ISM Journal Entries

Week of 9/7/2015
I was able to visit my mentor on September 8th right after school (around 2:45) for
half an hour. We discuss the details of the orientation that I was going to attend on
Friday the 11th at UTMB of Galveston. When I arrived at UTMB on Friday the
presentation was about the rules, procedures and what not to do in different
scenarios. I was also told that I needed the TB skin test and flu shoot done prior to
starting my mentorship and interfering with any patients. Which Ill be getting on
Monday the 13th.
Week of 9/14/2015
On Monday September 14th I went to UTMB health clinic to get my flu shoot and my
TB skin test applied. I then went back on the 16 th to get clear on my TB skin test.
After wards I fax the results to Mrs. Moody, the volunteer coordinator at UTMB. On
Thursday the 17th I went to go visit my mentor briefly, I informed her that I was
cleared. We also discuss and agreed to start my actual mentorship on Tuesday the
22nd from 2-4 pm. My mentor was also nice enough to print some documents to
inform me more about the RN field and what my options were.
Week of 9/21/2015
On Wednesday September the 23rd I went to UTMB, my mentorships site. As soon as
I got there Mrs. Lorna gave me a tour of the facility. We first went into the second
floor, where the cleaning and storing of the equipment takes place and where they
have cold and warm refrigerators for certain equipment. I also got to meet some of
the employees who work in those specific areas. They gave me an overlook of what
their responsibilities there in charge of. Then we access restricted areas, since my
Mrs. Lorna has a special badge. I saw some doctors while performing surgery and
the scenario was pretty incredible. Over all everyone made me feel welcome and
treated me very well in a professional stander
Week of 9/28/2015
On Tuesday the 29th I was able to visit my mentor. I observed two patients and their
procedures after surgery. The first patient had just come out of surgery, he had a
hammer toe. The first thing the nurse did ones he was brought into the room was to
check his breathing pulse making sure he was in good breathing conditions. Then
she checked his toes for circulation by squeezing them. Some of them turn back to
their regular skin tone color quicker than others. While others stayed red for a
longer period of time. Afterwards she checked the patients information on the
computer and informed the family what had happened during surgery. The family
was very happy to know that everything went well. The nurse then gave the family
all the medicine prescriptions and let them know when his next checkup was and
the special cares he was going to needing while being at home. The second case
was this lady who had fallen of a latter and was treated with an open reduction
internal fixation on her left wrist. The patient then started to have breathing
problems. Her breathing started to decrease and the nurse had to apply the oxygen

mask on her to get her breathing under control. After wards the nurse looked up the
patients information on the computer while checking her breathing, making sure it
wouldnt change or decrease. I couldnt stay for much long after that since I had to
go and get ready for. However I did complete my two hours

Week of 10/5/2015
This week I was not able to visit my mentor due to a family member passing away
causing her to be out of office. I will be making up the 2 hours next week.
Week of 10/12/2015
On Thursday October the 15th I was able to visit with my mentor. I observed a lady
who had just come out of surgery. The lady had ganglion removed from her left arm.
The words it hurts was what she kept repeating. The nurse kept trying to tell her
that it was normal, she had just come out of surgery. However the lady insisted that
the pain wasnt going away. The nurse then gave her medications to help with the
pain as well as to calm her down. Afterwards she was feeling nauseous, the nurse
applied a blue plastic bad around her mouth just in case something come out she
wouldnt get dirty and most importantly wouldnt get her arm dirty. I was very
surprised I had never seen a patient act such a way after surgery. Thats when I
learned that the anesthesia can actually make a patient very emotional and
sensitive. Which is something very interesting fact. The doctor then came in and
talked to her husband. Explaining it to him what prescriptions she was going to be
needing as well as to when her next appointment was to be schedule for. Ones
everything was taken care of she was able to get dress and go home.
Week of 10/19/2015
I was able to visit my mentor on Tuesday the 20 th for an hour. We sat down and
started to discuss what we were going to put into my final product. As well as to
what sections and how it was going to be organize. Mrs. Lorna was kind enough to
print some nurse management articles to help me get started, while I started on my
own research. On Thursday the 22nd I visit my mentor again for another two hours.
As soon as I got there I asked my mentor if I was allow to take pictures of the
construction, with her permission I walked around and took some pictures. Mrs.
Lorna also shared with me some of her pictures from the inside of the new to be
recovery rooms from the new building. To put into my power point to demonstrate
the work in process. We then picked up on where we had left on Tuesday
concerning with my project. We decided that it would be best if I used a folder
instead of an actual binder. It would be more reasonable since it would only deal
with nurse management. It would still have all the information that I was going to
put in the binder. Im still continuing to work and continue with my research to make
sure it looks unique as well for it to contain good and informative information.
Week of 10/26/2015
This week I was able to visit my mentor on Thursdays the 29 th. We planned and
discuss when we would be scheduling my final project presentation. Making sure it

fitted into our schedule as well as the schedule of the other two nurses that will be
attending my presentation. We also discuss some details about my final project
product. Thought out the week I also worked on my survey and completing my
online broacher. Making sure it had everything that was required and that it looked
presentable as well.
Week of 11/2/2015
This week I visit my mentor on Wednesday the 4 th after school. When I arrived my
mentor informed me that Joint commission was going to be in the facility for the
week. Mrs. Lorna then explain to me that Joint Commission is a health care
department agency that checks every hospital to make sure there following the
right procedures. In how they maintain and do there cleaning,
This week I was able to visit my mentor on Thursday November the 12 th. When I
arrived I asked my mentor the questions for the interview. Mrs.Lorna told me that
many people consider her job to be easy however its not. She constantly making
phone calls, deal with staff members and disciplining issues as well as calling HR
Human resources. Human resources are a very as well as how the equipment are
cleaned and store to make sure theres to expire equipment. She also explain how it
ties into her job, shes responsible for her unit and has to supervise to make sure
that everything is in good conditions and if not she has to address it to the right
person. During the week I also worked on my three research papers on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday. When I finished my three papers I started to work on my
invitation on Thursday since everything was due that Friday the 6 th.
Week of 11/9/2015
On Thursday November 12th I was able to visit my mentor. When I arrived I began
to ask her the questions from the interview assignment. As Mrs. Lorna answer the
questions she also told me how many people think that she has an easy job
however in reality its not. Shes constantly making phone calls, dealing with any
problem with staff members. Calling human resources (hr) is also another important
part of her job. If she needs advice on disciplining staff, certain case, or has any
questions hr is who she refers to. However a bennet of being a manager is that you
can basically make your own schedule. As long as you put in the 8 hours that youre
required you can decide when to schedule your meetings, as well as what days you
can chose to have off. I also interview my second interviewer Mrs. Danielle Duckett.
Her answers were short yet direct and informative. Letting me know that not
everyone who you work with will have a positive attitude towards you or be nice. My
third interviewer was Mrs. Alicia. She explained to me you can get your nursing
degree in several different ways, It all just depends on the circumstances on an
individual. Letting me know that determination hard work are the key to success.