NR725C_MaglaCh_Wk12_ServiceLearning_AlbanyCathedral

NR725C_MaglaCh_Wk12_ServiceLearning_AlbanyCathedral

August 31 – September 16, 2014 – 4 hrs.

Being new to Albany, I had so many challenges in finding agencies at the beginning. I contacted and went to different places and area churches to find out if they have volunteer programs. After multiple phone calls and meetings with different leaders and learning their different organizational missions, I have decided to volunteer for the Albany Cathedral Social Services. I felt that their mission fits with Regis` University`s mission to the community. In addition, I have been attending Sunday masses at the Cathedral since my relocation here at Albany, and being able to help at the cathedral`s social services will help me in knowing my new adapted community.

October 23, 2014 – 09.00 – 12.00

My first service learning at Albany`s Cathedral social services was a mixture of excitement, joy, and sadness. I was excited in the sense that I can finally help the community. I was also sad knowing that there are people out there who are barely making it and taking their lives on day-to-day basis.

As I arrived today at the Social Services office, I was greeted by Sister Margaret Mary who is the Social Services` Director of the facility. She gave me a tour of their office and she provided me with information on how the facility is providing services to Albany`s less fortunate. Their facility is one of Albany`s food banks on where they provide food assistance, as well as provide clothing to the South part of Albany`s downtown area. The facility`s food supplies are coming from the government and donated supplies from the people who want to help. The facility shares food supplies from all Albany`s food banks. These food banks have certain areas to cover, and are divided by zones. The facility`s relationship from other facilities makes it easier for them to connect and refer people who are needing help if they cannot accommodate them due to limited supplies available or people that are not covered for their services based on their area of residency.

After Sister Margaret gave me all the information and a quick tour, she assigned me to meet the people who are coming in. In order for these residents to get their food supplies, they need to show their proof of residency and identification card. The first person I assisted was a Burmese lady who cannot speak English. Getting her information was very challenging as we were having problem in communicating. After minutes of doing the “sign language” with Sister Margaret`s assistance as I was able to bring her to the food pantry to assists her in getting her and her family`s food supply. As we were going through the different food cupboards, I came to realize how difficult it is to be in a country where you cannot speak the language. I came to wonder how her and/or her family survives in getting through their daily lives. Despite of the challenges we went through, we were able to get her food supplies and she left with bags filled with food.

Aside from the assistance I provided with the Burmese lady, I was able to assists Sister Margaret in getting the residents signed up for their Thanksgiving dinner supplies and getting the residents` Christmas presents.

November 5, 2014 – 09.30 - 12.30

Today is my second day at the Social Services` office. No other volunteers arrived yet, just Sister Margaret (who`s assisting one resident on his application) and me. Since I am a bit familiar on what I needed to do, I just went directly to the food cupboards and checked if there are food supplies that I needed to refill. I started re-stocking the fridge and so on. Minutes later, other volunteers arrived and introduced myself, my purpose of helping, etc. with my conversations with other volunteers, I realized that most of them have been helping the community for quite a while – others have been doing it for two more years or so. Most of these volunteers are either retired or just wanting to help the community and make a difference, and they do not live near the area either.

As the office opened, residents were coming in to get their food supplies. I assisted the residents and helped them get what they need. After all residents were helped, Sister Margaret asked me to make food bags and re-stock the clothing racks. After the racks were re-stocked, other volunteers and I re-stocked the fridge with fresh produce that nearby grocery supermarkets donated. Then, a truck arrived filled with bakery goods, where we then unloaded and arranged them in the cupboard for residents to see, and saved some bakery goods to be distributed to other facilities.

My experiences at the Social Services were very meaningful and enlightening to me. It helped me realize that I should nothing to complain about, that I am still lucky and very privilege that I do not need to go to food banks like these people that I get a chance to know. Before the office closes, I spoke to Sister Margaret of my interest in continuing my service after I completed my needed hours of service learning. She then offered me to help out in wrapping Christmas presents and help in doing home deliveries for those residents who cannot come to the office, or for those who do not have a ride and no means of being able to pick up their food supplies.

With my experiences, I learned few things – to be grateful of what I have and to learn to share my time in serving to others. I do not need to be donating millions to charities to be able to help, but there are other means of helping like sharing my time to the community.

NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk12_GoodwillServiceLearning

NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk12_GoodwillServiceLearning – 5.25 hrs

After multiple inquiries with the branch manager, I was finally given an approval to volunteer at Goodwill Industries in Clermont, FL. It was an exciting day to finally get a chance to serve the community.

