Kaitlyn Crowe: The Experiences That Altered My Perspective on Healthcare Environments
During the summer prior to starting my senior year at Lander University, I decided to complete a certified nursing assistant program to become a CNA. Through this program, I would be able to obtain clinical experiences and have the opportunity to provide direct patient care. Becoming a certified nursing assistant would allow me to work in a healthcare setting and gain patient care hours that are highly recommended or considered for acceptance into a physician assistant program, which is the profession I want to pursue succeeding graduation.
The certified nursing assistant program consisted of a month of classes, which included days of lecture and separate days for learning laboratory nursing skills in a setting that mimicked a hospital room with an actual hospital bed. In order to receive the certification, I needed a specific exam average, to get checked off at least three times by a nurse for laboratory nursing skills, complete state testing for both lecture material and laboratory skills randomly chosen, and complete two weeks of clinicals at the end of the program. The first week of clinicals took place inside of a hospital. The second week of clinicals took place inside of a nursing home.
The material both in lecture and associated with the laboratory skills emphasized high quality care for patients or residents. The textbook required for the program immensely highlighted the duty of a certified nursing assistant to actively listen to patients, help with hairstyling or dressing in order to increase self-esteem or confidence, be patient, maintain a calm presence, show empathy, offer practical help, offer distractions, and help create a positive work environment among other coworkers. However, throughout the first day of clinicals at the hospital, I quickly realized that the healthcare environment was vastly different compared to the environment and responsibilities I learned in lecture along with skills taught in the laboratory.
Prior to attending the first day of clinicals, I was prepared for the staff in the hospital setting to act similar to how I was taught in the lectures and in the laboratory. However, this was not the case. In the class, I was taught to never leave the patient’s room without ensuring that their call light was in reach and verbally tell them to push the button if they needed anything. I quickly noticed that the CNAs on the floor did not do that prior to leaving the room. In addition, I witnessed a few times when a CNA would not be friendly or patient. I realized that the CNAs would only do the minimum tasks and not spend any extra time talking with or comforting a patient as I was taught in lecture.
As I was walking to the first room on the first day of clinicals, I began to feel an abundance of anxiety. This was my first time ever working with patients or being involved with direct patient care. I walked into the first room to introduce myself to the patient and she responded by yelling and ordering me to leave the room. After this negative interaction, I felt extremely discouraged and began to question my choice in the healthcare field for a career. A little while later, I went back in the room to assist the patient with a bed bath. While doing so, I began to talk with her. The patient began to explain her condition to me. I expressed that I was actively listening, and I noticed that I was comforting her just by being someone that she could talk to about her concerns. As I was getting the water for the bed bath, she expressed that she liked “very warm water.” When I walked into her room the next day, her face lit up and she was smiling. She seemed very excited to see me. I assisted her with a bed bath again and this time I remembered that she liked warm water. When she realized the water was warm, she said, “I always have to remind everyone to use warm water, but you remembered!” She seemed very happy that I remembered this simple request. Prior to leaving the room, I asked her if she would like her TV turned on to distract her from having anxiety about her condition. She responded by saying, “yes, I would love that. No one has ever asked me if I wanted it on. I have always had to ask.” On the last day of clinicals, I told her it was my last day. She immediately got upset and told me that she loved me being there because no one else was ever as nice to her as I was. Leaving clinicals that day, I thought about my experiences with this patient. I no longer felt discouraged about choosing a career in the medical field. I became confident that I could not only just be a physician assistant in the future, but one who could make a difference by creating a positive, friendly, and comforting healthcare environment.
A similar experience with a resident at the nursing home occurred during one of the days of clinicals toward the end of the program. I noticed a resident would press the call light button and a CNA would go in the room and come back out. I watched it happen a few times with a different CNA each time. Due to the reoccurrence, I assumed he was not getting the help that he was requesting. On the fourth occurrence, I was the only person near his room. I walked in and he expressed to me that someone had removed his sweater out of his room to wash it without letting him know and never brought it back. I immediately went to ask someone where it would be because I noticed he was extremely anxious and upset that he did not have it. Someone was able to find it, and when I walked back into the room, he was so relieved. He began to tell me that the sweater actually belonged to his wife who passed away and that he wore it every day for comfort.
These experiences made me realize that working in a healthcare field is not about just getting tasks done that are listed on a patients chart, but it is about completing the tasks while also being an active listener and creating a friendly or comfortable environment for patients or residents. Whether it is as simple as turning a TV on for a distraction to reduce anxiety or finding a sweater that brings comfort, small things make a big difference for someone dealing with a medical condition.
Kaitlyn Crowe is from Seneca, SC. She obtained her certified nursing assistant certification during the summer of 2024 at Tri-County Technical College. She will graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After graduation, she will attend a physician assistant program to continue her love for biology and the healthcare field.