SoS 2014 Week 1: A New Level of Engagement

How exciting is it that my second and final Summer of Service is now in progress?! It is for me, at least. Just within the past week of returning to my service at Indian River Medical Center, I have seen growth in my performance and fervor for assisting those who come into the hospital. Though I did enjoy and appreciate the experience of working in various hospitality (waiting) rooms last summer, I feel at home working predominantly with the other volunteers in the auxiliary this year. The main activities us volunteers perform are responding to calls for patient discharges, greeting and escorting visitors, delivering lab specimens and flowers, and manning the reception desks at both entrances. Amongst these tasks, we face other responsibilities, and must always maintain a courteous, professional, and positive attitude, in addition to abiding by HIPPA confidentiality standards. Some of the responsibilities include dealing with unique situations, which can at times be sensitive and must be handled with composure and strategy. For instance, this past week alone, one of the volunteers had to call a code blue and a team for immediate action because a staff member was experiencing chest pains. Another volunteer called the proper department to clean up broken glass in an elevator from a flower vase that had fallen. These and other events occur unexpectedly and it is important that we all look out for one another to prevent misfortunes. This, in itself, is a life lesson. Overall, working in the auxiliary is more direct in assisting and serving alongside countless individuals, thus, providing opportunity for more relationships to develop, more good to be done, and a more valuable experience to be absorbed.

Nonetheless, it is lucky for me that serving in the auxiliary is not all that I do at IRMC. I additionally work as a data collection agent for Infectious Control, observing and recording the sanitation practices and techniques of staff in the hospital. This data is extremely important in determining whether the spreading of illnesses between patients in the hospital is a prevalent issue and whether sanitation practices can entirely prevent this transmission. The data will eventually be released to expose accurate sanitation behaviors and further promote universal sanitation as a precaution against the transference of illness. 

As if all of this isn't exciting enough for you devoted readers, I have also worked in the administration office this week. I was on what I call "iPad duty," which entailed me cleaning, updating, and charging all of the iPads that are used during committee meetings. Simultaneously, I answered incoming phone calls for the administration receptionist, who was absent. 

As you can imagine, my collective service at IRMC is beneficial to the hospital, those with whom I come into contact, and myself. I find myself full of effortless pleasure and energy to perform tasks each day for up to ten straight hours. And I cannot be more appreciative of the flexibility, welcoming nature, and vital learning experience that everyone at IRMC is proving for me already for another summer. 

All I can say to the rest of you is... Happy Service Learning! Get out there, get engaged, and put your all into it!