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Employeer-Service Learning Journal

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35 views4 pages

Employeer-Service Learning Journal

Uploaded by

api-534702185
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Service Learning Journal

Employer Volunteer Opportunity

August 6, 2021

Service Learning Journal

The department where I am completing my clinical practicum is the Moore’s Cancer

Center at UCSD. Because UCSD is an academic hospital, there are many other students in my

department and educational opportunities are frequent. Some of the other students include

residents, medical students, physics students, and radiation therapy students. Based on the

interview with the clinical coordinator, my clinical site offers volunteering opportunities based

on previous healthcare experiences of patient interaction, comfort level, as well as necessity of

volunteers in each unit. To be accepted, you must commit 100 volunteer hours with a minimum

of 8 hours a week, with each shift broken down into 4 hours. I have been volunteering at the

Hilcrest Alexander Burn Center over the weekends, every Saturday and Sunday for the past 5

weeks for an accumulation of 40 hours, and will continue to fulfill my volunteer hours both

during my break after the summer semester ends, as well as continuing into our final semester.

Due to my previous volunteering experience at the University Hospital in San Antonio and

management position at a car audio business, the volunteer coordinator thought my experience

would be best utilized in the burn unit. My past patient interaction, as well as customer service

ability to stay calm under pressure really helped me in my volunteering experience.

To be honest, a part of me was nervous initially going in. My previous hospital

experience consisted of mail sorting, cleaning of medical supplies, patient transport, and basic

patient screenings so I never had an in-depth interaction or care of critical patients. I can now say

this was absolutely the most humbling experience I have, and possibly will come across in my
medical career. The suffering I see was so overwhelming to see at first that I couldn’t help

myself, breaking down after my first shifts. More importantly, it made me want to give more. I

realized I was not as strong as I once believed and this experience has really put life into

perspective for me. It’s easy to feel good about what I do as a dosimetry student and give myself

a pat on the back as I create treatment plans for patients behind a desk. It’s another thing to see

and care for patients with 2nd to 4th degree burns, seeing the unimaginable pain patients go

through while their families stand aside helpless.

I have been caring for patients with burns stemming from house fires, car accident burns,

as well as on the job chemical burns. My duties consist of assisting the nurse, medical assistant,

and physical therapists with aiding of patient movement, removing and re-wrapping of protective

gauze while applying ointment, as well as emotional support. Beyond the physical aid, I wanted

to do more for the patients. I began conversating with the patients on a personal level in hopes to

take them away from the pain and suffering, even if it was for a moment. Patients without any

visitors, or those looking to overcome this obstacle and did not want to feel defined as a burn

patient, really appreciated that I took the time to speak to them, discussing topics of sports and

everyday life. There were also patients that were very angry at their situation and would scream

or curse while caring for them. Regardless, I could not be more appreciative to help them in this

time of need and never took it personal, as I can only imagine what they are going through. It

was tough to see body disfiguration, degraded skin with exposed muscle and bones, while taking

in the smell of burning skin. However, seeing patients inability to use the bathroom, make simple

movements, let alone breathe without severe pain, truly showed me what strength truly is. I am

not only blessed for my health, but to be in a position where I can help others. My admiration for

the patients, medical staff, and volunteers who do this without the need to satisfy a program
requirement is indescribable. I look forward to continuing this experience and giving a helping

hand. Below is a photo of Stacey, the nurse I worked most closely too and who I have learned to

respect so much. As you can see, she was not so happy to pose for this photo.

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