The HELP program helped me understand the true importance of preventing delirium and what to look for in a patient with suspected delirium. Chesley was my mentor throughout this project, and she explained to me all the delirium-prevention interventions and how they help the patients at risk.
The experience was significant to me. I know some students expressed some frustration with the volunteering requirement, but I truly loved the volunteering opportunity. It was nice to speak with the patients and get to know them, aside from asking the regular delirium questions. They were always up for conversation and seemed to like the company during their time at the hospital.
I did not go into the HELP volunteering program with any true learning objectives, aside from just observing and working on my listening skills. I think I achieved that, as I made sure I actively listened to the patients and if they had any needs, communicated it to the nursing staff. Moving forward, I think active listening is a valuable skill to obtain as a nurse. I will ensure that I continue to work on this skill and get better at it as time goes on.
This community and public health class was incredibly informational and a huge asset to my growth as a student nurse. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity and loved speaking with the patients who were enrolled in the HELP program; they all had such interesting lives and were always willing to talk and create conversation. It was a pleasure volunteering and I hope to do it again once things get a little less busy.
