Northside Hospital has been a partner in my education in that the organization has shaped my views of a career in the medical field. Unlike the traditional classroom setting, Northside has provided me with a unique learning experience in which I can actively shadow real-life medical professionals and understand the day-to-day functions of a hospital. Needless to say, the real thing is much different from Grey's Anatomy.
A goal I have met during my time at Northside is that I have expanded my knowledge on patient care. Specifically, I have observed what quality patient care looks like, such as helping patients to feel comfortable and assuring they are well-cared for. As an important aspect of a career in the healthcare, being familiar with ways to provide quality care to patients will aid me as I prepare for a career in medicine. My goals for a career in healthcare remain consistent, and if anything, I have been reassured that working in a hospital as a doctor is the path I want to take. Shadowing at Northside has enabled me to further develop my passion for medicine as well as rule out professions within the medical field that I am not interested in pursuing. As nursing is a demanding job with little to no break time, I mainly aid the nurses I shadow by running different errands and being an extra set of hands when needed. For example, I make trips to the supply closet when nurses are preoccupied with a patient and need something that is not on-hand. Occasionally, I also make runs to the pantry when a patient needs a snack or ice chips, so that the nurse can attend to the patient's medical needs in the meantime. Overall, the relationship between myself and the workers at Northside is mutually beneficial as I am able to gain both experience and knowledge, as well as help the nurses I work with, making sure they have everything they need and can focus on their patients' well-being.
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My essential question:
What quality of care can I anticipate to provide patients with given the current demanding working conditions of medical professionals? I selected this topic for my essential question primarily because it is a current issue in the medical field for a variety of medical professionals. The nurses I have worked with at my internship have expressed their frustration and described their exhaustion as they are often understaffed, given 4 patients to care for rather than 5 on many occasions. The negative effect of nurse understaffing brings to question the efficiency of nurses that are overworked, and their ability to provide the highest quality of care to patients. In addition, several nurses have conveyed that this issue is not solely in Northside Hospital but in hospitals nationwide. As the working conditions for these workers are unhealthy and unsafe for both the workers and patients, I have developed in interest in both how much this issue has progressed in other hospitals as while as learning about what steps are being taken to resolve this problem. Through researching this issue, I hope to learn more about how to balance a career in the medical field while simultaneously providing the highest quality of patient care. An issue such as this endangers both medical professionals and their patients therefore I am interested in discovering more about how to prevent exhaustion and malnourishment as a result of overworking. I am confident that the answer to my essential question will support the idea that change/improved working conditions is necessary to provide quality care to all patients. My question reflects a desire to find out more about my topic in that issues such as these can potentially effect me in the future when I am farther in my pursuit of a career in the medical field. Through my internship, I have learned the importance of serving patients in a quality manner and my topic reflects my commitment to patients' well-being. |
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