SURGICAL CHECKOUT VOLUNTEER
Animal Trustees of Austin; Austin, TX, May 2010 - February 2016
Volunteer Coordinator: Laura Kay
Animal Trustees of Austin is a community based organization that provides low cost or free veterinary care to the community. When volunteering for Animal Trustees of Austin my responsibilities included educating pet owners on post operative care for their pets, distributing medication to pet owners and teaching them how to administer it. I also communicated any doctor or technician notes to the pet owner and was responsible for serving as a liaison between practitioners and pet owners. Additionally, I provided information to answer any questions regarding post surgical care or treatment options and trained new volunteers, processed payments and performed basic clerical duties.
SAN ANTONIO MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER VOLUNTEER
San Antonio Military Medical Center, July 2012 – August 2012
Points of Contact: Captain Cynthia Anderson, Colonel Sheri Howell and Lieutenant Colonel Mittelsteadt
As a nurse shadow at the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), formerly Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), I shadowed preceptors in the following:
Burn ICU/Institute of Surgical Research (44 hours)
In the Burn ICU, I participated in training with the 14th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) pre-deployer nurses in the following areas: general burn care, burn physical therapy and military deployment specific applications and shadowed Burn ICU (BICU) nurses for three shifts to learn many of the skills necessary for treating burn and trauma victims. I also attended an orientation detailing the roles and duties of the Burn Flight Team and met with members of the Institute of Surgical Research (ISR) Nurse Research Cell regarding current studies affecting future nursing practices.
Medical/Surgical Floor (12 hours)
This experience provided me exposure to a multitude of nursing procedures such as rounding with the previous shift’s nurses and performing change of shift reports; rounding with the interdisciplinary team to discuss and plan patient care, performing change of shift patient assessments and monitoring patient health status throughout the shift in addition to performing pain assessments and reassessments post interventions; administration of IV, IM, sub cutaneous, PCA pump and PO medication administration, specimen collection, patient charting and preparing and revising care plans. These skills were also reinforced in the ED and Burn ICU.
Trauma Level 1 Rotation in Emergency Department (24 hours)
In addition to the skills acquired in Med/Surg, my ED/Trauma rotation taught me how the team receives flown-in critical trauma patients and quickly evaluates and prepare patients for transport to the OR, respond to codes and assess and treat high acuity patients.
SMILES ON WHEELS VOLUNTEER
Texas Dental Association; September 2011, August 2012
Volunteer Coordinator: Melinda Biggs
As a nurse volunteer, I was part of a 3 member team responsible for screening all dental patients prior to treatment, according to predetermined guidelines assessing the patients’ health history, as well as attaining patients’ vital signs and blood glucose levels.
As a community volunteer, I assisted with community outreach events to provide free dental care for low income and indigent residents in under-served areas. At the event in Orange, TX, I directed patients to the appropriate treatment areas as per their chart requirements. This streamlined the patient treatment process so patients could receive the care and treatment they needed in a timely and organized manner.
BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER ASSISTER
Breast Cancer Resource Center; Austin, TX, July 2010 – January 2012
Volunteer Coordinator: Phyllis Rose
The Breast Cancer Resource Center is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to individuals affected by breast cancer by providing not only patient/family support by also informing them about available resources. At the Breast Cancer Resource Center I was responsible for providing caregiving support such as companionship and performing housekeeping duties.
HEART CATHETERIZATION LAB VOLUNTEER
St.Joseph's Hospital; Bryan, TX, July 2012 - August 2012
Volunteer Coordinator: Cara Charanza
At St. Joseph's heart catheterization lab I shadowed the cardiac team. I interacted with nurses, nurse anesthetists, cardiologists and technicians. I also observed procedures such as heart catheterizations, radio ablations, pacemaker and stent placements. I learned how a cardiac team works together to monitor and treat a patient in addition to learning the basics of angiogram interpretation.