Work, Research and Volunteer Experiences
Austin Grace Hospice Practicum: Practicum Intern
I was able to complete my practicum at Austin Grace Hospice in the fall of 2012 in order to finish my degree requirements for the University of Texas. Hospice is a team of health care professionals providing end of life care to patients and families with compassion.
Working for Grace Hospice gave me unique insight into the family dynamics and social and behavioral issues that revolve around individuals and their families during the dying process. I also learned about the importance of HIPPA regulations, how the body prepares itself during the dying process and how medical needs are often focused on palliative care as opposed to more curative care. Working with a specifically geriatric population was also a new learning experience for me, and I had a wonderful time interacting with patients and their families while providing companionative and comfort care.
I also regularly attended Interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings in order to learn more about patient care plans, and how the team comes together in order to support each individual. I also attended regular Monday morning meetings in order to maintain currency on patient's and their families welfare. I also read a variety of hospice related educational materials and articles in order to become more knowledgeable about current issues and findings with this particular profession.
The best part of working with hospice was being a close team member with the bereavement coordinator as she set up appointments with bereaved clients and patients. Shadowing this individual made me see how important it is that families receive follow-ups through appointments, letters, and regular phone calls. While everyone grieves differently, having a team to support you is a powerful tool in overcoming grief. She inspired me to send out letters to all the veterans on our services on Veteran's day. Through this veteran connection I also suggested to our administrator that Austin Grace join the "We Honor Veteran's" organization as a recruit.
I also shadowed nurses on two excursions around the Austin area and made several home visits to many different families. Seeing how nurses interact in homes and facilities gave me a unique perspective on palliative medical care. Through seeing families in a variety of Social economic statuses and living situations I realized how important this service is to the community at large.
Everything I have learned at hospice, professionally and personally, are innumerable and I am excited to apply the things I have learned towards future efforts in this profession.
Below is a creative project , letter I sent out to veterans on our services, and an informal guide for future practicum interns.
Working for Grace Hospice gave me unique insight into the family dynamics and social and behavioral issues that revolve around individuals and their families during the dying process. I also learned about the importance of HIPPA regulations, how the body prepares itself during the dying process and how medical needs are often focused on palliative care as opposed to more curative care. Working with a specifically geriatric population was also a new learning experience for me, and I had a wonderful time interacting with patients and their families while providing companionative and comfort care.
I also regularly attended Interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings in order to learn more about patient care plans, and how the team comes together in order to support each individual. I also attended regular Monday morning meetings in order to maintain currency on patient's and their families welfare. I also read a variety of hospice related educational materials and articles in order to become more knowledgeable about current issues and findings with this particular profession.
The best part of working with hospice was being a close team member with the bereavement coordinator as she set up appointments with bereaved clients and patients. Shadowing this individual made me see how important it is that families receive follow-ups through appointments, letters, and regular phone calls. While everyone grieves differently, having a team to support you is a powerful tool in overcoming grief. She inspired me to send out letters to all the veterans on our services on Veteran's day. Through this veteran connection I also suggested to our administrator that Austin Grace join the "We Honor Veteran's" organization as a recruit.
I also shadowed nurses on two excursions around the Austin area and made several home visits to many different families. Seeing how nurses interact in homes and facilities gave me a unique perspective on palliative medical care. Through seeing families in a variety of Social economic statuses and living situations I realized how important this service is to the community at large.
Everything I have learned at hospice, professionally and personally, are innumerable and I am excited to apply the things I have learned towards future efforts in this profession.
Below is a creative project , letter I sent out to veterans on our services, and an informal guide for future practicum interns.
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Hospice Operational Goals Poster Designs | |
File Size: | 457 kb |
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Informal Guide to Austin Grace Hospice for Practicum Students | |
File Size: | 136 kb |
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Veteran's Day Letter | |
File Size: | 215 kb |
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Research on Commitment to Religion or Higher Power in Emerging Adulthood: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Anthony Walker's, M.S. research is focused on commitment to God or a higher power, and tracking how student's change their beliefs during emerging adulthood. More specifically, he is tracking students and the transitions they experience while in a college setting. He is also exploring how different aspects of environment and inherent characteristics also relate to commitment. His research is based on information found in the book "Souls in Transition" on the six types of religiousness found in emerging adulthood.
There are:
1. Committed Traditionalists
2. Selective Adherents
3. Spiritually Open
4. Religiously Indifferent
5. Religiously Disconnected
6.Irreligious
Working with Mr. Walker and aiding him with his research has been a unique aspect of the college experience that I had yet to participate in until the fall 2012 semester. At the beginning of the semester Mr. Walker was still sending in portions of his research to be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board. However, the beginning of the semester was spent identifying different universities with distinct diversity, gathering research on staff members and school statistics. Toward the middle of the semester we began sending requests to professors for their cooperation in distributing the survey Mr. Walker created. Lastly, our team worked together to go into different classrooms and gather information on students who were interested in participating in the online survey, pilot interviews, and finalized interviews.
