Hello! My name is Nicole Sohayegh, a dietetic intern at the NY campus, and I am currently in my advanced clinical rotation at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. It has been a whirlwind experience working at a Level 1 Trauma Center, with so many opportunities to learn from and different disease states to work with. Jamaica Hospital is near JFK airport, so we get some pretty interesting cases every once in a while. Everyday is a new journey, with its ups and downs, and I’m surprised to say that my favorite unit so far is in the ICU. At first, nothing terrified me more than the idea of working in an intensive care unit. But I realized that the fast-paced environment suited me quite well, and I found every case fascinating.
These past few months have also shown me how important nutrition really is when it comes to hospital readmission. Diabetes and heart disease were very common in the hospital, and when patients didn’t eat right it was probable that we would see them again within a few months. Something that has helped me tremendously along the way was my nutrition care manual pocket guide. This little book has saved me so often when I was unsure of how to go about a case, and was so easy to transport in my pocket!
While clinical nutrition is exciting and fast-paced, it was difficult to create a connection with a patient and facilitate change when I might only see them once or twice. Some patients are willing to listen and implement a few modifications, but many are focused on the present and are uninterested changing their diet habits. I’ve noticed that when a significant other is present during the assessment, I spend more time with the patient and am able to provide a brief yet targeted diet protocol for the patient to follow. Support systems are so necessary for people to implement behavior changes!
I can’t believe that my clinical experience is coming to an end, and am so grateful for all that I have learned. One thing I know is that this pocket guide will definitely be in my pocket for a little while longer, and will come in handy as I move onto my next rotations!
These past few months have also shown me how important nutrition really is when it comes to hospital readmission. Diabetes and heart disease were very common in the hospital, and when patients didn’t eat right it was probable that we would see them again within a few months. Something that has helped me tremendously along the way was my nutrition care manual pocket guide. This little book has saved me so often when I was unsure of how to go about a case, and was so easy to transport in my pocket!
While clinical nutrition is exciting and fast-paced, it was difficult to create a connection with a patient and facilitate change when I might only see them once or twice. Some patients are willing to listen and implement a few modifications, but many are focused on the present and are uninterested changing their diet habits. I’ve noticed that when a significant other is present during the assessment, I spend more time with the patient and am able to provide a brief yet targeted diet protocol for the patient to follow. Support systems are so necessary for people to implement behavior changes!
I can’t believe that my clinical experience is coming to an end, and am so grateful for all that I have learned. One thing I know is that this pocket guide will definitely be in my pocket for a little while longer, and will come in handy as I move onto my next rotations!
