Upon beginning the Critical Care Patient Experience Internship, I had an inkling that this experience would be transformational, and I was right. I have always desired to enter the medical field, but being completely immersed in the fast paced, intense, innovative, life-changing environment that is the SICU/MICU, has pushed me to want to pursue this career path even more, awaiting the day I can dedicate my profession to helping patients and their families. This internship position allowed me to act as a liaison between patients, patient families, and the hospital care team, assuring the highest standard of care and expectations were achieved, as well as thorough, effective and timely communication among all parties. Through continuous rounding of the units, I aimed to provide connections with numerous OSUMC services, address any multitude of concerns that could arise, and deliver vital non-clinical information to patients, families, and visitors. Throughout this experience, my problem-solving skills were refined by responding to various challenges such as using my judgment to allocate resources and addressing highly emotional situations.
As a student in the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, I have been exposed to the importance of the “art of medicine,” and its impacts on both emotional and physical health. As a Patient Experience intern, I am able to apply these lessons to real-life scenarios and witness the effects of the art of medicine. Using and enhancing both my interpersonal and empathetic skills are crucial to becoming a reputable physician. Moreover, by actively and quickly responding, listening and engaging with the requests of patients and their loved ones, these individuals can feel as if they are truly being heard. For example, physically escorting a family to the room of a patient who has been relocated in the hospital, rather than giving them verbal directions is much more comforting and stress free. Also, following up with patient and family requests to make sure the proper measures were taken, to thereby resolve the past concern, is essential for delivering optimum care.
Furthermore, after I applied and accepted the internship position, I was scheduling classes for the Spring semester. I decided to enroll in 4189, the Health Sciences Internship Credit, because it contributed as an elective credit for my Health Sciences degree but also would allow for a platform to reflect and discuss with other students about the Critical Care internship. This course proved to be worthwhile, allowing me to think back on my completed shifts and overarching career goals, placing a great deal into perspective. I was able to reflect on the challenges faced and brainstorm alternate ways to address similar issues if they would occur again. Also, I was able to think of a culmination of positives and negatives that resulted from a shift. A network of students and professionals was created through this process, as well as numerous friendships. The feedback and prompts generated from the professor were very useful and applicable to each week. Finally, this course provoked the establishment of learning objectives between the student and the student’s specified preceptor, fostering common ground and expectations associated with the position, allowing for hopeful success.
As a result of this position and course, I have gained valuable familiarity with the medical campus. It is humbling to have families invite me into their lives during such vulnerable times. I have grown to know the individuals working alongside me, including the other students in this course, as well as the patients and their families. I have grown as an aspiring health professional and a human being, and for that, I am truly grateful for this wonderful opportunity.
By: Amanda Micklo