4 answers
Ella
Student
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
327 views
How would you describe work in a hospital?
I'm interested in nursing, but locations near me require students to be 18 in order to intern, so I don't know have very much experience in the environment. Any advice would be really appreciated!
4 answers
Martin Schoen
APRN
158
Answers
Ocala, Florida
Updated
Martin’s Answer
Working in a hospital is like riding a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from exhilarating moments of commitment and busyness to periods of trying to maintain a positive demeanor for your patients. The pace can swing from frantic to mundane, but it's generally a steady hum of activity. There's a wealth of positivity to both receive and share, despite the usual work-related hiccups.
Like any job, there are days when things don't go as planned and it can feel disheartening. The volume of paperwork can sometimes feel like a mountain you have to climb. You might also encounter administrative staff who, while they may not fully understand your role, are more concerned about the financial aspect of things.
But then, there are those moments filled with laughter, instances where you brighten someone's day, and the personal fulfillment you get from making a positive impact on someone's life. The job can be monotonous at times, but it can also be chaotic. So, it's impossible to neatly box it into one category. It's a mixed bag, but it's a bag filled with rewarding experiences.
Like any job, there are days when things don't go as planned and it can feel disheartening. The volume of paperwork can sometimes feel like a mountain you have to climb. You might also encounter administrative staff who, while they may not fully understand your role, are more concerned about the financial aspect of things.
But then, there are those moments filled with laughter, instances where you brighten someone's day, and the personal fulfillment you get from making a positive impact on someone's life. The job can be monotonous at times, but it can also be chaotic. So, it's impossible to neatly box it into one category. It's a mixed bag, but it's a bag filled with rewarding experiences.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
4207
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Ella,
As a professional in the health restoration field, you're well-versed in what it takes to regain wellness. This often necessitates a shift in health-related habits. Typically, there's an agreement formed between the healthcare provider and the patient. This agreement usually states, "If you adhere to this care plan, here is the likely outcome based on your current health condition."
The patient is then presented with a range of health-related choices that could lead to various outcomes, from complete recovery to deterioration. The patient has the freedom to either follow the care plan or disregard it. This has been the way of things since time immemorial, ever since we consulted tribal witch doctors and medieval healers.
The care plan can either be adhered to or dismissed. Sometimes, it's overlooked due to certain obsessions or compulsions like smoking or alcohol consumption. We attempt to implement behavior-altering strategies on individuals. The prospect of worsening health or death are outcomes we aim to prevent.
Negative reinforcement seldom yields positive results. A physician once noted that diets fail more often than not, as most patients tend not to adhere to them and are dishonest about their habits. A healthcare provider can typically determine a patient's adherence to a plan through observable clinical indicators like weight. Are you skilled at persuasion? Can you influence their behavior? Your role is to present the facts as they are.
However, you can propose behavior change strategies. Subtle methods to make small but steady progress toward success. Like quitting smoking. Sometimes, it takes a drastic wake-up call like the potential loss of a limb. Such a dire consequence can instill fear in most people! It certainly did in me...
A medical doctor spoke to me in 1981 it was Lady Dr Phyllis Cilento. She was known as the medical mother in Queensland. Phyllis told me not to study for the postgraduate diploma in nutrition and dietetics. She told me to do the postgraduate diploma in orthomolecular nutrition from Sydney. It was a course on nutritional medicine for medical doctors and naturopaths. In fact I did three postgraduate diplomas in orthomolecular nutrition, dietetics, and public health.
This was like the cheat sheet for gamers! When drugs fail ... guess what!
Just a little idea here I'm comparing God's pharmacopeia to man's pharmacopeia and there is no comparison. Take the chemistry of vitamin E the organic chemists make dextro and laevo that's right handed and left handed molecules of vitamin E in the laboratory. It has about 30% the power of natural vitamin E and God makes eight isomers all in the dextro configuration alpha, beta, gamma, and delta tocols which are tocotrienols and tocopherols thank you.
May God bless you Ella!
JC.
As a professional in the health restoration field, you're well-versed in what it takes to regain wellness. This often necessitates a shift in health-related habits. Typically, there's an agreement formed between the healthcare provider and the patient. This agreement usually states, "If you adhere to this care plan, here is the likely outcome based on your current health condition."
The patient is then presented with a range of health-related choices that could lead to various outcomes, from complete recovery to deterioration. The patient has the freedom to either follow the care plan or disregard it. This has been the way of things since time immemorial, ever since we consulted tribal witch doctors and medieval healers.
The care plan can either be adhered to or dismissed. Sometimes, it's overlooked due to certain obsessions or compulsions like smoking or alcohol consumption. We attempt to implement behavior-altering strategies on individuals. The prospect of worsening health or death are outcomes we aim to prevent.
Negative reinforcement seldom yields positive results. A physician once noted that diets fail more often than not, as most patients tend not to adhere to them and are dishonest about their habits. A healthcare provider can typically determine a patient's adherence to a plan through observable clinical indicators like weight. Are you skilled at persuasion? Can you influence their behavior? Your role is to present the facts as they are.
However, you can propose behavior change strategies. Subtle methods to make small but steady progress toward success. Like quitting smoking. Sometimes, it takes a drastic wake-up call like the potential loss of a limb. Such a dire consequence can instill fear in most people! It certainly did in me...
A medical doctor spoke to me in 1981 it was Lady Dr Phyllis Cilento. She was known as the medical mother in Queensland. Phyllis told me not to study for the postgraduate diploma in nutrition and dietetics. She told me to do the postgraduate diploma in orthomolecular nutrition from Sydney. It was a course on nutritional medicine for medical doctors and naturopaths. In fact I did three postgraduate diplomas in orthomolecular nutrition, dietetics, and public health.
