Volunteering Service - Personal Statement Example

Volunteering Service The volunteering I did at Lake After Hours offered me good hands-on experience. My services here included aiding physician assistants in draining abscesses, suturing and sanitizing open wounds, or holding pediatric patients for examination. I also helped in bandaging burn victims, casting broken bones, immobilizing torn ligaments etc. In addition, I learned about different types of medications and shots, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, and steroids.

Further, I received orientation about when to refer patients to a specialist such as an orthopedic for major bone injuries or to the emergency room in emergency situations.While volunteering in the ER, Dr. Do and Dr. Anders taught me how to perform physical exams, order necessary labs/x-rays, analyze results, diagnose patients, and prescribe necessary medication. They showed me how to handle different types of patients, from drug users and mentally ill to trauma and cardiac arrest cases. I also did some shadowing in the neonate intensive care unit where I witnessed c-sections as well as natural births.

Here, I learned how to read neonate vitals and labs. My experience in ER enabled me to analyze results and evaluate the need for further testing and ordering it besides advising the increase or cessation of medication.In my current assignment in blood bank I work with a wide range of patients. With neonates, my duties vary from preparing syringes of blood, platelet, and plasma to testing cord blood for detecting hemolytic disease in newborns. I also do blood sample typing and cross matching with adults to ensure transfusion compatibility for surgery, obstetrical, oncology, sickle, and trauma cases.

Besides, I have learned how to inspect package tissues and bones for preparing the patients for surgeries. During trauma cases, I remain in constant interaction with nurses and physicians to test and bring necessary blood products timely to the emergency room. I received an honors award from LSU-HSC for having a 4.0 during my clinical rotation. Also, I was nominated for the President's Award at the Baton Rouge General Hospital. This award is given to employees who display exceptional qualities and work culture, and are, therefore, recommended by colleagues.

The nurses from the Birth Center nominated me for this award because of my diligent and professional services in managing an obstetrical patient, bleeding profusely. I kept up with constant orders, acting swiftly to meet the demand of the situation. My ability to anticipate the unit's needs and respond well, they felt, decreased the pressure on the unit.