My first day of my service learning started with a very brief orientation to the facility and a bit of introduction to the people that I will be working with for a few hours. I was also given a brief facility tour. My task was to consolidate educational materials for kids and reading materials for adults and place them in bookshelves according to where they belong based on categories.

As I look at the giant boxes filled with donated goods from the community, I was amazed how others took their time to drop off those goods for the kids and others. Books/educational/reading materials that might be unnecessary for others, but very valuable to other children whose parents are unable to afford. As I started scanning and consolidating the materials, I was able to place them in bookshelves. As I was arranging them, I saw children with their happy faces as they checked on the books and other educational materials that I just recently arranged. I usually gets irritated when someone “re-arranges” all my nicely placed books on the shelves, but that day was different. I felt happy and proud that I was able to help the children locate the books that they wanted and needed. A feeling of contentment poured over me. My simple act of gesture finally made a difference to those children.

On my second day at the Goodwill Industries was similar, the only difference was, I was consolidating books and clothing. I was becoming more comfortable to what I was doing. Still, I was able to assist the community in locating what they needed and helped them find what they were looking for.

My experience at the Goodwill Industries was overwhelmingly wonderful and an eye opening for me. I know I am helping the community by working in the trauma hospital as an assistance nurse manager in the ICU and recently in PACU, but with this experience, it is totally different. I served the community with all my heart and soul. I realized that any services matter.

My remaining 30 minutes of the service learning was spent in communicating and contacting the agency regional and branch managers at the Goodwill Industries. I was informed by Clermont branch manager that I was not allowed to continue my service due to the reason that I did not do all my service learning within a week period. After I contacted the regional manager and told what I was told, she then contacted the branch manager to allow me to continue my services.

The letter below is given to me by the regional manager recognizing my services at the Goodwill Industries in Clermont, FL.  

June 24, 2014 To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is to confirm that Cherry Lynn Maglangit of Clermont, Florida has completed 5.25 (five hours and 15 minutes) volunteer hours. Cherry Lynn has not received any monetary or other gifts for her services.

Cherry Lynn is a hard working volunteer and we appreciate the time she has given to our Clermont Retail Store in Clermont, Florida.

Goodwill Industries of Central FL Inc. is a 501(C) 3 organization. Our mission statement is “Building Lives That Work”.

Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions or confirmation. Thank you. Darlene Kaiser

Darlene Kaiser Volunteer Coordinator 407-235-1571 dkaiser@goodwillcfl.org 7531 S. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, FL 32809

NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk12_ServiceLearningBlog

NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk12_ServiceLearningBlog

For this semester, I did my service at the Goodwill charity in Clermont, Lake County, FL. Clermont is a 45 minute drive away from Orlando, and is used to be a rural area and also used to be popular with retirees. The onset of the housing market, the hills and the surrounding lakes in the area made Clermont very popular to the younger generation coming from Orlando and other parts of the country, and even people the United Kingdom. The population in Clermont had increased tremendously over the last past five years or so with younger generation and active adults for reasons that they can train for marathons and participate bike races in the area, the area has always sporting events for both the younger and older generation, and Clermont houses The National Training Center for US athletes.

The Goodwill charity in Central Florida was established in 1959. It began providing tools that help people in the community overcome barriers to employment and find meaningful work. Today, the community donations serve as funding resources to help people in need find jobs and achieve economic self-sufficiency. The process starts in receiving donated goods, then selling the donated items. The proceeds from sales will then be used as funds for training and other services to help people for success (education, counseling, training). Having the tools to be used for work, a person in the community can then find good jobs to support himself and his family.

The agency`s clients are mostly homeless and people living in shelters. These clients are provided with vocational assessment(s), planning, counseling and placement services, as well as follow-up to make sure that their needs are met. The ultimate goal of this process is providing the participants with the right equipment to maintain long-term work and to help them transition from being homeless to having a permanent housing and to being able to sustain their own needs. The agency`s funds came from the community`s donated goods/items being sold in a very affordable prices. The proceeds are then to be used as funds to supporting the maintenance and training of the personnel who are providing the services to the community through education, community training, counseling, assessment etc.

