I am Jennifer Cuddeback and I live in St. Louis, Missouri. I am very happy to have the opportunity to participate in the Sodexo Distance Internship. My internship started with the clinical rotation, which I recently completed. I worked with an outstanding group of registered dietitians who were easy to learn from and provided me with great information. With their exceptional guidance, I was able to hone my chart writing and patient education skills. I felt comfortable providing education and assessing patients on my own after only a few sessions of shadowing them. While I definitely needed some additional guidance, their ability to trust in me gave me confidence to visit patients on my own early in the rotation.
I was also provided opportunities to observe medical procedures and treatments commonly experienced by our patient population. The RDs I worked with arranged for me to spend time in the cardiac cath lab where I watched a renal stent being placed. I also observed endoscopy and colonoscopy exams, shadowed Speech Language Pathology while they performed bedside swallow exams, and observed chemotherapy and radiation treatments. These opportunities allowed me to understand a bit more of the patient experience. It also made me more comfortable working with other medical care providers, which came in handy during ICU rounds.
To be honest, I was a bit unsure about working in the clinical setting. I am not a big fan of hospitals, but my experience at this hospital has opened my mind to a new career opportunity. The people in each department I engaged with were great. If you too are hesitant of entering the clinical rotation, take it from me - you will learn a lot and may even have fun.
I have also tried to fit in some community hours by being open to new and different opportunities. I rode a bike around downtown St. Louis to promote an organization bringing fresh produce into food desserts.
I am about to start my food management rotation with a school district and I bet it will shape up to be another fantastic experience. If I can provide any advice, it would be to have an open mind and take every opportunity that comes your way. If nothing else, you will meet new people and expand your network.
I was also provided opportunities to observe medical procedures and treatments commonly experienced by our patient population. The RDs I worked with arranged for me to spend time in the cardiac cath lab where I watched a renal stent being placed. I also observed endoscopy and colonoscopy exams, shadowed Speech Language Pathology while they performed bedside swallow exams, and observed chemotherapy and radiation treatments. These opportunities allowed me to understand a bit more of the patient experience. It also made me more comfortable working with other medical care providers, which came in handy during ICU rounds.
To be honest, I was a bit unsure about working in the clinical setting. I am not a big fan of hospitals, but my experience at this hospital has opened my mind to a new career opportunity. The people in each department I engaged with were great. If you too are hesitant of entering the clinical rotation, take it from me - you will learn a lot and may even have fun.
I have also tried to fit in some community hours by being open to new and different opportunities. I rode a bike around downtown St. Louis to promote an organization bringing fresh produce into food desserts.
I am about to start my food management rotation with a school district and I bet it will shape up to be another fantastic experience. If I can provide any advice, it would be to have an open mind and take every opportunity that comes your way. If nothing else, you will meet new people and expand your network.
