Third year portfolio by Giorgia Ciavardini

MANDATORY Why do you want to be a nurse? When did you decide you wanted to be a nurse? Did anyone or anything influence your decision? Write 100-150 words.

ciavardini01 — 2021-05-08 18:41:51 UTC

Studying nursing sciences has always been one of my life projects. Since i was a child i have always wanted to help others and dedicate them as much time as possible. Now that i'm grown up my dream is to work in hospital wards and take care of those who suffer and be able to contribute to the recovery of the sick. In short i want to put my life at the service of the community. An important role in my decision was played by my aunt. She is a nurse. My passion started seeing her professionalism and her ability to solve important problems even in our family. So i decided that when i grew up i wanted to be like her and do the same things. Over the years also due to some personal experiences i have undestood that the nurse is at the forefront in the recovery of patients more than doctors by providing them also psycological and emotional support.

MANDATORY Create a dialogue you could hear in a hospital. Explain the scene, location, actors. Write at least 100 words

ciavardini01 — 2021-05-08 18:44:16 UTC

We are in the surgery department and a patient, immediately after an operation, has a dialogue with the nurse.

The patient calls the nurse in his room:

Patient: Nurse, I feel like i might have a fever. It’s so cold here!

Nurse: I don’t think so! Let me feel your forehead.
Patient: So? What do you think?

Nurse: You feel a bit warm. Let me get a thermometer to check.

Patient: Ok, thank you! Can you bring me another bottle of water, too?

Nurse: Certainly. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Patient: No, Thanks! You’re an angel!

Nurse: Hahaha ok, I’ll be right back with the thermometer in a moment.

The nurse coming in the room…

Nurse: I’m back. Here’s your bottle of water. Please put the thermometer under your tongue.

Patient: Of course! Thank you.

The patient put the thermometer under the tongue...

Nurse: yes, you have a slight fever. I think I’ll take your blood pressure as well.

Patient: Is there anything to worry about?

Nurse: No, no! Everything’s fine. It’s normal to have a fever after a surgery like yours!

Patient: Thank goodness you are here!

Summarize a tv show, movie or book that was set in a hospital/clinic/doctor's office.

ciavardini01 — 2021-05-08 18:49:11 UTC

My favorite tv series is "New Amsterdam". It's an american medical drama. It is based to some extent on Dr. Eric Manheimer's memoir "twelve patients life and death at Bellevue hospital". The main character is Dr Max Goodwin. He is brilliant and charming. He becomes the new medical director at America's oldest public hospital. While he is set on tearing down the bureaucracy to provide exceptional care, the doctors and staff are not so sure. They've heard this before and no one else has delivered on those promises. Not taking no for an answer, Max distrupts the 'status quo' and proves he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfundend and underappreciated hospital and return it to the past glory.
Around him revolve many other characters like doctor Bloom, the head of the emergency department, doctor Floyd Reynolds, the heart surgeon and Iggy Frome , the psychologist. Dr Goodwin wants them to work as a team always remembering that their job is to take care of patients and to guarantee them the best possibile medical care.

Choose 15 new vocabulary words from Units 1 - 5 in our textbook. Write your own sentence for each word. Each sentence should be (minimum ) 10 words.

ciavardini01 — 2021-05-08 18:51:17 UTC

· The AUXILIARY NURSE tells, in details, the delicate and rewarding work she does, taking care of babies as if they were her own children.

· I was finished a surgery just now, when a SCRUB NURSE asked me how my husband was feeling, because she had heard he was in the E.R.

· Some practices are very advanced and require close supervision by a FULLY QUALIFIED teacher.

· My sister gave birth in the OBSTETRICS department with her childhood friend Clara.

· Parasympathetic and sympathetic NERVOUS SYSTEM activity has been associated with two frequency bands.

· It is often very difficult for the DISABLED to find job into hospital departments.

.Severe cyanosis is common in the early postoperative period and may be LIFE-THREATENING.

· During the spring period many people start to have symptoms caused by pollen ALLERGY.

· Diagnoses were conducted at the INITIAL ASSESSMENT and confirmed after a series of analyzes and tests.

· I think that patients must have access to better information about medical products subject to medical PRESCRIPTION.

· Ischemic injuries that can selectively damage the medial temporal lobe, such as CARDIAC ARREST, rarely occur in children.

· This is a helicopter medic giving CPR to a soldier who had been shot in the head.

· After five minutes in the water he was exhausted and was soon cold and had a THROBBING PAIN in his head.

· Some mothers are expected to give a birth at home without PAIN RELIEF.