As a nurse with a higher degree such as the DNP, I have the knowledge and understanding that being well and healthy in the community is not only concern on the physical aspect of the individual but rather it includes psychosocial, emotional, and mental well-being. With the wealth of knowledge that I have gained through my critical care experience in the hospital and will be obtained from school through the DNP program at Regis University, I can guide the underserved in promoting healthy lifestyle such as eating vegetables and encouraging them that doing simple daily exercises are important as eating their vegetables. I can provide them with information about the importance of being healthy and the consequences accompanied of living an unhealthy lifestyle.

I can also share information that there are free medical services available in the community and in the hospital to keep them on track with their health, this includes having their vital signs taken on monthly basis, obtaining immunizations for their kids and getting free medications during the flu season. I can also help advocate the underserved without families nearby to make sure their rights and dignity are maintained, and keeping the underserved informed with their health and medical situations to make sure they are and can make appropriate decisions regarding their medical care based on the health information they have.

The most challenging experience I had this semester was locating a new agency. I have decided to do my service learning near my place of residence for easy commute but finding an agency was not easy and was a challenge. I contacted and inquired two agencies for possible placement but did not get a response after multiple visits and phone calls. Despite of the difficulties I had, I still feel that I was lucky as I was able to help the underserved. During my services, I saw multiple families with kids and individuals looking for jobs to sustain their immediate needs. I saw moms and dads with their kids at the facility looking for very cheap toys, books and clothing for their kids. While I was there, I realized immediately how lucky I am to have a job and be able to sustain myself without digging and hunting from somebody else`s old clothing to clothe myself.  

As an individual, I can help the underserved by continuing my services to the charity after the DNP program even just a few hours a week. Also, as I was packing my belongings for the past few weeks for my relocation, I found out that I have so many belongings (clothing, shoes, cutlery, pots/pans and furnitures) that I will not be needing and I found them very unnecessary for my move. Instead of throwing them away, I gave them to the charity so others may benefit and can use them. As a professional, I can use my advantage of having the medical training and knowledge by volunteering to health centers that are providing free medical services to the community. I can also help training the underserved in terms of taking blood pressures so they can help as well when clinics are closed. I can also volunteer to provide health education to the community.

I believe that in every act of kindness, big or small, can have a huge impact to the individual and to the community. In order for me to have an impact to the community, I need to practice and believe what I taught. I am not perfect but recognizing and learning from my mistakes will be a good start to move forward and for the better – for myself and to the community I serve.

NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk1-2_ServiceLearningAgencyInquiries

NR725B_MaglaCh_Wk1-2_ServiceLearningAgencyInquiries – 5.5 hrs

During the spring semester, I volunteered at our hospital helping patients and families – especially those patients in the ICU and their families from out of state. This semester I switched to helping less fortunate families in Clermont, FL Lake County. But before I was able to get started, I was looking at two agencies that I feel that my services are needed. I went and visited The Blessed Sacrament Catholic church. I also went to Goodwill charity in Clermont. I have spoken to multiple managers, and was able to get more information about the agencies and presented my desire to help the community. If I will volunteer at The Blessed Sacrament, I will need to have my finger prints taken as the available opportunity for service learning is dealing with kids in the community, and the finger print results might take weeks and might cause some delays on my service learning. With the Goodwill charity, all I need to contact the manager. After careful consideration, I have decided to help the Goodwill charity.

After I made my decision, I went and contacted the branch manager at the Goodwill charity but I was told I needed to make an application through online – which I did. The area manager contacted me a few days after and was told that I needed to attend an orientation in Clermont branch. But due to my work schedule, I was unable to attend the orientation but the area manager was very kind to let me do my service learning without an orientation and was given a permission to do my hours on my available days off. I then immediately called the branch manager about it and set my service learning hours.

NR725A_Wk6_ServiceLearning

NR725A_Wk6_ServiceLearning

14^th Feb 2014 – 3.5 hrs

Today is 14^th February 2014 and it is Valentine`s Day. What stood out for me on this day is not the flowers and chocolates that I usually see in the stores, but the way on how I can give back to my community – my patients that I care about.

I went to the ICU and again, I saw patients` families waiting at the waiting area to hear news from their loved ones. Some were sobbing because of the bad news they received from ICU physicians, and some were angry because they felt that they were not given enough information on their loved ones by their physicians - but not sadness and despair that all I have witnessed today though. On some family members, I saw joy and relief on their faces knowing their loved ones are out of danger. What a way to remember and cherish on valentine`s day and everyday if only pain and suffering do not exist in the world.

