Describe your involvement with this organization.

I became involved as a Wexner Medical Center volunteer in Autumn of 2015. I accepted a position as a Hospital Ambassador, meaning that I escort patients and loved ones to their destinations. I have volunteered for two consecutive semesters, and plan to continue volunteering here throughout my time at OSU.

Describe what you gained as a result of this experience.

As a result of this experience, I gained a great knowledge of and appreciation for the Wexner Medical Center as a whole. The center is huge, ranging in specialties and the amount of people that it benefits every single second of every single day. I have gained an even greater excitement for my journey to become a Nurse Practitioner, and I have been able to truly help people along the way.

Describe positive changes to the community as a result of your service experience.

With the vast size of the Wexner Medical Center comes a lot of confusion for new and old patients and families. With my volunteer position, I have been able to decrease the stress on these individuals and help them to find their destinations more quickly, easily, and efficiently. I hope to have made a positive influence on multiple people every time I volunteered.

Describe a person with whom you interacted that made a strong impression on you, positive or negative.

I interacted with an older volunteer, Bettie, during every shift at the Wexner. Her love for the job was incredible to witness, and I felt inspired to volunteer throughout my entire life because of her generosity and willingness to give back. She always talked about how much of a blessing it was to be able to spend her time giving back, and I hope to achieve that mentality when I grow up.

Complete the following sentence: “Because of this service experience, I am__________”

Because of this service experience, I am determined, enlightened, and ready to put in the work to become a part of the incredible medical field.

Why did you select this individual to interview?

I decided to interview my cousin, Taylor, who is a nurse in Colorado. I decided to interview Taylor because of my interest in nursing in the future and the close relationship that we share.

Describe the major responsibilities associated with their current role.

As a nurse, she checks on all patients at once, and makes sure that all of their needs are met. Additionally, she is responsible for prioritizing patients and updating charts. As a medical professional, Taylor gives medicine and checks on the pain levels of the patients. She is also responsible for working among not only other nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other medical professionals to provide the best patient care possible.

Discuss how the person prepared for this role, and if they provided you with any advice as what you might be able to do to prepare for a similar career.

To prepare for this role, Taylor graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Xavier University. During her time there, she not only excelled in her associated classes, but participated in weekly clinicals at the hospitals.

Summarize any insights from the interview that might be helpful in your academic or career preparation.

Since the interview, I have enrolled in an STNA/PCA class for this summer so that I may work as a Personal Care Assistant in the fall, just like Taylor did her Junior and Senior years.