·Symptoms of this disease may include a DULL ACHE or SHARP PAIN on the bottom of the foot

List five Covid-19 English language resources that are important for nurses:

ciavardini01 — 2021-05-08 18:58:31 UTC

1) Covid in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

2) Symptoms of Coronavirus | CDC

3) This is What Nurses Need To Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Nurse.org

4) How COVID-19 is affecting nurses’ mental health, and what to do about it | RCNi

5) Nurses are leading the COVID-19 response around the globe | Hub (jhu.edu)

carolmarkino — 2021-05-14 14:44:21 UTC

I enjoyed reading your Padlet, Giorgia. I especially liked reading about your dream and how you chose nursing . Your aunt must be very happy to know that she is your role model.

Best,
Carol

MANDATORY -- 2nd year -- What makes a good nurse? What skills are needed? Why do you think you will be a good nurse?

ciavardini01 — 2021-12-06 14:41:18 UTC

In my opinion, the nursing profession is a real ethical impulse, a moral choice and an unceasing struggle against the pain, rather than a job. Meeting professional and empathic nurses means finding the way to cure. So, according to me, the most important skills that a nurse must have, are:
‘CARRING’= This is one of nurses leading qualities. A nurse showing a natural tendency to truly care about how their patients feel will have a significant impact on her success in the nursing field.
‘COMMUNICATION’ = Strong communication skills are critical characteristics of a nurse. A nurse’s role relies on the ability to effectively communicate with other nurses, doctors, disciplines across other units, patients, and their families.
‘EMPATHY’ = A good nurse must show empathy towards her patients by making a true effort to put herself in their shoes. When patients are lucky enough to meet a nurse with these qualities, their care experience will certainly be better. ‘PROBLEM SOLVING’ = Problem solving skills are essential to nursing. Nurses generally have the most one-on-one time with patients and are often responsible for much of the decision making related to their care. Even small decisions can have major impacts and cause adverse patient outcomes if incorrectly made. Obviously, all these qualities are acquired over the years and through experience in the field. I personally have a lot to learn, but the love that I have for this job and the passion that drives me every day to the hospital from the patients , make me hope that one day I too will be a professional and empathic nurse.

MANDATORY --2nd year -- Choose an article from the "Reading Bank" in your textbook (p52 - 66) and summarize it.

ciavardini01 — 2021-12-06 14:45:05 UTC

MYTHS AND FACT = the text reports sequentially, all the myths that once tried to explain the existence of mental illness and all the strange beliefs about these. Fortunately, today we know much more about mental illness thanks to study and scientific research on the human psyche, although some people still believe in these myths.
• The first myths say that people with mental illness are violent and unpredictable. In reality, the statistics show that people with psychotic illness are no more violent than the general population. They are more likely to be frightened and confused than violent.
• Mental illness is a figment of the imagination. That’s not true! Mental illness is real. That causes suffering and disability. The symptoms are a sign of real illness which needs treatment and diagnosis.
• Mental illness cannot affect me. The mental disorders are common and can affect anyone.
• Therapy and self-help are a waste of time. This is not true! There is a wide range of treatments, therapy and community support. Most people with mental illness get better. Also hope is an important factor in an individual’s recovery
• Mental illness only effect people in rich country. Mental and brain disorders are found among people in developed countries as well as in developing nations.
• There is no hope for people with mental illness. Actually, people may work with therapists, psychologists. They also use self-help strategies and community supports.
• If I have a mental illness, it’s a sign of weakness; it’s my fault… any more than heart disease or diabetes are your fault. Mental illness is a product of biological, genetic, psychological, and social factors.
• Most people with mental illness live on the streets or are in mental hospitals. Most people with mental illness live in the community.

Listen to one of the recordings from our book. You can choose any recording from Unit 1 to Unit 10. Summarize what the recording is about.

ciavardini01 — 2021-12-06 15:04:02 UTC

UNIT 8 / LITENING 1 – A diabetic patient:
The recording is a dialogue between a nursing student and a nutritionist. In the dialogue we are in hospital and the two protagonists discuss about patient with type 1 diabetes. The student asks the specialist for more information on this pathology. The doctor explains to the student the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs at the age of 18 or younger. The patient must have insulin injections and must follow a specific diet. The student notes that the patient isn’t overweight. The nutritionist explains in fact that obesity is typical of type 2 diabetes and not type 1. Then he explains that the patient can eat sweet foods, the important thing is to eat the same amount of food in the same hours. He should have snacks, not big meals, especially before bed. The key thing is to count calories to avoid hypoglycemia (not enough glucose in the blood).

Write (or record) a 100 word description of one of your clinical tutors. What kind of personality did your tutor have? What did you admire about this person?

ciavardini01 — 2021-12-06 15:05:01 UTC

During my work experience in different hospital departments, I was lucky to have been supported by very prepared clinical tutors, always ready to make themselves available for everything. I remember one tutor with great pleasure: his name is Matteo, he’s a very young boy, intelligent and prepared; he’s patient and generous with patients, nice and witty, always ready to show me procedures and let me try. What I admire the most about him is the care, dedication, passion and sacrifice he uses every time he takes care of a patient. He is an emphatic and professional nurse, who helps and saves patients not only from physical but also from psychological and emotional illness. I would love to be like him one day.

