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Journal #8: Habersham Medical Center

Taylor Van Tassel

Dr. Lindstone & Dr. Kaninjing

KINS 4306: Internship in Public Health

9 March 2019
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Week Eight:

(3/4/19 8:26am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-3:57pm.; 3/5/19 10:29am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-4:29pm.;

3/6/19 8:08am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-4:40pm.; 3/7/19 8:23am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-4:23pm; 3/8/19

8:13am-12:00pm; 12:30pm-3:23pm)

Total Hours this week: 34.75 hours

Total Overall Hours: 269.45 hours

This week began predominantly busy and experienced a sliding scale over the course of

the week. On Monday, I worked with case management to ensure that all patients were covered

with their Medicare Rights letter and Moon letters. Monday and Friday can be some of my

busiest days because every patient that has Medicare must receive one of these letters. Before I

shadowed a nurse, I consulted my supervisor, Tyler Williams, on the progress and observations

that I have witnessed during my time with case management and HCMC Homecare. HCMC

Homecare nurse had previously worked in the department that I am working with; therefore, she

was able to give me loads of insight about what actions could be taken to improve the

readmission rates. Besides miscommunication between all networks, there should be guidelines

for the case managers to follow when faxing over information about a patient to Home Health or

Skilled Nursing Facilities. The discharge instructions are not clear and understandable for

patients and I have noticed a constant trend. My hopes when shadowing a nurse was to be

exposed to the clinical side more and observe whether or not they are properly teaching the

patients every time they enter the room.

On Wednesday, 03/06, I shadowed a nurse. This was very eye opening and revealed the

work and effort that goes into being a nurse. I was shocked as to how slow pace it was in the

Medical Surgical Unit. The nurse had approximately 8 patients. The Medical Surgical
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department has Certified Nursing Assistants that aid in the patients’ needs and vital signs.

Therefore, the registered nurse did not have to do really anything besides giving medications

when needed. Luckily, I had the chance to observe the teaching method in regard to the

discharge packets. The RN did not properly take the time to teach the patient. The nurses are

using passive teaching methods. With that being said, they are lecturing the patient on the

instructions to follow and telling them to read over the instructions once home. The hospital

needs to transition into an active teaching technique, where you ask the patient to repeat you or

ask the patient to put the directions in a situational perspective. From my understanding, the

patients can say that they are aware and understand the instructions, however, without active

teaching methods, the patient might not fully understand their responsibilities to stay healthy. I

am still trying to configure how to instill this type of method with the nursing staff. The nursing

staff is completely overwhelmed and understaffed, however, this is not an excuse to cut corners.

Overall, the charge nurse should be the one teaching the patients about their discharge

instructions instead of the RN’s. Besides hiring more employees, I believe that there is another

way to aid these patients in the proper active teaching methods.