This was like the cheat sheet for gamers! When drugs fail ... guess what!
Just a little idea here I'm comparing God's pharmacopeia to man's pharmacopeia and there is no comparison. Take the chemistry of vitamin E the organic chemists make dextro and laevo that's right handed and left handed molecules of vitamin E in the laboratory. It has about 30% the power of natural vitamin E and God makes eight isomers all in the dextro configuration alpha, beta, gamma, and delta tocols which are tocotrienols and tocopherols thank you.
May God bless you Ella!
JC.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1208
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ella !
It is wonderful that you want to start learning about what it's like being in a medical setting. Thinking about an internship can mean a paid internship or non-paid internship during your college years, so that's probably why their guideline of 18 would be required. Instead of an internship, you could consider volunteer work or a part time job in a hospital near you. You would get the feel of a hospital if you volunteer or work there just as much as being an intern.
Your first step in seeking volunteer work or a part time job would be to visit each Human Resources Department of your nearby hospitals and ask about what positions they could offer you. You could consider dietary/food service, guest reception, Data Entry, Clerical, Unit Assistant, Patient Escort, Safety Care Attendant, Gift Shop sales, or any available volunteer work or employment. It will depend on your age. My first job was in a hospital when I was 16. You can also explore volunteer work in nursing homes as well. So it's not going to be impossible to ever work in a hospital, you will probably have to wait until you're 16.
I would describe working in a hospital in one word: busy. It's very focused and your every moment will be occupied and the time seems to go fast. I had very good management and supportive co-workers so that really helped a lot. You definitely learn about teamwork when you work in a hospital.
I have provided a list of the hospitals for you below. You may want to visit as many as you can and speak with the Human Resources Director or the assistant there. Keep trying and don't give up. You should also visit the nursing homes (link is below) for the same procedure. An opportunity is bound to come up. Do not worry if you are not of age yet, it will come about sooner then you think. You can also talk with your school nurse for some suggestions and leads to possible opportunities. The simplest way to take in the environment is to visit friends and family who are in the hospital or are in a nursing home. Whenever you hear that someone is in the hospital, visit them and you will get a chance to observe the place and the patient will love that you are visiting them. So, there are ways you can form an experience for this other than an Internship.
I hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
LIST OF HOSPITALS IN GREAT BARRINGTON https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=hospitals&find_loc=Great%20Barrington,%20MA%2001230
NURSING HOMES IN GREAT BARRINGTON https://www.senioradvisor.com/great-barrington-ma/nursing-home
It is wonderful that you want to start learning about what it's like being in a medical setting. Thinking about an internship can mean a paid internship or non-paid internship during your college years, so that's probably why their guideline of 18 would be required. Instead of an internship, you could consider volunteer work or a part time job in a hospital near you. You would get the feel of a hospital if you volunteer or work there just as much as being an intern.
Your first step in seeking volunteer work or a part time job would be to visit each Human Resources Department of your nearby hospitals and ask about what positions they could offer you. You could consider dietary/food service, guest reception, Data Entry, Clerical, Unit Assistant, Patient Escort, Safety Care Attendant, Gift Shop sales, or any available volunteer work or employment. It will depend on your age. My first job was in a hospital when I was 16. You can also explore volunteer work in nursing homes as well. So it's not going to be impossible to ever work in a hospital, you will probably have to wait until you're 16.
I would describe working in a hospital in one word: busy. It's very focused and your every moment will be occupied and the time seems to go fast. I had very good management and supportive co-workers so that really helped a lot. You definitely learn about teamwork when you work in a hospital.
I have provided a list of the hospitals for you below. You may want to visit as many as you can and speak with the Human Resources Director or the assistant there. Keep trying and don't give up. You should also visit the nursing homes (link is below) for the same procedure. An opportunity is bound to come up. Do not worry if you are not of age yet, it will come about sooner then you think. You can also talk with your school nurse for some suggestions and leads to possible opportunities. The simplest way to take in the environment is to visit friends and family who are in the hospital or are in a nursing home. Whenever you hear that someone is in the hospital, visit them and you will get a chance to observe the place and the patient will love that you are visiting them. So, there are ways you can form an experience for this other than an Internship.
I hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Maureen Komperda
Nurse Practitioner
15
Answers
Elmhurst, Illinois
Updated
Maureen’s Answer
Ella, it's great you are reaching out early in your life and career investigation. Many students, I've both studied and worked with, found nursing wasn't for them when they were already deep in the curriculum. As switching programs of study is difficult, especially with all the time and money invested in your future, you need to do what makes you happy.
I volunteered at a hospital from age 14-18 years of age (freshmen through senior years of high school). Covid-19 has made age restrictions different at every facility. You may want to investigate this further and check the CDC website for your state, you may be able to debate this position with the facility especially if they understand your eagerness to help. You should really get a "taste" of the nursing career before you jump into the curriculum.
I'm glad you are thinking about nursing. It's both a challenging and rewarding career. You will always have a job and you will never be bored!
Maureen
I volunteered at a hospital from age 14-18 years of age (freshmen through senior years of high school). Covid-19 has made age restrictions different at every facility. You may want to investigate this further and check the CDC website for your state, you may be able to debate this position with the facility especially if they understand your eagerness to help. You should really get a "taste" of the nursing career before you jump into the curriculum.
I'm glad you are thinking about nursing. It's both a challenging and rewarding career. You will always have a job and you will never be bored!
Maureen
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