Presentation Pressure

-Henry Ford

Failure. It happens.

I honestly shouldn't have been surprised at the end result of my presentation. Even though the info was in my head, I let the pressure and stress of presentation anxiety get to me and blanked out. Sitting in my chair, it was disappointing at the time to know right after the failed presentation yesterday that I was thinking of all the things I could've said but didn't do.

Now I understand that I need to work on stressing out less and practicing for presentations more. I do realize that it is okay to fail as long as I pick myself up and try again. Luckily, there's still time for me to prepare and raise my grade. The 2-hour (more like 1.5) final senior presentation is yet to come. In the mean time, I'll sell a box of chocolate to improve my public speaking skills and hopefully instill confidence.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

Content:

1. Positive Statement
I'm really proud of the lesson I made for this presentation.
2. Questions to Consider
   a) NC
   b) There was a mandatory 10 minute answer driven speaking time that I did not meet.
3. What Worked For You
I created my lesson ahead of time instead of doing it all the night before.
4. What Didn't Work
Not presenting as well as I could have. Maybe I should have practiced more. Being over stressed and nervous didn't help me at all either. I should have calmed down and relaxed because I did know my info and only blanked out because I was so worried.
5. Finding Value
Two possible answers I'm thinking about are Hygiene Technique Implementation and Developing A Patient's Knowledge and Understanding.

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

1. What is the best way a nurse can help a patient recover from illness?

2. What challenges have arisen while you were helping a patient recover from illness? 

3. How did you overcome them?
4. What steps did you take to ensure the patient was under the best care possible?
5. What techniques would you use to help a patient with regaining their strength after illness?
6. Which technique has yielded the most effective results and why?

7. What is the most important step in your assessment and management of the patient?
8. What are the best ways to ensure a patient is happy?
9. How do you determine if a patient is satisfied with their experience?
10. What methods are commonly used when a patient is showing anguish/pain?
11. How do you prepare a patient for care after the hospital?

12. Which sources would you recommend for further research in my topic?

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 Hours

1. Where are you doing your mentorship?
San Dimas Community Hospital

2. Who is your contact?
Michael Bravo - Volunteer Service Coordinator

3. How many total hours have you done?
40 hours

4. Summarize 10 hours of service you did.
I was really nervous and excited to begin volunteering at the hospital. I had never worked a desk before so it took me awhile to get the hang of it. My job was to intercept calls from patients' rooms and figure out what they wanted; whether it was a blanket, water, meds, assistance, etc. I then called either the RN, LVN, or CNA depending on what they needed and directed them to the patient.

The next 2 weeks, in addition to taking calls from patient rooms, I helped assist the day shift transition to night. I prepared binders before they were filled up with the sensitive documents of incoming patients. I also wrote down the assignments (extension #s and patients assigned to) for nurses on the white board. During transition time I got numerous calls from patients which was stressful because all the AM nurses are briefing the PM nurses on their patients so there was no one to assist them. I also completed my 2nd interview with one of the RNs. It can be difficult to stop and chat with the nurses when they have to continuously move from room to room accommodating patients with their needs. 

5. Email your house teacher the name of your contact and their phone number confirming who they should call to verify it.
Done.

Blog 10: Senior Project - The Holiday

1. What did you do over the break with your Senior Project?
    The first week of break I went out of town with my family and was unable to work on my senior project. However, I was able to continue my mentorship at San Dimas Community Hospital the next week. I volunteered for my usual 4 hour shift in the Medical/Surgical Unit.

2. What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why? What was the source of what you learned?
    Through experience on the floor of my unit and being given the opportunity to talk to patients I learned just how important interaction with patients can be. I met an elderly patient while making my rounds through the rooms asking if  anyone needed anything. Since I was almost finished I decided to stay and chat a bit since he seemed a little lonely. He seemed really eager to talk and began to regale me with stories of being a US Air Force Pilot in Korea and about his life in general. After all had been said, I found the man in tears when I had to go.  He thanked me for the company and told me how glad he was that someone had come to chat with him. It was a touching experience to find just how much giving a part of your day to someone can mean. I've also seen this happen when the nurses would stop and talk to their own patients if only for a few minutes.

3. If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?
    I would talk to one of the nurses at the hospital I volunteer at, specifically in the Medical/Surgical Unit which is what my EQ is geared towards. I'm familiar with a couple of them (like former iPoly student Aubree) because I've volunteered there for a while now and they have more patient contact than any other hospital staff.