I was able to observe operations and other medical procedures.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had the opportunity to observe other doctors as well.
Advice
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Patient Care Assistant Level 2
June - August 2019 • Houston, TX
What I liked
I was in the Float Pool, which is not commonly offered to employees with little experience so I got to travel a lot in the hospital. I learned a lot about different unit dynamics, and I was able to gain experience with various important clinical skills, namely work flow and time management.
What I wish was different
There were issues telling my preceptors they were training people, which led to awkward interactions and delayed starts to the day, but thankfully they were patient and flexible.
Advice
Always do your best to learn at all times, to listen and receive feedback without holding onto critiques as personal attacks. If there is a personal attack, reflect and check if the statement is warranted, if you did something. If you didn’t, it’s not you it’s them: let it go and focus on your growth and providing excellent care.
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Patient Care Assitant Level 1
June - August 2018 • Houston, TX
What I liked
I was working in the cardiothoracic transplant ICU, which gave me a chance to really use the nursing skills I'd been taught, things like moving patients, using bedpans, etc. I enjoyed the challenge of the environment and the ability to learn from the nurses as they went through their day. It was stressful, but I learned a lot.
What I wish was different
I was working on the unit during a time of extreme stress: the hospital's accreditation and funding to do heart transplants was being revoked. This led to sometimes less then positive attitudes from the staff, but again, it was a great opportunity to learn what it takes to manage so much stress. It also gave me the opportunity to learn more about the Joint Committee and what they do.
Advice
If you are a nursing student, try to get a job in health care in whatever capacity you can, whether that is volunteering or working in the hospital, assisted living, doctor's office, etc . Plan ahead: most of these jobs take a lot of time to find and then set up interviews for, and you will have competition. However, the experience gives you so much more confidence going into junior year, and it helps you realize the realities of what nursing is like as a day-to-day job and not as a 4-5 hour clinical. I highly recommend PCA or CNA jobs that allow you to interact with plenty of the health care team, but also let you see the people not always addressed in class. You will have more respect and understanding about who is supporting your work as a nurse if you work a job a level lower in authority. For anyone outside nursing but interested in medicine, my advice is the same, and it can be easily applied to any other school; the more you do something, the more comfortable you become. Do your best to expose yourself to new situations, and whenever possible, take a real shift and not a shortened one. Experience is the best teacher, and the lengthy summer vacation we have is an excellent opportunity to grow and explore the field of your interest.
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Student Nurse Extern
June - August 2018 • Houston, TX
What I liked
During this externship I was able to harness a lot of skills I have learned during my nursing program. I was also able to collaborate with other members of the health care team to make a plan of care for my patients.
