Shadowing
This program gave me the opportunity to shadow medical professionals throughout the Lehigh Valley. I had the opportunity to shadow professionals at St.Lukes Allentown, Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest, and Good Shepard. Below are three of my favorite experiences and one bad experience.
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Shadow Reflection 1
Labor & Delivery Unit at St.Lukes Allentown
St. Lukes was my first shadow rotation. My experience started off uncomfortable and ackward because I was just sitting at a nurses station until finally a women began labor. I was immediately sent to the room with a nurse where they had the patient begin pushing. She must've been pushing for an hour and 30 min. until the physician on the floor called for an emergency C- section. I was then rushed to the locker room, changed into scrubs, and next thing I know I am standing in the corner of the OR observing a C-section! It was incredible to watch this birth and to experience the OR for the first time!
Shadow Reflection 2
Dentist
As soon as I walked into the facility the dental assistant immediately gave me a quick tour of the dental office and introduced me to the dentist! He had a big veneer surgery coming up that I was going to be able to observe. So in the mean time I was able to observe some cleaning procedures and finally a veneer! The procedure took longer than expected so I had to stay a little longer. The procedure was very satisfying and tedious. The dentist was very social and approachable which made this shadow experience very fun and interactive for me.
Shadow Reflection 3
Open Heart Surgery
As I was walking to the hospital my heart was racing with excitement! I was amazed with how fast that got me scrubbed and into the OR. There was a surgeon, physician assistant, and nurses in the OR. I was placed right above the patients head. The PA was dissecting the great vein from the leg that would soon be used in the bypass surgery. I got to observe the sawing of eh sternum, the draining of the blood in the heart, and the surgeon begin utilizing the dissected vein. The whole crew was welcoming and as the surgeon was performing the surgery he was explaining everything to me!
Shadow Reflection 4
St. Lukes ER
I shadowed a PA at the St. Lukes Allentown campus. This was my least favorite shadow experience. My mentor ignored me the entire time and didn't explain anything in detail and seemed down. While in the ER all the patients were suffering from flu symptoms and my mentor complained the entire time. My mentors entire mood put my mood down so I didn't ask many questions after the first hour. I feel as if a mentors attitude and mood can determine if the whole shadow experience will be beneficial.
Shadowing Documented Hours
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Tours
Part of the EHP program is to take multiple tours of hospitals, health facilities, and laboratories! During this school year my two favorite tours were the Miller Keystone tour and the Health Network Laboratories. The Miller Keystone tour sparked my interest and I thought it was intriguing to, "follow the path of blood," on this tour. As for the Health Network Lab, the speakers that presented were very informative and the lab its self was extraordinary. I was interesting to see how the laboratories run and function on an everyday basis.