Through this process we as a team have also helped Mr. Walker in identifying missing or unclear information in the survey and streamlining the graphing and interview procedure. We also brainstormed different factors for increased/decreased religious commitment and how that may affect graphing procedure. We are currently proceeding with pilot interviews and in the spring semester Mr. Walker will conduct 30 final interviews with the help of the new research team.
This has been a very educational semester and I have learned a lot by completing IRB training sessions on the ethics and morality of research. I have also learned how much effort it takes to get research prepared and approved by the IRB, and how important it is to have a supportive and organized team to get tasks accomplished.
There are:
1. Committed Traditionalists
2. Selective Adherents
3. Spiritually Open
4. Religiously Indifferent
5. Religiously Disconnected
6.Irreligious
Working with Mr. Walker and aiding him with his research has been a unique aspect of the college experience that I had yet to participate in until the fall 2012 semester. At the beginning of the semester Mr. Walker was still sending in portions of his research to be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board. However, the beginning of the semester was spent identifying different universities with distinct diversity, gathering research on staff members and school statistics. Toward the middle of the semester we began sending requests to professors for their cooperation in distributing the survey Mr. Walker created. Lastly, our team worked together to go into different classrooms and gather information on students who were interested in participating in the online survey, pilot interviews, and finalized interviews.
Through this process we as a team have also helped Mr. Walker in identifying missing or unclear information in the survey and streamlining the graphing and interview procedure. We also brainstormed different factors for increased/decreased religious commitment and how that may affect graphing procedure. We are currently proceeding with pilot interviews and in the spring semester Mr. Walker will conduct 30 final interviews with the help of the new research team.
This has been a very educational semester and I have learned a lot by completing IRB training sessions on the ethics and morality of research. I have also learned how much effort it takes to get research prepared and approved by the IRB, and how important it is to have a supportive and organized team to get tasks accomplished.
All Saints Episcopal Church: Children's Chaplain
All Saints Episcopal Day School: After School Caregiver
I have been working at All Saint's Episcopal Church as a Children's Chaplain since October 2010. I often helped children during Sunday School service when I was with my family in Okinawa, so this transition was greatly aided by my previous experience. The Children Chaplains lead the children in a developmentally appropriate sermon and interact with them while their parents partake in the adult-led worship.
I am also an after-school caregiver at the All Saints Episcopal Day school which is connected to the same church. I help the children fall asleep during after school nap hour and get snacks for them after they wake up. The day then transitions into after-school care and I guide the children as they interact with each other and partake in a wide variety of activities both indoors and outdoors. Working at the day school has given me a variety of opportunities to implement positive guidance techniques and apply developmentally appropriate techniques.
I am also an after-school caregiver at the All Saints Episcopal Day school which is connected to the same church. I help the children fall asleep during after school nap hour and get snacks for them after they wake up. The day then transitions into after-school care and I guide the children as they interact with each other and partake in a wide variety of activities both indoors and outdoors. Working at the day school has given me a variety of opportunities to implement positive guidance techniques and apply developmentally appropriate techniques.
Bechtel Elementary School: Teaching Assistant
From August 2008 through May 2009 I was a teaching assistant for a Department of Defense District School. I worked at Bechtel Elementary school grades 1-5 for the Japanese Cultural teacher Mutsuko Takaesu. I created worksheets, developed lesson plans under her instruction, and led some lessons with interactive Japanese language programs.
Below are examples of the worksheets I created with Ms. Takaesu's lesson plans:
Below are examples of the worksheets I created with Ms. Takaesu's lesson plans:
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2nd-3rd Describing Things Worksheet | |
File Size: | 59 kb |
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4th-5th Masu Form Worksheet | |
File Size: | 78 kb |
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Arnold Air Society: John H. Payne Chapter
Arnold Air Society is an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Honor Society. The objective of the organization is to create more effecient relationships among AFROTC candidates. The society encourages communication with Air Force officers and leaders in national government and industry. The organization also provides opportunities for candidates to exercise leadership, management, organizational and public relations skills. The organization focuses on campus and community service activities while demonstrating a close relationship between civillian and military institutions.
After completing an intense training process I became a member of the John H. Payne Chapter at the University of Texas. Through AAS I organized a creek cleanup on campus and also organized a separate opportunity to remove invasive species with the Zilker Nature Preserve.
After completing an intense training process I became a member of the John H. Payne Chapter at the University of Texas. Through AAS I organized a creek cleanup on campus and also organized a separate opportunity to remove invasive species with the Zilker Nature Preserve.
Lester Naval Hospital: Red Cross Volunteer
Although I had the opportunity to shadow doctors and nurses, I spent the majority of my time interacting with patients in the vitals room. The most rewarding part of my experience was the ability to connect with the local spouse's of military members. Although the spouses and children do speak English at a conversational level, my ability to translate eased many of the patients who came into the clinic. I learned much of the inner workings of a military hospital and realized that I had a passion to go into the medical field.