Healthcare Career Aspirations

• Graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in August 2024 with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary health sciences and a minor in Public Health.
• Currently taking classes to prepare for a master's in nursing while also working part-time at Guidepost Montessori.
• Recently became a certified CNA and completed clinical training in a memory care unit.
• Drawn to caregiving roles through clinical internships, volunteer work, and teaching.
• Looking forward to working in a hospital setting while learning and growing and working toward becoming a nurse.

Why Work at RUSH?

• Drawn to RUSH because it is a renowned hospital.
• Julie, a family member, has worked at RUSH for years and shares positive experiences about the culture, teamwork, and staff support.
• Values RUSH's Magnet status, demonstrating its commitment to nursing excellence.
• Believes RUSH is the best place to learn, grow, and develop as she begins a healthcare career.

Clinical Experience

• Completed clinicals in the memory care unit at an assisted living facility during the evening shift.
• Assisted residents with hygiene, mobility, vitals, feeding, and emotional support.
• Learned how to stay patient, calm, and adaptable while providing safe, respectful care to residents with dementia.

Strengths

• Compassion, communication skills, confidence, and ability to stay calm under pressure.
• Experience in memory care and as an assistant teacher has built trust with anxious or confused individuals.
• Detail-oriented, especially regarding safety and patient comfort.
• Confident in abilities, which helps communicate clearly and provide supportive and effective care.

Weaknesses

• Overthinking or second-guessing self, especially when starting in clinical settings.
• Cares deeply about doing things correctly and used to worry about making mistakes.
• Through training and hands-on experience, has become more confident and knows to ask questions while trusting clinical judgement.

Career Goals

• Goal is to become a registered nurse and provide direct, compassionate care in a hospital setting.
• Currently taking prerequisite classes for a master's in nursing program.
• Working as a PCT is a key step to grow clinical skills, build confidence, and understand patient care.
• Aspires to work in an environment like RUSH that values education and professional development.

Motivation as a PCT

• Motivated by the opportunity to make a direct impact on someone's day by providing comfort, kindness, and trust.
• Drawn to caregiving roles and finds meaning in being present for people during vulnerable moments.

Challenges in Patient Care

• Managing emotional and physical demands, especially with patients who are confused, in pain, or emotionally distressed.
• Staying present and supportive and relying on the team when needed.
• Self-care is emotionally important as caring for patients.

Monitor Patient Conditions

• Being observant and taking time during care, especially with regular patients.
• Looking for both physical and behavioral changes.
• Comparing current observations to the patient's normal behavior.
• Reporting any changes to the nurse, even if small.
• Subtle changes can mean a lot.
• Trained to pay attention and never ignore instincts.

Experience in High-Stress Situation

• Assisting a resident with dysphagia during dinner in the memory care unit when he began coughing forcefully and appeared to be choking.
• Immediately recognized the signs, stayed calm, and stood next to him.
• Monitored his breathing closely and encouraged him to keep coughing without physically intervening.
• Reminded him to take small sips of water and sit upright, while signaling to the nurse in case it escalated.
• He eventually cleared the food on his own
• The incident was documented and reported.

Helping Confused Patient

• Worked with residents who became agitated in the evenings due to sundowning.
• Residents would become confused, pace, or wander into other rooms.
• Calmly redirected them to a quiet area and stayed with them until they settled down.
• Then notified the nurse and documented the behavior.

Helping Anxious/Aggressive Patient

• Assisting a resident with a gait belt transfer from wheelchair to toilet when she became anxious, nervous, and slightly aggressive.
• Stayed calm, maintained a firm but gentle hold with the gait belt, and used a soft, reassuring tone.
• Gave her a moment to settle, then slowly guided her back into her wheelchair for safety.
• Repoted the incident to the nurse, and reassessed her needs.
• She was switched to a sit-to-stand transfer to make things safer and more comfortable.

Addressing Refusal of Care

• Stay calm and respectful.
• Try to understand the reason behind the refusal, whether it's fear, discomfort, or confusion.
• Step back and re-explain the purpose and how it helps them and their options.
• Offer choices to help them feel more in control.
• Try again later or adjust how it's done.
• If they still refuse, will respect their decision, document it properly, and notify the nurse to reassess approach and ensure patient's needs are safely met.

Handling Non-Cooperative Patients

• Remind self that non-cooperation comes from fear, frustration, or not feeling well.
• Approach with patience, using a calm tone, and redirect or deescalate situation.
• One evening with a resident became upset during a transfer and started raising her voice and pulling away where the resident was paused and given gentle reassurance and a few moments to calm down.

Noticing Change

• Report it to the nurse immediately, provide details, and stay with the patient if necessary.
• Even small changes, like a drop in appetite or increased confusion, can be signs of something serious.

Prioritizing Care

• Assess which patients have the most urgent needs first, such as toileting, pain, or safety risks.
• Stay in communication with the team and stay organized with a mental or written checklist.

Ensuring Dignity

• Explain what is being done before starting, close doors and curtains for privacy, and speak respectfully.
• Involve the patient as much as they're able, to help maintain independence and comfort.

Hygiene

• Understand that hygiene-related tasks and handling bodily fluids are a normal part of patient care.
• Approach them professionally and with respect, always making sure the patient feels comfortable and dignified.
• Use proper PPE, follow infection control protocols, and treat the patient with respect and compassion throughout.

Healthcare Team Work

• Teamwork was essential during clinicals in the memory care unit.
• Worked closely with nurses and CNAs to ensure each resident's care plan was followed.
• Completed all tasks assigned, such as assisting with bathing, feeding, vital signs, and ensuring patient safety.
• Checked in to see if anything else needed to be done or if any of the other CNAs or nurses needed help.
• Stayed ready to support the team.
• Communication and collaboration are essential in delivering safe, efficient, and compassionate care
• Learnings apply to fast-paced hospital setting.

Communication

• Communicate in a direct, respectful, and timely way.
• Small changes in a patient's behavior or condition can be important.
• Always share observations, even if it seems minor.
• Ask questions when unsure or want to confirm the right approach.
• Proactive, honest, and always focused on what's best for the patient.

Disagreement

• Follow nurse's instructions unless believed to compromise patient safety.
• Respectfully ask for clarification, share concerns calmly, and ask questions to better understand the reasoning.
• Nurses have more training and oversight
• It's about advocating for the patient while also working as a team.
• Politely decline performing a task outside of job description/scope of practice and explain limitations.
• Would consult with supervisor if needed to ensure the patient receives the care they need safely and ethically.
• Document what was necessary and escalate the issue appropriately if it posed a serious safety concern.

Managing Stress

• Stay focused, take things one task at a time, and communicate with the team when help is needed.
• Remain calm which helps both patients and coworkers.

Above and Beyond

• Spent time with a resident in the memory care unit whose dementia had progressed to the point where she no longer spoke English, only Chinese.
• Used a translation app to understand her and communicate with her while providing care.
• Approached her with extra patience and respect.
• The patient began speaking some English, remembering that she was a student.
• Referred to a rose that she had given her.
• The time and effort put into building trust made an impact.
• Connecting with her personally helped her feel safe and seen, which is what patient care is really all about.