Running head: POST REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT 1

Post Reflection Assignment

Kelley Schlosshan

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

Vulnerable Populations and Global Health Practicum

NUR 4215P

Rani Sangha, MSN, MBA,BHSM, RN Assistant Professor

March 14, 2018

Honor Code: I Pledge…

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Post Reflection Assignment

Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a volunteer organization which provides free medical,

dental and vision care to families who do not have access to or cannot afford a visit to the doctor.

I was able to attend the RAM group with Bon Secours from March 9th through March 11th,

2018 at Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia. There were many other

volunteers from other states and representing a variety of caregivers; physicians, medical

students, dentists, dental students, x-ray technicians, nurses, nursing assistants, nurse

practitioners, nursing students, emergency medical technicians, optometrists and many other

roles. This clinic was composed of registration, triage, medical, dental, vision and offered

hearing tests and pelvic exams. Many of the patients treated began waiting in line at midnight

and were given a number. The doors opened at 6 am for registration and patients were admitted

twenty at a time. All of the patients were given the opportunity to see a medical doctor and were

offered the opportunity to select either dental or vision exam. After the patient had received a

medical exam and either a dental or vision exam they could get back in line and take advantage

of a third service or could return on Sunday for another service. I worked in triage and took

blood pressures, heart rates, blood sugars and health history. There were parameters for the blood

pressures and blood sugars and it was my responsibility to notify the nurse practitioner if any of

these readings were out of the parameters. If the readings were outside of the suggested

parameters the patient was evaluated by the doctor before they could go on to the dental or vision

exam. My expectations were met during this service. It provided me the opportunity to listen to

the concerns of each patient in a different way than I do within a traditional health care setting.

After my practicum experience, this has shown me to use my values of compassion,

respect, and quality to provide good help to those in need regardless of their age, color,
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nationality, race, sexuality, and financial status. The main problems encountered with the

patients were high blood pressure, diabetes and poor dentition. Surprisingly most of these

patients had seen a medical doctor within the last three months for their health conditions but had

not seen a dentist or optometrist. They were not able to afford these additional treatments. Since

many of the patients seen had high blood pressure or diabetes, education and preventative

measures play a huge role in managing these chronic conditions. We provided education on diet,

exercise and lowering salt intake. Additionally there was a resource at the clinic for domestic

abuse for the local area.

I learned this community relies heavily on events such as RAM because their resources

are small and volunteers make a huge impact in managing their medical needs. The gifts I

offered was listening, caring and compassion. Most of these people just wanted someone to listen

to them. I met a patient coming out of the bathroom that started talking to me. She thanked me

for our services and informed me that she was on a fixed income, single and no insurance. She

told me that she was finally able to get away from an abusive relationship and felt safe now. She

was grateful that she came and was able to get all of the services including a pelvic exam

because she was having female issues and was concerned. She even told me she had texted one

of her friends to try to come to take advantage of these exams. She was so appreciative and she

thanked me for listening to her. I gave her a hug and held her hands and told her that I would

pray for her. She brought tears to my eyes as I was listening to her. I was glad that I happened to

be in the right place at the right time. This will stick with me because I know that I made a

difference.

This experience was humbling and enlightening to me. It has enriched both my academic

and personal life. Academically this experience will make me strive to do the best in my research
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for the community. It has given me the strength to be more of a presence in the community and

give back to those people who need the help. This was a meaningful experience. After the RAM

clinic was completed, a text message was sent to volunteers. Care was provided to 419 patients

and we provided $226,138 in health related services. I expected that we would see more patients

but at least we were able touch these lives and help them with the services that they needed.

They could not make it without volunteers. This is remarkable and I hope I can go to other RAM

sites in the future.