Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Nursing Related Career: 21.

5 hours
Metro West Ambulance Ride-a-long: 12 hours
Total: 33.5 hours

University of Portland School of Nursing Tour

Date: Wednesday, November 7th, 2018
Time 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

I first arrived at the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce where I met up with my other fellow peers
and high schoolers from the Hillsboro School district. There I also met my supervisor, Christine
Rickis who would be leading all five sessions including the field trips. After attendance,
Ms.Rickis went over ground rules, expectations and the overall field trip schedule before we
headed onto the buses. As we arrived onto the University of Portland Campus, we first ate at
their cafeteria to eat lunch, because the tour did not start until one o’clock. Although the tour had
not even began yet, I observed the campus in awe. I was amazed to see the amount of diversity
within the student body, which is one thing I wanted in my future school. The school was
relatively small but the community was even tighter.

As one o’clock came around, we all gathered up and met outside of the cafeteria. We then made
our way to the admissions building where we then met our tour leaders. Mine were two current
students of the university, one was a junior majoring in business and the other was a senior
majoring in nursing. Both were welcoming and informative throughout the one hour tour of the
school campus. In the tour, we saw common study and hangout spots as well as classrooms, labs,
chapels, and dorms. My most favorite place to see was the hospital wing in the school of nursing.
In the hospital wing they had dummy dolls that were part of realistic simulations used by
upperclassmen nursing students.

Finally, towards the end of the field trip, my internship group got to listen to the head of
admissions. There she talked about expectations and requirements when attending the University
of Portland, financial aid, and answered any questions we had. I also had the opportunity to listen
to the stories of two senior nursing students who currently attend UP. They explained how they
got accepted, and the obstacles of nursing school. Along with that, they discussed their personal
experiences at UP, and shared their plans after graduation. At the very end, they answered any
questions we had regarding nursing school.

Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Classroom - Non-Hospital Nursing Careers

Date: Wednesday November 14th, 2018
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Description: ​During this classroom experience, a couple of nurses as well as a CEO of a local
Hillsboro hospice care came in to talk about their personal experiences in the field of nursing.
During their presentations they would talk about why they are passionate about nursing, what
school they went to and overall how they got to where they are today. Afterwards, the students
were able to ask them questions regarding their job. The CEO and nurses who presented did not
work in hospital settings. This class gave students another option to nursing most would not
immediately consider.
The first presentation was actually the CEO of a local Hillsboro hospice care facility and
not a nurse, but he informed us students of what he looks for in an employer and what a usual
day would be like as a nurse in hospice care. The second presentation was by a home health
nurse. She explained how she goes out to homes but is also reachable by phone to typically new
parents who have questions about how to take care of a baby. Along with that, she informs
parents of what to expect when having a child. The third presentation was a telehealth nurse,
which is a nurse who essentially talks to patients over the phone or via skype calls to answer any
questions and concerns they may be having in regards to their health. These patients talk to the
nurses first and if their situation is concerning then the nurse will recommend them to seek
further medical attention. The last presentation we listened to was from a local Hillsboro district
school nurse where we learned a typical routine, the type of treatments they do, how she became
a school nurse and much more. At the end of each presentation we got to ask each nurse
questions we had regarding their career.

Hillsboro Chambers of Commerce Classroom - Triage and Emergency Nursing

Date: Wednesday November 28th, 2018
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Description: ​Multiple nurses who currently are employed in triage and emergency nursing
introduced themselves, shared personal stories regarding the emergency room and explained how
they got to where they are now. Most of these nurses acquired their degree by going straight into
a four-year university, but some went through community college first then transferred. Despite
that, they all agreed that nursing school was difficult and is a competitive field. Although it is
hard they also agreed that nursing is a very rewarding career that they do not regret.
Towards the end, similar to the previous classroom session, the students were able to ask
any questions they had regarding emergency/triage nursing. Most of the questions included how
to get through school, pros and cons to the job, and what they would do differently if they could
go back. I enjoyed these informational presentation as it informed me of what to expect as I head
into the field of nursing.

West Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center

Date: Wednesday, December 5th, 2018
Time: 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Description: ​The West Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center is located in Portland, Oregon. At
this rehab center lives many elderly people who need care around the clock. Some are there short
term, long term and others are there for the rest of their lives. This field trip was one of the most
memorable sessions, because I got to interview a resident who lived at the rehab center. I
surveyed an older female who was suffering with numerous medical problems such as type 2
diabetes, breathing difficulties, etc. Through the survey I completed with a fellow classmate of
mine, I learned that the patient was extremely intelligent, had a great sense of humor and traveled
all throughout her life. After the survey, all of us students got a tour of the location and we also
got to shadow a certified nursing assistant (CNA). CNAs are entry level nurses who provide
basic care for patients. Once that was over, we then got to reflect what we learned with the nurse
manager. After reflecting with the nurse manager, the physical therapist who works at the rehab
center presented what he does for a living and allowed the students to ask any questions we had
for him. At the very end, a CNA came in to talk to us about their 6 week long CNA program
which opened up new opportunities for all the students.

Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Classroom - Women’s Health Nursing

Date: Wednesday, December 12th, 2018
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Description: ​This was my most memorable and intriguing classroom session as it related
directly to my future dream job of working in the labor and delivery ward. At this session, three
nurses came in and introduced their profession, the pros and cons of it, shared stories and more.
We heard from a nurse midwife who is currently employed at OHSU, labor and delivery nurses
as well as a retired nurse who is currently a professor at Linfield University. Just like the other
classroom experiences the nurses explained what school they went to, how they began their
passion for nursing and most importantly why they love their job. Afterwards, all students were
able to ask questions they had regarding nursing. This session was the most popular for almost
all the students, as most of us were interested in working in this specific field.

Metro West Ambulance Ride-a-Long:

Date: January 21, 2019
Time: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Description: ​I shadowed two fellow emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Greg and Michael
throughout their 12 hour shift. The day consisted of waiting in local parking lots until we were
called to service. In the 12 hours that we were together, we helped 8 patients. All of the patients
were middle aged females. We picked up the very first patient from a nursing home. She had
fallen from her bed, therefore we took her to the hospital to ensure that she did not have any
serious injuries. There was another incident very similar to this one later in the day in which an
elderly woman had fallen off the toilet seat. For five of the patients, they suffered breathing
difficulties and the last patient of the day was disoriented. After picking up each patient, I
watched Greg and Michael both ask the patients questions regarding their medical history and if
necessary, started an IV line. Once we reached the patient’s preferred hospital, Greg and, or
Michael informed the fellow nurses of the situation then filled out a chart for the patient, and put
on new sheets for the ambulance bed before leaving the hospital. Towards the end of the night, I
paid close attention as Greg and Michael did inventory, and asked questions about what the
equipments were used for. At the very end of the night, both EMTs cleaned and fully restocked
the ambulance and that was the end of the shift.