Kaitlyn Cerne's First Day

Today was the first day of my project at University Hospital. Along with many other high school students participating in the Medical senior Project at the hospital, I was able to review my schedule for the upcoming weeks and review the rules and layout of the hospital. I reviewed the test I had to take before entering the program that consisted of different rules, including confidentiality, patient care, and dress code among other things. The areas of study which I choose to focus on and will be observing include Pediatrics, skilled nursing, Orthopedics and Oncology. In addition to this, I am scheduled to observe a range of procedures in the operating room and women's health. Given each area of interest, I will be paired up with a nurse practitioner or doctor to shadow for the day. I am very excited to work in the Pediatrics section of the hospital. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was full of premature babies needing help because of the wide range of defects they had. I was able to observe a small baby boy born a few months early. Because of his premature birth, he was born with a small hole in his heart and is scheduled for surgery soon. Seeing the small baby and the help and care he was beong provided with by the many nurses and doctors allowed me to recognize how rewarding being a doctor or nurse can be.