My practicum has begun. I am spending two days/week at the hospital. Right now I'm in the midst of orientation. This hospital has been added on to a number of times (what hospital hasn't been) and is incredibly confusing to navigate. Fortunately, all the staff knows that it's confusing and are more than willing to point people in the right direction, rather than rolling their eyes at yet another person who's lost. I also have to try to figure out which doors I can and can't go through. I'm allowed through more doors than the patients and visitors, but some doors are alarmed and I'm not allowed through those. Some of them I have to swipe my badge in order to get through - it's just all so confusing. And the elevators are no piece of cake either. There are two elevators that are for staff use and a code needs to be used to operate them. You have to go up one in order to come down another ??? Who thinks up these things? But it's all for security sake, I'm told. The chaplain warned me that if the elevator doors open on one of the floors I'm going to be looking straight into surgery, so be prepared for that (this is a secure staff only elevator).
One of the primary roles of the chaplain at this hospital is staff care - so much of what he does is walk up and down hallways, checking in with the staff. From there he visits patients as they are referred to him. He also responds to emergency calls anywhere in the hospital. Today I shadowed him in a CODE BLUE in the Critical Care Unit. The chaplain is part of the response team and is there to be with any family that may be present. It's absolutely amazing how these people work as a team. I also appreciate the respect that my supervising chaplain has at this hospital. Even though it's not a religiously affiliated hospital, I can tell that he has a great relationship with the staff. I've been meeting a lot of staff the last couple of days.
As I get comfortable at the hospital, I will be assigned two units to care for. I'll also shadow the chaplain on specific cases, such as ER cases. This may necessitate being called in the middle of the night from time to time.
It's going to be an amazing, and sometimes difficult, year of learning.
One of the primary roles of the chaplain at this hospital is staff care - so much of what he does is walk up and down hallways, checking in with the staff. From there he visits patients as they are referred to him. He also responds to emergency calls anywhere in the hospital. Today I shadowed him in a CODE BLUE in the Critical Care Unit. The chaplain is part of the response team and is there to be with any family that may be present. It's absolutely amazing how these people work as a team. I also appreciate the respect that my supervising chaplain has at this hospital. Even though it's not a religiously affiliated hospital, I can tell that he has a great relationship with the staff. I've been meeting a lot of staff the last couple of days.
As I get comfortable at the hospital, I will be assigned two units to care for. I'll also shadow the chaplain on specific cases, such as ER cases. This may necessitate being called in the middle of the night from time to time.
It's going to be an amazing, and sometimes difficult, year of learning.
4 comments:
Just reading that made me incredibly nervous...I can't imagine how overwhelming you must be. But excited too! What great experience!
Sounds like it will be an amazing and challenging experience! I think chaplains have a pretty cool job.
wow it sounds incredible and tough. Good luck, I think you will do great!
Snazzy new look for your blog! I wasn't going to say anything, but my eyes had a hard time with the white text on the black background. Love the crisp fall look!
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