Learning

As stated in my previous posts, I mostly work with data entry software and creating excel spreadsheets for the lab. However, this week I was able to work with the actual specimens in the lab. The various specimens consist of urine samples and blood tubes for different tests. My job was to identify that the test tubes were labeled correctly and recorded in the lab notebook. Also, I was asked to spin a few of the tubes in the centrifuge. I thought that this was pretty cool because I have only used a centrifuge in lab and never in a medical setting.

I am so grateful to be working with such great people that really appreciate my help. The lab technician is always so happy to see me and has a list of things that I can help her with. She does most of the work by herself so I am glad that I can take some of the burden off her shoulders. 

I hope that I can continue to volunteer at the clinic and possibly give more of my time to them. I would like to volunteer more in the actual patient rooms, but of course, not completely leave the lab technician to do all of her work by herself.

Lab Tests

   Since I have begun volunteering in the lab at San Jose, I have learned about the various tests for certain diseases. I am now able to recognize the abbreviations for the lab tests and what disease they are associated with. I work with medical records of the lab tests for each patient and must know the abbreviations in order to enter the records into the computer.
    The most frequent blood tests are lipid panels and complete blood counts (CBC). These two tests are important for every patient to have in order to assess the patient's overall health. Lipid panels are extremely important for patients that come from a family of high cholesterol or possess certain risk factors for hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, and heart attack.
   I hope to continue to work in the lab and also in the patient rooms in order to have a better medical vocabulary for my future career in the medical field.

Medical Field

   Volunteering at San Jose has allowed me to recognize that a career in the medical field is what I want to do in my life. Seeing how the doctors, physician assistants, nurses, and medical assistants interact with the patients shows me that I want to be able to help someone each and everyday. The idea of being able to impact so many people is fulfilling for me.
   I had originally wanted to attempt a career in the bioinformatics field but I am now seeing that the route to physician assistant school is more for me. Although research is very interesting and challenging, to be challenged in the clinic when caring for patients is more appealing to me.
  I have also observed how the staff at San Jose works as a team. One of my strengths is that I work well in a team and as a leader. I want to be able to work in a clinic along side other PAs, doctors, MAs, etc. as a team.
   Although I have made the decision to pursue PA school, I do not regret choosing bioinformatics as and undergraduate degree. I am now more aware of my strengths and weaknesses in science. I will continue to read about medical research and bioinformatics as a hobby.

Hardship

   As I have continued to volunteer at San Jose, I have began to notice that I am more concerned for the well-being of others. I have always cared for people, sometimes too much, but I have noticed myself wanting to do more. When I graduate in December, I want to volunteer more of my time for people that are in need. I would love to do something with a food bank or even at another under served clinic.
   The most important thing is that I have gained a better outlook on life from volunteering at the clinic. I can now appreciate more of what I have in my life. I have begun to appreciate my health and my family more. Patients come into the clinic that are very ill and do not have all the resources available to them that I would if I was ill. Patients also come in that have broken families or family members that they have never known. It is hard for me to swallow this as I see that they are in pain. This has brought to want to do more and to appreciate my life. However, I also admire them because despite the hardships they are going through, they are continuing to live their lives each and every day. I hope that if I ever have to go through something as tough as they are that I can be just as strong.

Lab

   For the past couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to continue working in the lab. Mostly, I help the lab tech organize her files and input records into the computer database. However, when I am in the lab I am also able to read the instructions for various lab techniques posted on the walls. It is interesting and beneficial because they are instructions like how to draw blood from a patient or perform specimen testing. Also, I am able to observe the lab tech as draws blood from the patients.
   I believe that by working in the lab with the lab tech is both beneficial for her and for me because I am able to learn standard medical techniques and I am helping her with her files and also with her computer schools. I have helped her learn shortcuts when inputing files and how to create excel spreadsheets. I can tell that she is very thankful for my help and I am glad to help her whenever she needs it.
   Although I would like to have a bit more patient interaction, I think this is a great opportunity for me.

Employees and Volunteers

   As I have continued to volunteer at the clinic, I have noticed how carrying all of the employees and volunteers are. You can see by the way they perform their jobs and help one another out that they really are very nice people. They are there to provide better care for under served men, women, and children. I have had the opportunity to work with many different people at the clinic over the year. They have all been very understanding when I do not understand something and are willing to sit down with me until I understand it.

   I hope that one day I am able to be a part of a clinic run by so many carrying people. It is a joy every week to go in and volunteer. Each employee and volunteer genuinely cares about how I am doing and what I have planned for my career. This is definitely an ideal work place. Not only are they caring towards each other, they are also very caring towards the patients. 

   I plan to continue to volunteer at the clinic so that I can be a part of something that serves the less fortunate and to be around people that are so kind and caring.

Purpose

I was unable to volunteer this week because of prior commitments but I did contemplate on why I am volunteering at San Jose. Not only am I volunteering because it is required for cell bio class but I am also doing it because I want to be able to help people who are less fortunate. I know that my contribution to San Jose is small but I like to think that it helps in a small way. I observe the doctors and nurses who volunteer their time to help the patients and it makes me want to do the same once I have a career. I want to be able to give my time to these people that need help. It is much more fulfilling to know that you have volunteered your time for no money to help people that cannot afford health insurance. I plan to continue to volunteer my time at San Jose and if I move to another city one day I plan to find a clinic like San Jose that I can volunteer my time to.