a doctor in a couple of years. I was pleased to see this patient so eager

to try to understand her health so she could work on changes. On the second day of the clinic, I

worked to escort patients through the clinic, and assist with breakdown of the clinic once the

patient limit was met. I was surprised with how well all of the volunteers worked together; even

though we didnt really know each other everybody got into a flow to help facilitate treatment of

each patient who came in.

Interpreting

I have only ever worked in urgent care and emergency services, so it was not uncommon

for me to see patients with uncontrolled health conditions. I was expecting the same at the RAM

clinic, and I was correct. I have always been an advocate for helping patients realize what

resources that they have, and encouraging them to use them. At the RAM clinic, in addition to

the medical services being provided, there were also multiple other resources being offered -

including the following: insurance sign-up, HIV testing, WIC sign up, flu shots, medication

education, and medication disposals. These were all great resources to offer patients, and I will

continue to work with patients that I come into contact with to help them understand their

resources.

Some problems that I observed included patient lack of knowledge about their

medications, and language barriers. To solve these issues, we had pre-printed, common
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medication, charts to help patients find what medicines they had at home; or the pharmacy

students would call the patients pharmacy to find out what medicines the patients had filled. As

far as the language barriers, there were interpreters available who accompanied patients and/or

families through the entire clinic set-up. This made it much easier on the patients, as well as the

volunteer staff.

Responding

As previously stated, the area of the clinic that I attended was in a rural area. There was

not much development, of the land surrounding the area. I did not pass any hospitals or

medical offices nearby the clinic that I attended. In triaging patients, I learned that, as previously

stated, many of them had uncontrolled health issues - and did not have a working understanding

their health status. I feel that due to my previous experience, I was able to efficiently triage these

patients and gather the necessary information for their time at the RAM clinic. I feel that I was

able to actively listen to patients about their concerns and fears, so that I could make notations of

such on their paperwork. Referring back to the one patient that I spent more time with than

others - I was able to show her that I truly cared about her health and concerns, and make her

more comfortable with her visit at the RAM clinic. I feel that my previous clinical experience

assisted in assessing such a wide range of patients, as there is not really a patient group that I

have not previously dealt with. I consider my clinical knowledge to classify me as a jack of all

trades, and it came in handy with the wide range of patients that came to the RAM clinic.

Reflecting

This practicum experience has affected my academic as well as professional life because

it acted as sort of a gateway to medical volunteering for me. I had not previously volunteered at

anything to do with medical services, aside from working at public events for companies that I
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previously worked for. I was able to apply what Ive gained through professional practice as well

as academic learning to help each patient that I came into contact with at the RAM clinic. As far

as my personal life, I feel that I am more motivated to participate in other medical volunteer

activities in the future because of the experience that I gained through this practicum. Being able

to assist with this program was a very valuable learning experience in my nursing career.
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References

Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps. (n.d.). https://ramusa.org/about/