ER Volunteer @ Round Rock Hospital

[Bo Shoi Ming]

The anatomy class I wanted at ACC was full so to keep me in "medicine" I volunteered at a local hospital.

I had the "choices" of driving the hospital van around to pick up handicapped folks, the front desk, the candy shop, the ICU or ER (Inside or outside). I really wanted to work at the nurses station but that was not an option.

I chose the ER inside and start Tue 9/15. I was selected and am supposed to get 2-3 days of specialized training.

Anyone else had this kind of experience?

When I finally graduate will this experience help me land my first job?

Sounds like a tough job market for new graduates right now. Tough job market for everyone.l

Thanks, Bo

[CyclicalEvents]

I'm assuming Round Rock Hospital = Round Rock Medical Center? If so we volunteer at the same place :) I'm in the ICU inside and it's been a very enlightening experience. I doubt it will increase your chances of getting a job (since you're very limited in what you are allowed to do and very little applies to actual nursing), but it does look good for nursing school and it lets you interact with a lot of different people. I've met some great nurses and I think it helped me to make certain that nursing is what I want to do.

Since school has started, I haven't been able to find time to volunteer at all, but hopefully next month will calm down a bit and I can go back.

Job markets are in constant flux and by the time you graduate the situation will have likely changed, so you shouldn't worry about it right now. Plus you're in Texas and our economy has fared quite a bit better than other areas of the country

Anywho, hope you enjoy volunteering. RRMC is an amazing hospital and everyone is incredibly nice. Maybe we'll bump into each other some time

[Bo Shoi Ming]

Right Round Rock Medical Center. Thanks for the encouraging words. I have orientation Tue and then start ASAP working mornings inside the ER. Not sure what that entails but it sounded a lot better than the gift shop.

My family physician said RRMC personnel were very friendly.

Any suggestions would sure be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bo, oldest nursing student at ACC

[Bo Shoi Ming]

Schedule got changed so I'll work inside the ER Monday and Wed afternoons. 4 hrs training Monday morning and then 4 hrs in the ER in the afternoon. I'll take my anatomy book along in case things get slow.

Met a woman today who is in level I at ACC and taking the classes on line. She was enthuastic about on line because it saves so much driving time.

Bo

[CyclicalEvents]

I've only been in the ER once when the House Supervisor worked her first day shift in 20+ years and and decided she would give me a tour of the entire hospital. Very interesting day.

It wasn't very busy when I was there, but still had a certain chaotic feel to it. You get actual training? What kind of stuff are you able to do?

For the ICU I was kind of thrown in and the nurses didn't really know what to do with me. I started with the most awful job in the world (making charts), but now I tend to stick to restocking medical supplies, answering call lights/phones, dropping off specimens, and whatever else the nurses can find for me to do.

[Bo Shoi Ming]

I'll know what they want me to do on Monday afternoon. Training in the morning.

One of the women from the volunteers took me through. She said things like sanitizing a bed and room after a patient leaves, changing sheets and blankets, making hospital corners, getting clothes for folks who clothes are bloody or soiled. Sizes 5# babies to 4x

One of the nurses was real enthuastic about me helping and said they'd teach me a lot.

Talked with the mother of an ER nurse last night and the nurse was getting tired of one guy regularly faking a seizure so he could get drugs. Said he was a superb actor. She stuffed an ammonia capsule up his nose and amazingly that brought him around instantaneously with no more seizures. HA.

Bo