Hello everyone! My name is Andrea, and I am a Sodexo Dietetic Internships distance intern. I recently completed my clinical rotation at Lakewood Regional Medical Center (LAK) in Lakewood CA, located near Long Beach. Originally from Massachusetts, I found my way to California almost 10 years ago and now happily reside in Los Angeles; I love the East Coast, but I don’t miss the winters! Although I was extremely nervous to begin my clinical rotation, I can now say that I had a great experience at LAK. I not only learned an immense amount in the short 4 months that I was there, but I was exposed to things that I had not experienced previously.
The dietitians at this facility work very closely with the wound care nurses, and I quickly realized that pressure injuries were a major concern. Not only did the hospital administration take special interest in this area, but it’s also a condition that can be directly influenced by nutrition both in preventative care and treatment. I was given the opportunity to go on daily wound care rounds with the dietitian, wound care nurse, and department director. During this time, we would review patients at risk or presenting with a pressure injury, and collaboratively assess need for special mattresses, nutrition interventions, and wound care protocols. I also sat in on the monthly wound care meetings, which brought together various departments to discuss skin protection interventions, pressure injury prevention, and management of wounds and skin issues. Additionally, I was able to shadow the wound care nurse as she performed assessments on her patients. We saw patients that day with wounds varying from a small skin tear to a stage III pressure injury. This was very interesting and I am so thankful for this opportunity.
This experience further enforced the notion that working closely with other disciplines is so important to provide the best care possible. I will take this concept with me as I continue through my rotations and into my professional career!
The dietitians at this facility work very closely with the wound care nurses, and I quickly realized that pressure injuries were a major concern. Not only did the hospital administration take special interest in this area, but it’s also a condition that can be directly influenced by nutrition both in preventative care and treatment. I was given the opportunity to go on daily wound care rounds with the dietitian, wound care nurse, and department director. During this time, we would review patients at risk or presenting with a pressure injury, and collaboratively assess need for special mattresses, nutrition interventions, and wound care protocols. I also sat in on the monthly wound care meetings, which brought together various departments to discuss skin protection interventions, pressure injury prevention, and management of wounds and skin issues. Additionally, I was able to shadow the wound care nurse as she performed assessments on her patients. We saw patients that day with wounds varying from a small skin tear to a stage III pressure injury. This was very interesting and I am so thankful for this opportunity.
This experience further enforced the notion that working closely with other disciplines is so important to provide the best care possible. I will take this concept with me as I continue through my rotations and into my professional career!
