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| Alexandra Imbesi |
This summer I
was accepted to the Nursing Department of the Rusk Health Career Opportunity
Program (HCOP) at the Rusk Institute. It
is a four-week long summer internship opportunity given to students to gain
experience in the fast-paced hospital setting and network with
professionals. Based on students’ interests
and skills, the HCOP places qualified groups of interns into departments across
the hospital. Students can volunteer almost everywhere, from shadowing nurses to
the psychology research department. This summer’s program had interns in
medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nutrition, speech
pathology, pharmacy, horticultural therapy, recreational therapy, and social
work. Each department invites students to observe the work of professionals and
assist in certain tasks.
On a
typical day I shadowed a nurse from 8 to 3 and then attended interesting lectures
by members of the medical field. I worked with patients being rehabilitated
from devastating neurological injuries and diseases. During my stay I was able to see drastic
changes in many of the patients and watch many of them recover well enough to
get discharged. One particular patient that I followed throughout my internship
was a 37-year-old man who had recently been paralyzed in a car accident, in
which his two children passed away. When
he was initially admitted, the patient was completely dependent on others to
complete basic tasks. It was truly remarkable to see this quadriplegic patient
who, through intense dedication and hard work, re-learned how to use utensils
and dress himself. Even with his emotional and physical disabilities, the
patient managed to remain motivated and inspire everyone around him. It was extremely satisfying to see the pride
and excitement on his face as he made progress and accomplishments. The joy I felt as I watched this man recover
heightened my desire to become a nurse.
Twice
a week I attended team conferences with doctors, residents, physical and
occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, and nurses
that all work together to maximize patient care. The team met for discussion
and decision-making regarding patient care. These sessions help healthcare
professionals keep up with every patient’s history and progress. During the conferences I was encouraged to ask
questions and participate in discussion pertaining to patients' diagnoses and
care plans. These conferences were great
learning experiences; I was both surprised and impressed to see the interaction
and cooperation among the doctors, nurses and therapists.
One
unforgettable experience during my internship was observing an autopsy at the
Chief Medical Examiners Office. I
observed the medical examiner remove each organ and weigh, dissect and analyze
them. After the organs had been removed, the technician began drawing blood
samples from the heart and chest cavity. For me the most interesting organ was
the heart. Being able to examine the
coronary arteries, the aorta, and the chambers was an astonishing experience. It
was a fascinating moment seeing all the intricate arteries and chambers that
make the heart.
The
HCOP internship was an amazing experience.
Speaking with the nurses on my unit made me even more excited to start
nursing classes this fall. This
opportunity helped me realized that I am certain that I want to be a nurse in
order to help patients succeed in reaching the highest quality of life and
independence possible for them.
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