Hi everyone! My name is Margaret DeFranco and I just finished my Staff Relief rotation at my clinical site, Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA. After spending majority of my time at this site (since September!), it felt strange to see the rotation come to an end. While I am reflecting on my experience, I realize how much I have grown as a nutrition professional and all that I have learned from my preceptors. I was able to get a broad and diverse clinical experience by working with Registered Dietitians in the medical/surgical units, various intensive care units, burn center, pediatric units, oncology center, kidney transplant center, weight management center, inpatient rehabilitation centers, inpatient and outpatient TPN centers, and more. I even got to work with other medical professionals, including wound care nurses and respiratory therapists. All of these experiences helped me to enter my Staff Relief feeling prepared and excited to apply all I have learned!
One of my favorite parts of my Staff Relief rotation was being assigned to my own floors and applying the new knowledge that I have learned in the past few months. By having my own floors, I was able to get to know my patients better and watch their progress. It was a great feeling to see my nutrition recommendations and interventions make an impact on my patients! I am very thankful for the solid clinical foundation that the internship and my preceptors set for me. I know it will make a huge impact on my future career as a registered dietitian, and I can’t wait to get started after graduation!
One of my favorite parts of my Staff Relief rotation was being assigned to my own floors and applying the new knowledge that I have learned in the past few months. By having my own floors, I was able to get to know my patients better and watch their progress. It was a great feeling to see my nutrition recommendations and interventions make an impact on my patients! I am very thankful for the solid clinical foundation that the internship and my preceptors set for me. I know it will make a huge impact on my future career as a registered dietitian, and I can’t wait to get started after graduation!