As I catered patients` families` needs, I came to realize that I do not need to always assist or meet their needs. All they want is for someone to listen to their concerns and inform them why certain things cannot be done and/or their requests cannot be granted, and they will understand. On this situation, I witnessed a loved one who flew all the way from Philadelphia to Orlando, FL to see his brother who is in a critical condition. He had a chance of seeing his brother in the ICU for a few minutes and was asked to leave the room as his brother needs to be taken for an MRI of the brain, and was told by an RN to come back in thirty-sixty minutes. When he came back, visiting hours were over and wont resume until 20.00, and told him the patient just came back from the procedure and RN was in the middle of re-connecting the patient to ICU monitor, etc., I also informed the brother that he needs to come back at 20.00, but he insisted that he was not notified by the visiting hours and the RN told him to come back after 60 minutes. I did call the RN and explained what the family member had told me, but the RN said, “No, visiting hours is visiting hours, and hung up the phone”. I told the brother but he was very upset and I understood why he felt that way – he was worried of his loved one in the ICU and RN did not communicate properly to him regarding ICU policy on visiting hours. So, I did look for the RN in the ICU and she will not listen to what I said about the family. With my firm voice, I told her that she needs to get out at the family`s waiting area and talk to the family and the cause of the misunderstanding was her inability to communicate with the family members.

Truly, I felt anger on that situation why someone, especially a healthcare provider like an ICU nurse whose role is to supposed to advocate her patients and patients families could not even communicate to patient`s family. As an ICU RN myself I understand how we can get consumed with our work responsibilities and hospital policies, but I believe when in terms of meeting patients and patients families needs, there is always an exception to the rule. What I learned on the experience is, as an ICU nurse I need to be open to any work challenges and other possibilities in meeting my patients needs.

NR725A_MaglaCh_Wk5_ServiceLearning

NR725A_MaglaCh_Wk5_ServiceLearning

8th February 2014 - 4 hrs

I woke up today feeling refreshed but a bit anxious. I wondered what would it be the cause of such anxiety. Then, I realized, today is not just another day but today is a special day - I will start my first service learning activity at ORMC. 

ORMC has a very special place in my heart. The hospital does not only provide healthcare services to different communities of Central Florida and its neighboring communities, ORMC is where I started my full engagement as an ICU nurse.  I worked there as an ICU nurse for at least seven years, taking multiple roles as ICU shift manager and rapid response. There I met a lot of patients and families coming from different backgrounds, and there I learned helping patients and their families is not only a job, rather a commitment to myself to serve the nursing profession - especially critical care nursing, and a passion to serve others and make a difference. Passion that was instilled from my parents, and a passion that I developed throughout my nursing career.

I arrived in the hospital thirty minutes earlier than my scheduled service learning hours. I went and logged in at the volunteer services department and did not waste any time, and went directly to my assigned post – 5B Multi-system ICU waiting area. There, I saw patients` families and friends eagerly waiting to hear about their loved ones` conditions. Some were just there to be supportive of their families and friends, but no matter what their reasons were, they were there to be served and I to serve them to the best of my abilities.

I started asking questions of whom they were there for/which patient are they visiting for, any needs/help they needed while I was there, etc. I started bringing families and friends to the ICU after I had given permission from the bedside nurses. I have noticed mixed emotions between patients` families the first time they saw their loved ones – delight and sadness. Based on what I have witnessed, I gathered no matter who you are, how prepared you are and educated you are, in terms of knowing your loved ones are laying in the ICU bed with debilitating condition (s) and fighting for their lives, you are not ready and no one can tell you that they know how you feel – because they cannot and they will not.

NR725A_MaglaCh_Wk4_ClinicalJournal1 (posted initially at NR725A drop box)

NR725A_MaglaCh_Wk4_ClinicalJournal1

Your Name:  Cherry Lynn Maglangit

Date, hours and objective addressed

24^th January 2014 – 08.30-10.00 Orlando Regional Medical Center

-       To meet with the Volunteer Services Manager

-       To have agency contract signed

-       To have facility orientation and training

Clinical Activities Description

I find it today`s day is quite important and exciting as I will be meeting the Volunteer Services Asst Manager regarding my desire to volunteer. This is not my first time of meeting her - I already met her last week for an hour, but in ways I find it very exciting as we will be finalizing my agreement and contract between myself and the agency (Orlando Regional Medical Center) to start with my volunteer hours.