Write (or record) an essay about why you would (or would not) like to be a clinical tutor in future. (100 words)

ciavardini01 — 2021-12-06 15:10:41 UTC

Fortunately, I have always been supported by very helpful tutors, but I also met many of them, who, in my opinion , were not able to do it. A clinical tutor has a very big responsibility: he becomes teacher in the profession, but also in life, has the task of teaching all his knowledge both practical and theoretical, to show some useful little secrets to avoid making mistakes and to be a good nurse. I believe that choosing to become a tutor is an ethical and moral impulse, to be pursued only if one is truly convinced. I don’t know if one day I’ll become a good tutor too. I think I still have a long way to go and a lot of things to learn. However, if during my professional life, I will feel the need to share my knowledge with others, I will immediately be ready to commit myself to becoming a human, responsible, professional, and prepared clinical tutor.

carolmarkino — 2021-12-12 16:24:19 UTC

December 2021
Hello Giorgia,
Again this time, I enjoyed reading your Padlet. You made a good point.. being a clinical tutor is an enormous responsibility and not all nurses are good tutors. Reading about your admiration for Matteo's skills was a pleasure.
Happy Holidays!
Carol

Mandatory -- 3rd year -- Your future: What type of structure do you imagine working in? How do you imagine your career? Write 75- 100 words

ciavardini01 — 2024-04-28 09:55:40 UTC

If someone asked me where I would be in 10 years‘time, I would probably answer that I would be in an ambulance helping people in need.

Thanks to my studies and three years of clinical training at the hospital, I have become passionate about emergency medicine, and everything related to the critical and intensive area. I think it is a very stimulating and interesting field, where you never stop learning and getting better.

It would be a wonderful experience to continue working at the hospital where I studied, The Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome, but it would also be nice to have new experiences in other hospitals, even outside of Italy. My ambition is also to work at a territorial level, that is, to help patients with chronic diseases who are managed at home. To sum up, I have many projects for the future, and I hope to complete them one by one.

Mandatory -- 3rd year -- Write 150 words about your experience with one of your clinical tutors.

ciavardini01 — 2024-04-28 09:58:31 UTC

Fortunately, during my three years of internship I always had excellent tutors from whom I learned a lot on both a clinical and human level.

One of the tutors who taught me more than the others is called Fabio.

He is an intensive care nurse from Tor Vergata. I met him in the Stroke Unit, which is a particularly complex department. Patients in this unit mainly suffer from strokes and cerebral ischaemia, losing speech, mobility, and in some cases even their respiratory function.

At first, Fabio seemed to me to be a very severe person: he is very tall, robust, with a beard and a grumpy look, and he seemed to be angry with everyone.

Instead of being the same, he was completely different. He was immediately kind and understanding with me. He had a strong desire to share his passion for the profession with me.

I learned many new procedures and tricks from him, and most importantly, he taught me to always appreciate our work. He was an excellent teacher and I aspire to be like him one day.

Mandatory -- 3rd year -- Because you will be new graduates, your CV should not be more than one page. Upload your English language CV /resume

ciavardini01 — 2024-04-28 10:02:22 UTC

This is my CV, i hope you like it.

Describe an encounter with a patient.

ciavardini01 — 2024-04-28 10:06:28 UTC

My most recent experience working in the stroke unit of the Tor Vergata polyclinic, was helping with the hospitalization of a 28-year-old mother named Pamela who had suffered an ischaemic stroke after giving birth, requiring a thromboctomy and several days of treatment.

On arrival at the ward, where my tutor and I welcomed her, Pamela was very upset and worried. Unfortunately, the stroke had affected her speech centres, so she could only communicate with us through gestures and monosyllables. Despite this, she continued to cry and get so excited that we couldn’t even accept her and test her.

We paused for a moment and, although there were so many things to do, we decided to devote some time to this young woman who, on the happiest day of her life, found herself in a hospital bed away from her newborn son.

I was lucky to have a professional to help me understand how to deal with vulnerability and fear as a healthcare professional.

We sat next to her tried to understand what she was trying to communicate with her shining hands and eyes, tried to reassure her about her medical condition and tried to contact her family immediately.

I was working the night shift, so I was with her all night, which, as you know, is a time when you’re on your own thinking and dealing with all your problems, which increases your fears.

Pamela couldn’t sleep, the crying kept on, but I managed to get her to sleep, while she showed me all the photos her husband had taken during the pregnancy and the first moments of their newborn son.

I welcomed her tears and, just by being there, I was able to make her less afraid.

April 2024

carolmarkino — 2024-04-28 13:12:27 UTC

Passed :)

I wish you all the best, Giorgia, in your future nursing career!

C. Markino