In regards to the professor, I am speaking with her next week to clear some things up. I agree about the late comments and participation advice. I agree with basically what everyone said, I know it won't deter me from getting into med school.
For the ED volunteer aspect, there are some things I omitted/posted in other threads I created:
1) I have developed a relationship with an ER tech who offered me to accompany him in the triage room WITHOUT me mentioning anything about accompanying him (We had conversations about my interests, his career, etc.)
2) I am fully aware that my interpersonal skills with strangers need work, so that's another reason I made myself do something like this position, instead of a position with children, etc.
3) As far as I have observed, the ER techs work every other week, and one 'rotation' of techs usually just gossip amongst themselves, so those are usually the times the 'staring off into space' occurs. My difficulty has been not wanting to 'disrupt/annoy' them, even if they are just gossiping. Maybe I am not reading the social cues correctly, but the ER tech I developed a relationship w/ (and his colleague) were very excited to talk to me, ask questions, these other ones act as if I am not present. (Again, I say hello and say that I am checking in, but the conversation usually ends there)
4) I actually made a great connection with the ER tech who oriented me (actually two) BUT one does not work on my shift. The other one works in a specific section; but I haven't really seen him these past few weeks...
5) "If you do not know what you can or cannot do, ask the ED manager or the charge nurse on shift to clarify your role." Every ER tech I have talked to tells me a different thing.... some said to me they don't feel comfortable with me going into the rooms, some said they themselves don't go into a room to restock if there is an obstruction and or patient in the room, some say they do go in....
6) I have talked to my Volunteer coordinator who said that they understand shadowing occurs from time to time but my main priority is restocking (but ER tech's job description includes restocking, so when I get there, all 4 sections are basically full to the brim with blankets, that is when the 'staring into space occurs'
So, in short, are you saying that I should basically 'round' on each patient, and talk to them?
Another question I have for you, since you seem to know a lot about this, is, what about the staff? Should I approach people like nurses and introduce myself?
1. Techs are great for some basic insights and minimum level exposure but half the time, especially in triage, all you can do is observe. Typically once the patient is in the room and the tech/nursing staff have deemed you capable, they MAY ask you for assistance with holding a patients arm/leg while they clean a site/wound so the MD/PA/NP can do their thing. Techs can give you some great insight about a patient (infectious contact, drop, fall risk) so you know what to look for or need to worry about when you get in there. They can also give you warnings about frequent fliers or an agitated patient who will not want anything to do with you. If you have formed a single relationship with a single tech, you might want to reevaluate what you are doing (this is assuming you do not show up only during his shift when there are no other techs).
2. Good, you know your deficiencies (step 1). Sitting off into space and staring because you don't want to talk to them instead of working on your deficiency and trying to overcome it does nothing. Get to step 2 - GO TALK TO PATIENTS.
3. Ok, backtrack to #1, 2 relationships with a rotation of techs. My personal thoughts, reevaluate your actions and positions. I say this because at one of my first volunteer gigs, the male techs would form relationships with the female volunteers to create a relationship - they spent every other day in nursing school, a master's program, or at work and refused to "form relationships" with the individuals they were in class with or at work with. As they stated, a volunteer is more likely to stop coming around if their relationship ends while they would still have to deal with their co-workers and classmates. Moving to the real aspect of 3 - read social cues. Not hearing the conversation, couldn't tell you what they are. You will have the gossip rotation/shift/team/clique at any location. Here, try to engage in parts of the conversation where it is appropriate. If they are in school ask them about their current courses or semester, many students love to complain about their hardships/tests or glorify enjoyable moments. If you do not believe me, read your own post. Say more than hello, this ties back into the issue with your teacher. IF they are ignoring it is for one of two reasons; they do not like you or you have no presence. Figure out which one and go from there. Either way, if the majority of techs (since you only mention 2 liking you) don't like you, it is very likely the nursing staff and MD/DO/PA/NP either do not care about you or do not even notice you.
4. Branch out, one tech you do not see and another who works in a separate section do nothing. See #3.
5. Each tech will tell you something different. I get it every single time. There are days I am doing vitals and cleaning wounds and other days where I am cleaning patients who soiled themselves for hours on end. Ask the charge nurse because guess who is going to get reamed if you are doing something you should not be doing? They cannot fire you, only ask you to leave. The charge nurse will get reamed and then fired. Charge nurses know their constraints and their staff and if they know you or have an inkling about your ability they will tell you what to do. Also, by the time you get to know the charge nurses, you get an idea of what they expect of you so you know what to do with each set of staff. If the tech does not want you to go into the room it could be for several reasons; infectious disease transmission, droplet protection, patient may be aggressive, or they just do not feel comfortable. Find out the reason but you are there to help them and get patient exposure, if you can't go into a room you are not getting patient exposure. Personal opinion, NEVER RESTOCK A ROOM WITH A PATIENT IN THERE. Only exception; trauma room in rare cases, leave that to the tech and nursing staff anyhow. Restock between patients as you clean the room, find a system that works for you and stick with it. If I know the room needs to be restocked and we are a revolving door, I have a cart with supplies and linen that I bring in with me to quickly restock and move on.
6. Yes, restocking is a big deal. It cuts down on time running around trying to find things. There is more than blankets and linens. Does your ER maintain several blood draw kits/baskets? Restock those. Restock the central supply area if you have one. If you see a nurse or a tech with a blanket, ask if you can take it to the patient for them. Help with bagging and sending labs. Clean rooms, tidy the break room, tidy the waiting room. If there is a huge backlog in the waiting room, go walk around the waiting room and talk to the individuals there. Assure them that they will be seen as soon as it is possible but do not give them any sort of timeline or false hope. Ask if the nursing staff or techs need assistance with walking a patient to a restroom.
While "round" is not the word of choice, yes. Check in on the patients and see if there is anything you can do for them. Begin with something along the lines of "Hello, my name is laxgirl06 and I am a volunteer here with XYZ. I just wanted to check in with you to see if there is anything that I could help you with or anything you need." Sometimes they go long periods of time without seeing any staff (Tech/nurse/MD/DO/PA/NP/hell even registration staff), this eases the staff and the patient by letting the patient know they have not been forgotten. Do this and I promise you will get some response from the staff, likely positive but might be negative. This will entirely depend on your current relationship with the staff.
If you have not already introduced yourself to the nurses, MD/DO/PA/NP and you have been there for more than 3 shifts you have already created an issue. Do you walk into someone's home and not say hello or introduce yourself? The staff spends 12 hours a day in there, likely eat their food at their desk or station. They live in that area for 12 hours a day, you should have introduced yourself on day 1 or the first time you saw a member you did not know. My personal exception to this rule; MD/DO/PA/NP. Wait until they are walking around in a manner that does not indicate they are busy, checking on a patient, or want to be disturbed. You hopefully have the ability to identify that. If not, wait until they come out of their office gossip and talk.
My personal thoughts; go better yourself and attempt to salvage your reputation here. If you have been volunteering here for at least a month (1 day a week, 3 hours min) you already have a reputation of some sort. Likely not good based on the information your provided.
Good luck with final exams!
