Brandon Klotz – IS 200 – Service Learning Journal 3 – March 27, 2019

Part 1: A non-judgmental, objective description of what occurred.

Date: My community service took place on Saturday March 23, 2019.

Time: 9am – 11:45am

Duration: 2 ¾ hours

Location: Emergency Department at The Christ Hospital (C-level)

Service Activities: I focused on providing help and assistance to the nursing staff in the ER.

This particular Saturday, the ER was short-handed which made my seemingly menial tasks of

stocking linens, patient-gowns, masks, bed-sheets, cleaning supplies and assembling TB test

packets all the more valuable. I interacted with several patients, checking their comfort level,

asking caring questions, and offering them refreshments if desired.

People Involved: Around 15 nurses, 2-3 doctors, a RN lab tech, 3-4 other ED personal whose

position includes clerical duties, an x-ray technician, 2-3 patient transporters, an EVS custodian,

1 security guard, 1 Cincinnati Police Officer, and several patients. I interacted with several

nurses, asked them many questions, and assisted them when they asked for supplies.

Part 2 – Typed Notes

At 9:00am on Saturday, March 23, I started a 2 ¾ hour volunteer session at the ED of Christ

Hospital. As I walked through the department doing a routine inspection of the supplies before I

began my work, I was surprised to discover that someone I have known since 2012 is a nurse in

the ER. We were both surprised to see each other and recounted some memories from seven

years ago. This was not something I was expecting or was looking for, but am grateful for this

connection knowing the value it can potentially have down the road. I talked with Kayla for a

few minutes asking her many questions, getting some answers, and clearing up some ideas of

nursing I have had. After restocking the blocks A through C, word came out that the hospital was
Brandon Klotz – IS 200 – Service Learning Journal 3 – March 27, 2019

full to capacity. In the ER this means two things: 1.) new admits cannot be admitted because

there is nowhere to put them, which subsequently means they have to stay in their room, and 2.)

the ER staff has to figure out how to see new patients with no rooms available. The solution was

twofold: 1.) scrounge around for empty hospital beds and place them in the hallway, and 2.)

place less serious patients and those waiting to be admitted on the beds in the hallway. This was

a new and unique ER experience for me, but provided me with the opportunity to help the

patients in the hallways feel more comfortable in a very odd and unique situation. I offered and

handed out coffee, water, juice, and blankets. I helped fetch the nurse and turned the lights out

for someone wanting to sleep (with the nurse’s permission of course). Approximately 30 minutes

before leaving, the hallways were lined with beds in anticipation of a surplus of patients, and I

discovered that there were no TB tests packets assembled in the clean storage room. My friend

Kayla, the head nurse of B pod was responsible for restocking the TB test packs, but she was

already in her 15th hour of work due to a staffing shortage on 1st shift. I found all the supplies and

assembled 10 large and 10 medium TB test packets before I left for the day.

Part 3 – Subjective Response to the experience

C. One idea that stuck out to me from the classroom learning was the lack of training. The nurses

were a little unsure of what to do with the number of patients and the beds in the hallway, and I

was unsure of the limits of my position. Was I allowed to clean/wipe the beds in the hallway or is

that an activity with certain criteria for the nurses and environmental services? A patient in a

trauma room wanted the light turned out. Am I allowed to turn a light off? TB tests needed to be

assembled. Is there a list of items that all TB tests are to have? I found a completed TB test and

simply duplicated the items in that bag in the tests I assembled. Without bothering the already

drawn nursing staff, I had no way of knowing the contents of the test bag outside of copying the
Brandon Klotz – IS 200 – Service Learning Journal 3 – March 27, 2019

one assembled. The volunteer department at the hospital does a great job with the resources they

have, but the training is minimal and can leave the volunteer with many questions. My one hour

of training was not adequate enough to prepare me for the situations I would face. Realistically,

the decisions I face are not life and death, and volunteer departments should not be tasked with

giving trainees all possible scenarios and answers to all possible questions. Granted, I have a few

small tasks which does not include “saving the world”. With the events of Saturday, the lack of a

direct supervisor, and the unique role of a volunteer in a healthcare facility, I am reminded of the

class readings that list limited resources (time, money, personnel, etc) for volunteer services as

one of the downsides of short-term service learning.

K. I was very surprised to find someone I have known for seven years working in the ER. Kayla

and I travelled in Public Relations for different schools and met at youth camps and church

conferences during the summer of 2012. I knew Kayla was a nurse but didn’t know where. This

connection has the potential to influence a future job opportunity and provide a leg up in the

hiring process should I decide to work in the ER. Never mind the future possibilities,

reestablishing a connection with Kayla could help answer many questions I have about the ER

and nursing in general. She already helped answer some questions I have had for some time and

with her transition completed at UC, a Level 1 Trauma Center, helped clear up some procedural

questions I have had regarding clinicals. This experience goes to show that you won’t know the

impact of the help you have given out, and won’t know how giving and helping others may come

back to help you in the future (i.e. volunteering could help me land a job).

M. My main takeaway from both the March 23 and my ER volunteer experience in general is:

how important and meaningful something as little as a drink of water can be to someone in the
Brandon Klotz – IS 200 – Service Learning Journal 3 – March 27, 2019

hospital. I have watched patients and their families’ entire demeanor change when they realized

someone cared about them in this difficult time. Most families and patients do not frequent the

ER, but in my experience are pleased to find someone that cares when the do visit. Sure, hurling

starfish doesn’t solve all the starfish problems, but the patients to whom I have given a warm

blanket, a small drink and a smile would attest that hurling starfish made a difference to them.