final Reflection

1) What were your goals? Did you meet these goals?
My goals was to have more knowledge about the functionment of hospitals. I wanted to have the ability to interact with the patients to become a better communicator. I wanted to learn about the typical challenges that doctors are facing. I also wanted to utilize my imagination to generate new ideas.
I didn't exactly learned much about how doctors interact with patients, but from my observations, I learned about many other things. The things that goes around hospitals. I also developed and practiced many skills such as interpersonal, communication, organization skills and many more that will help me in the future.

2) what are the most important things you've learned?
The most important things I learned is that hospitals are very serious places, especially when it comes to safety, infection control, isolation and the patient confidential. I learned a lot about why certain things are not allowed in hospitals. For example before you work in a hospital, you need to be examinated by a doctor and take the vaccines needed. You have to wear a uniform with your ID. Sandals are not allowed just in case of infection. I learned how Saint Vincent do mission with respect, intergrety, compassion and exellence. In the office I learned how to prepare the materials before I start the work so that everything will be neat and organized.

3) In what ways have you grown as a student / adult?
Since I started the internship I see myself into a whole different level. I mostly grew as an adult because I became more professional. I practiced the time management skills and I productively work for my accomplishments. I became more self-directed and I take control of my responsibilities.

4) What highlights of your internship experiences.
Working in a hospital was really a cool thing for me because I met divers people, including patients and mostly all sort of professionals who are involved in health care. I also learned about many things which I never thought of or expected.

5) Describe a memorable moment or experience.
My memorable moments was when we was having the volunteers awards and our last day at internship. At the volunteer awards we had a big party for all the volunteers and we been congraduated by a sort of awards. The last day we were leaving was a happy and also a sad day because we all were crying. Our mentor was so pleased abou our work and behavior. She gave us a benevolent card that we will always remember.

6 ) what challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
The challenges I faced was that the nurses didn't really assisted us on our services. I tried to have more of a assertive voice. In the patient transportation we didn't have much work to do because we could seat for an hour if we don't have patients to transport. So to solve these problems we try be be more familiar with the nurses and ask questions. We always asked them if they need help. We pushed our selfs to be more self-directed and be more assertive. We also talked to our mentor about the transportation department and she replaced us in her office.

7) what advices will you give to the future interns?
I advice I have for future interns is to be very observant and ask a lot of questions when they don't understand something because that's how they become self-directed. Always challenge their self and try their best even when something is hard to accomplish.

8) what will you miss about your internship?
I will miss everybody who I worked with because all the people I meet were so nice and they have a lot of sympathy. I will mostly miss my favorite patient. Since we came in the hospital he was so nice to us. He always welcomed us in his room with a happy smile on his face. He had a lot of funny stories that always used to make us laugh. Sometimes we played a french game with him and sometimes we play logics related to academic subjects. I will miss the way he always tried to convince us to take some of his food. I will also miss Nicky, Sister Patricia and Dan.

Mentor Interview

1) What is your full name?
My full name is Patricia Cusack.

2) Where are you from ( city, state, country )?
I am originally from the state of Pennsylvania in Pitchburk.

3 ) Where did you go to college? For how long? Do you plan to go back to school?
I actually went to three colleges. THe first college I went to was Dominican University in Columbus Ohio for three years.The second college I went to was Xavier University.The third college I went to was Columbia University in New York. I don't plan to go back to school because I have the highest degree there is to have.

4) What was your major in college and what kind of degree did you earn? Did you attend graduate scholl for an advanced degree? If yes, what degree and where?
My major was working in the education field. I earned my undergraduate degree in Dominican University in Ohio.
My first master degree in xavier University. My second master in Columbia University and my doctoral degree inColumbia University also.

5) Why did you choose your professionel field?
I chose this professionel field because I thought that I can make a difference in the field of education for professionels.

6) what got you involved in this field of work? What inspired you to do it?
I got involved in tis field of work because I wanted to make heath care stronger by bringing my education backround to health care.

7) Why did you choose this particular job at this particular company?
I chose this particular job at this paricular company because I wanted to work in a Catholic hospital. Saint Vincent is a Catholic hospital.

8) How long have you worked here?
I been woking at Saint Vincent's since 1995. In another word, I been working here for 14 years.

9) What is your job title?
My job title is Director of volunteer services.

10) What do your duties include? Or what kinds of work does your job involve?
The kinds of work that is involve in my job is administration, directing the entire department. I direct over hundreds of volunteers.

11) what are some of the challenges you have faced working here?
The challenges is that I don't have a big enough staff. I need more space for my department and my volunteers.

12) What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is have the opportunity to meet all different kind of people who are so generous and heling the patients.

13) What is something you would like to change about your job?
If I would change something I wish that I can have a full time record paper.

14) Did you worked somewhere else before this job? Where? For how long? How was that similar/ different?
In Columbia Ohio I was an assistant super attendent of schools. Over all the principals, I was in charge of them. The similarity is that I do administration now from what I was doing before. The difference is that before I was in charge of people who were employed, but now I deal with volunteers.