“Never
worry about the numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the
person nearest you.” Mother Teresa
Description of
learning experiences in my clinical practice environment:
I completed 16 hours volunteering my expertise as a
registered nurse (RN) in the Free Medical and Virginia G. Piper Dental Clinics
(FMVPDC) offering nursing care for the working poor, the uninsured, and the
indigent populations surrounding Phoenix metropolitan area.
What was the best/worst/most challenging thing that happened this
semester?
The most
challenging experience in the FMVPDC happen during my first 4-hour shift in
which I triaged and cared for Mr. X, a 38 year-old Native American man who was
complaining of a fever, night sweats, weight loss, poor appetite, and a persistent
productive cough. He admitted to smoking 1 pack/day x 20 years, drinking 1 pint
of alcohol/day for 8 years, and being an IV drug user. He had been seen
previously in the clinic for ETOH abuse, tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and
dental care. His clinical presentation included being gaunt, having tremors, febrile,
hypotensive, hypoxic, tachycardic, and tachypneic. He was immediately referred to
the staff physician for evaluation. He was also placed in a negative pressure
isolation room and masked. I inserted an IV and gave him a fluid bolus. In reviewing
at his previous work-up, he was referred to the county health department for
Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDRTB) and being HIV positive. This patient also
received an antipyretic, an anxiolytic, and oxygen therapy. After he was stabilized
he was transported to the emergency department of a nearby hospital for further
evaluation and treatment.
On my third
4-hour shift in the clinic (1 month later), I encountered Mr. X in triage complaining
of pain in his right antecubital area which revealed a hard mass over the right
antecubital vein which was thrombosed and reddened. Once again, he was
evaluated and sent by ambulance for further evaluation at a nearby emergency
department.
Through dialogue
with the social worker and Indian Health Service, we found out the patient was
eligible for healthcare at the HIS hospital and eligible to receive public
assistance and additional health care coverage for TB and HIV with the state
and county agencies. The patient received long-term treatment with the Maricopa
County Health Department and Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Additionally, the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) interviewed this patient because his strain
of TB was unique. Furthermore, we were able to get Mr. X the treatment he
needed and protect the other vulnerable populations from the spread of MDRTB.
Examination
of my experiences:
What
did I accomplish?
I provided quality and effective care to an
underserved population (indigent) which stabilized and improved the care at
least one person received. I made the difference in people’s life, one person
at a time. I was able to positively intervene in healthcare situations to
affect outcomes. I provided a health care safety net to those without one. I
enhanced my community by using the expertise of nursing.
How did
this experience affect my interactions with others?
I was able to be part of a community of
caring individuals with similar goals who want to help the underserved and
vulnerable populations in our society. Working with the social workers, clinic
providers and nurses, and the others allowed me interact positively with
community partners such the United Way, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and
the Maricopa County Health Department.
What have I done
differently as an individual and as a professional to support and advocate for
some of the issues I encountered during your service learning experience?
Becoming a member of the Voice of the Poor (VOP) chapter in
Phoenix has given me a platform for advocacy concerning human dignity and
caring. The VOP works with state and federal agencies to provide a communal
network to keep the “safety net” intact through policy and legislation at the
municipal (local) level while being a base for issues related to poverty,
immigration, and social justice.
Articulate
learning of my experiences:
What
did I learn?
Human caring is central to nursing
interactions and is essential to optimizing health care delivery. In this
environment, one must 1.) clear the mind; 2.) desire to understand; 3.) affirm
the presence of the receiver; 4.) establish confidentiality; 5.) prepare to hear
anything; 6.) actively engage in and encourage dialogue; 7.) avoid assumptions;
8.) follow intuition; and 9.) never give up (Schwerin, 2004). These attributes
created an environment that was conducive to the clinic staff and the patients
that received care.
How
did I learn it?
I learned this through experience, the
clinic staff members, and the clinical manager. Additionally, Schwerin (2004)
states these tenets are the necessary building blocks of creating a caring
connection.
Why
does it matter?
Social justice— preserving of human
dignity, protecting the poor, promoting solidarity and human equality—requires us
to be kinder than necessary through the use of empathy, compassion, and
resilience through adversity. Employing the techniques of human caring
increases the interaction and responsiveness of the community to help each other
and preserve human dignity.
What
will I do in light of this?
Continue to serve my community and use my
expertise to ensure access to healthcare for the underserved and vulnerable
populations.
265
– 270.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great experience and that you made a difference. I think it is important to remember the words of Mother Theresa that opened this post, to help one person at a time. Helping one person at a time can lead to helping many people. I'm glad to hear that you will continue your work after completion of the program.
Michele