Service Learning: Providence Hospital Everett Colby Campus

1.) Volunteer at Providence Medical Center Colby Campus: 4 hours a week for 5 weeks.
     Jayme Cornell: jayme.cornell@providence.org

2.) My reason for volunteering for Providence it to gain some exposure into this type of medical setting as well as getting an opportunity to network with people who will guide me in the right directions as I walk along a path into a Nursing Degree.

3.) For my service learning project, I chose to use my experience volunteering at Providence medical center in Everett. I volunteered at this hospital for a little over a month and it is was a great place.This was my first time volunteering for a hospital. I started off small by helping on the main floor as a patient and family ambassador. This position requires greeting patients and their families, escorting them to their desired destinations, help push patients to their desired destinations if wheel-chair bound and delivering flowers and gifts. One of my favorite responsibilities was delivering gifts. Hospitals are regarded as depressing environments. Delivering gifts and flowers are always a "happy" and positive experience. I no longer volunteer at this location because it became difficult to commute. I am currently looking for a location closer to home.

4.) This experience taught me that there are too many needs and too little help. Throughout the text, there were sections throughout the chapters called clinical notes and clinical cases. I have seen some of those cases at the hospital such as injuries and genetic conditions. Although my work did not directly correlate with "science," I was still in a facility that contained laboratories where it is conducted.

5.) Upon my experience at the hospital, 4 questions were raised on my behalf.

• How are nursing responsibilities different between say a nursing home and a hospital?
• Many, many patients apply for charity and other forms of discounts on their medical bills. How then does a hospital manage to stay on its foundation with so many people applying for financial help? And exactly what sources supply this type of establishment with the funds to do so?
• What exactly makes lab materials so expensive? Is it a mix of the expensive materials used with the time and effort put forth? Or are patients being deceived by overpriced medical care?
• How can rural areas gain quicker/ nearer access to medical care?