Embedded Files
Riley's Hospital for Children located in downtown Indianapolis.
Purpose
My engaged learning experience was at Riley's Hospital for Children, and I worked as a clinical lab research assistant. This is a year long position through an internship at IUPUI called LHSI. I chose this experience because it would benefit me in my personal and professional life. This site specializes in pediatric endocrinology. My youngest sister has Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and I also have a family history of diabetes, so I thought it was an amazing opportunity to learn more about it. Professionally, I aspire to be a physician's assistant and research is a very essential part of the career.
I was required to attend patient visits, administer the labs and do diagnosis. Tasks that I engaged in were independent research, journaling, inspecting new technologies for management of diabetes, examining patient screenings, and local visits to regional conferences.
Prior Experience
Working as a clinical lab assistant intern, I realized there are a lot of connections between my internship and coursework. I chose this site due to my personal relation to diabetes. Most of my teen years, I spent learning how to help my family manage with my sister's diabetes. I've become so intrigued in it that I even have thought to specialize in the field of endocrinology as a physician's assistant. I see alot of connections between my engaged learning experience and personal life. At work, I read a lot of scientific journals for the newest updates on prevention and management for T1D, and examine new sensors and other technologies used to monitor one's glucose.
I connect that to my personal life and use them in my own household by exposing my family to new ideas that will work better for my younger sister. I have other family members and friends who also have diabetes that I tell them the methods I have learned.
This is a glucometer. A glucometer is used to measure the concentration of glucose in the blood. It is done by placing a small drop of blood on a test strip, which is then inserted to the meter. I used this on patients at each visit to record their blood glucose levels.
Community graphic
Community Connections
My internship site required me to work with a wide variety of people. People of all ages, professions, sexualities, races/ethnicities, and religions. I also worked with a verity of healthcare professionals: doctors, researchers, nurses, and social workers. The patients that I see are from different communities within Indiana and outside. I work on the pediatric endocrinology unit and I come across people from all over because Riley's endocrinology department is ranked one of the Top 20 in the nation. Everyday I met people I've never met and heard stories I've never heard.
I believe that these interactions have not influenced my beliefs but they have influenced my attitude and personality. I feel more optimistic about events going on in my own life due to the fact that I tend to not see people in their best state. Prior to this experience, I had moments of optimism but now it has strengthened and I look forward to what is to come.
New Skills/ Lessons
During one of my team's meetings, my supervisor and the roatating nurse were discussing a mishap that occurred during a patient's appointment that morning. Just like any other doctor's visit, you are asked questions to see if there are any new updates or concerns with your health; however, with clinical trial visits it is a tad different. Days before and during the clinical visits, patients are asked about any adverse events (ADs). An adverse event is an unintentional or symptom that ruins a desired clinical outcome. The appointment went smoothly until the end when the nurse noticed an unusual antibody in the patient's blood.
The patient did mention that they had an ear infection and took antibiotics weeks prior. They thought because it weeks before their appointment it would not be important to mention to the team. Even though it was weeks ago and something as small as an ear infection, it ruined the results and another appointment had to be made when it could have been avoided. From this experience, I learned that a lot of planning goes into research and that working with humans always has its errors. I plan to use this knowledge in the future by trying my best to be more clear with patients and of course understand that mistakes are apart of the research process!
Since I have a history of T1D in my family, I decided to get screened. The image above is my very own blood! I got blood drawn by our unit's phlebotomist, then my co-worker tested my blood for T1D antibodies. I waited no more than a week to receive my results. Cool, right?
Impact
Impact
This internship impacted me in a positive way. Being closely involved with the management of T1D within my own family led to a deeper understanding of the condition, its treatment options, and the importance of patient education and support. I also enhanced my empathy, advocacy, and support to T1D as a result of this impact. I do feel that I have left an impact on patients and their families, just as much as they did for me. I could relate to families of patients in the emotional and practical aspects of managing diabetes, which is something a lot of the staff I worked with could not. A lot of parents asked for tips that worked with my family and I was more than happy to share. I learned that living with T1D does not mean you can not enjoy food. People with T1D have a different way of taking in food and balancing their glucose levels. I learned that managing diabetes is a team effort between you, your family, and your healthcare professionals.
Career Connections
Career Connections
Thanks to this experience, I have made many connections with professionals in the field. However, I plan to shadow pediatric endocrinology PAs, and make my final decision on what I want to specialize in. The knowledge I have gained has benefited me with breaking into my career as a PA. PAs interact with patients, do scientific research, order and interpret labs, conduct patient examinations, collaborating in healthcare teams, and most importantly provide follow-up care. I have done a lot of the roles of a PA but at a beginner level. After this experience, I hope to find another similar internship. I have learned so much in the last 9 months, and I hope to learn even more. I can not wait for what is to come.
At the end of the year, LHSI interns have a showcase in which we present our work from the entire year. This is my poster. Titled: "Boosting Patient Participation in Type 1 Diabetes in Type 1 Diabetes Management; "A Hopeful Approach".
Summary
Summary
For my engaged learning experience, I was a clinical research lab intern at Riley's Hospital for Children for pediatric T1D. I attended patient visits, administered labs, read scientific journals and wrote papers, and worked with my department to diagnose various patients. My personal connection to diabetes made this experience more interesting and engaging. I worked with nurses, doctors, research coordinators, and lab scientists. I learned a lot of new information on T1D and met a lot of people, in which I hope to carry throughout my professional career. I want to pursue more similar experiences before going on to PA school.
Look at the resume I made through JLN's workshops that helped me get accepted into my LHSI internship site!
Page updated
Report abuse