Unit 3 Assignment:
Learning Autobiography
Wojtowicz, Stephanie M.
Kaplan University
El206
For the early part of my adult life I was a stay at home parent who occasionally provided childcare for friends and family. When my youngest child went to kindergarten I obtained a part time job at Target working at the customer service desk. I was responsible for merchandise sales and returns, answering phones and addressing customers’ questions and concerns, cash register operation as well as money handling. The school year came to an end and I resigned from Target to spend the summer with my children.
The following Fall when the children returned to school I joined the PTA and I was responsible for planning and management of all school fundraisers…show more content… This position involved providing skilled nursing care to individuals with profound disabilities. Most residents at Hattie’s were on neurological meds, therefore, I learned a great deal of seizure meds and their mechanism of action. I obtained several new skills and sharpened existing ones. I was trained to perform peritoneal dialysis, care for tracheostomies, sterile technique for baclofen pump refill procedures, VNS magnets, tube feeds via pump and bolus, wound care, transcription of physician, delegation of tasks, and how to effectively communicate with staff, physicians, and patient families. My ability to think critically was improved greatly due to the level of nursing care these individuals required. Math was daily to calculate drip rates for tube feeds, converting milligrams to grams, kilograms to pounds, Celsius to Fahrenheit, and dosage calculations. For example: Desired Dose over Dosage on Hand Times Vehicle over One = Dosage to be Administered. I was at Hattie’s for 5 years and eventually the long drive, working holidays, weekends, and mandatory overtime began to wear on me both mentally and physically. A friend from nursing school informed me of a job available in the clinical research field with regular hours and no weekends. Research sounded like a way to avoid monotony and gain new job…show more content… Thorough knowledge of this protocol entailed understanding the new drug class as well as the existing vaccine approved by the FDA because subjects could be assigned to either drug. Understanding the mechanism of the drug as well as the drug class is studied as well. Coordinators must be certified in multiple protocol specific data management and Interactive Web Response Systems; thus, requiring advanced computer skills. Entering quality via the electronic case report forms keeps my critical thinking skills sharp. Queries within the system must be appropriately answered, and in order to do so, you must consider what additional questions will arise based on your