I arrived 30 minutes early of our appointment time ( I am not sure if it is due to an excitement or just the thought of being stuck in traffic in I-4!). But in the end, it worked for me as the Asst Manager really saw that I have the interest to volunteer. Being an employee of ORMC, I did not go through with all the background check, references and physical exam that will normally take weeks to accomplish. She just updated me of recent changes of the hospital and gave me a pamphlet to read regarding volunteer services department. The pamphlet talks about HIPPA, infection, my responsibilities as a volunteer and the like. The end of the pamphlet has an exam (which I didnt expect for an orientation) to determine if I understood what I was reading. I am glad I passed - I got 18/20. I think not too bad at all! She reviewed what I missed etc and we spoke about what volunteering is all about and the population I will be serving. We also agreed on which times and dates will I be starting my volunteer hours. I was also given a shirt to be my uniform (red shirt and black or dark blue khaki pants). Also, I was asked to go to security department for my volunteer badge.

After I got my necessary documentation done for my volunteer hours, I went to 5B Multi-system ICU to check my area to be and introduce myself on what I will be doing there in a few weeks. I saw the excitement of the ICU nurses and the lady at the waiting room knowing that they will have extra help during those hours in helping and meeting patients and families needs while they are in the hospital, especially in the ICU.

On my next documentation will hopefully be the start of my hours. I am looking forward to that day.

Reflection and Future Plans

Being able to finally meet the asst manager and getting the approval to start with my service learning experience in a few weeks is great, but knowing that I will start serving our patients and families is even better.

Service to the vulnerable population like ICU patients and families to me is not only meeting them but connecting with them in terms of providing their needs while they are in the hospital.

My plan on my first day next week will be familiarizing myself with the hospital and/or unit`s set-up, knowing the staff and the unit`s routine so I will be ready when patients and families ask me of the hospital and unit`s whereabouts, as well as I will be able to guide and direct them correctly.

NR725A_MaglaCh_Wk3_MeetingWithVolunteerServicesManager

24th January 2014 - 08.30-10.00 ORMC Volunteer Services - 1.5 hrs

I find it today`s day as quite important and exciting as I will be meeting the Volunteer Services Asst Manager regarding my desire to volunteer. This is not my first time of meeting her - I already met her last week for an hour, but in ways I find it very exciting as we will be finalizing my agreement and contract between myself and the agency (Orlando Regional Medical Center) to start with my volunteer hours.

I arrived 30 minutes early of our appointment time ( I am not sure if it is due to an excitement or just the thought of being stuck in traffic in I-4!). But in the end, it worked for me as the Asst Manager really saw that I have the interest to volunteer. Being an employee of ORMC, I did not go through with all the background check, references and physical exam that will normally take weeks to accomplish. She just updated me of recent changes of the hospital and gave me a pamphlet to read regarding volunteer services department. The pamphlet talks about HIPPA, infection, my responsibilities as a volunteer and the like. The end of the pamphlet has an exam (which I didnt expect for an orientation) to determine if I understood what I was reading. I am glad I passed - I got 18/20. I think not too bad at all! She reviewed what I missed etc and we spoke about what volunteering is all about and the population I will be serving. We also agreed on which times and dates will I be starting my volunteer hours. I was also given a shirt to be my uniform (red shirt and black or dark blue khaki pants). Also, I was asked to go to security department for my volunteer badge.

After I got my necessary documentation done for my volunteer hours, I went to 5B Multi-system ICU to check my area to be and introduce myself on what I will be doing there in a few weeks. I saw the excitement of the ICU nurses and the lady at the waiting room knowing that they will have extra help during those hours in helping and meeting patients and families needs while they are in the hospital, especially in the ICU.

On my next documentation will hopefully be the start of my hours. I am looking forward to that day.

NR725A_MaglaCh_Wk1_ServiceLearningBlog

Service to others can be taking some time off from your "routine life" and using that time off in helping or volunteering. I did my service learning experience at a thrift shop where parents can shop clothing for their children, furnitures for their house, books for their children etc at a very low affordable price. Actually pretty much inside the store were handed or given for free to the shoppers. Also, they have a food bank for the homeless as well. There I saw how basic necessities such as clothing and food are very important for survival. What I saw opened my heart and mind to give back by donating my unused clothing, donating canned goods every time I go there to do my service learning, and to the point that I just bought a set of dining table and chairs (that I do not really need) so the shop can generate an additional income to help the poor. At the moment, I am even thinking of donating the table and chairs back to shop so it can help generate income again for them. For this course, I have not exactly find a place to do my service learning but I have an idea that I might be doing it at the Hubbard House where our patients family members from out of state can stay in order to be closer with their sick loved ones in the ICU.