Clinical Rotations
St. Agnes Hospital
I enjoyed two weeks at St. Agnes hospital for my second hospital rotation, providing staff relief for the 4500S unit, a med/surg unit. During my rotation, I also received consults and follow ups from the three terrific in-patient RDs at St. Agnes, as well.
A majority of the patients I visited were admitted with diagnoses different than those I experienced at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center. I really appreciated gaining new opportunities to interact with patients in settings new to me. Throughout staff relief, I gained additional experience with tube feed orders, advocating for nutrition support/diet advancement, nutrition to aid in wound healing, diabetes education (carb counting), and patient assessment (initial and follow up). I enjoyed working with nurses, doctors, and techs to assure patients received proper nutrition care and treatment.
A majority of the patients I visited were admitted with diagnoses different than those I experienced at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center. I really appreciated gaining new opportunities to interact with patients in settings new to me. Throughout staff relief, I gained additional experience with tube feed orders, advocating for nutrition support/diet advancement, nutrition to aid in wound healing, diabetes education (carb counting), and patient assessment (initial and follow up). I enjoyed working with nurses, doctors, and techs to assure patients received proper nutrition care and treatment.
Children's National Medical Center
I spent two weeks at Children’s National Medical Center. During my first week, I worked with the GI team. During this week, I followed an 8 month old failure-to-thrive patient from assessment through first follow up. I appreciated being able to observe a SLP consult with our young patient, it was great to see how SLPs work with infants and it was beneficial to witness our patient refusing bottle and solid food. I also followed a patient admitted for a serious Crohn’s flare up. TPN was the only way to get all the calories into this adolescent patient. During my GI week, I experienced many of the clinical peculiarities involved in pediatric assessment and treatment. Unique to this rotation, I also experienced family dynamics unique to the pediatric setting.
I gained experienced in outpatient pediatric obesity during my second week- my first experience in an outpatient setting. The RD with whom I worked, Angela, spends a small part of her week providing general nutrition guidance. The large majority of her week is spent with Children's National's IDEAL clinic. I was fortunate to gain experience in these two areas, the approach to the two unique areas (general nutrition vs obesity) is very different.
In the IDEAL clinic, each patient is scheduled to be seen by a RD, RN, MD, and social worker at each visit. I met with clients, and also followed some clients as they met with the team's RN, MD, and social worker. I am very grateful for the experience I gained in this unique setting as my interview and mental endurance were definitely put to the test! I also witnessed the criticality of being flexible and quick thinking.
You can view my Children's case study on my Work Samples page.
I gained experienced in outpatient pediatric obesity during my second week- my first experience in an outpatient setting. The RD with whom I worked, Angela, spends a small part of her week providing general nutrition guidance. The large majority of her week is spent with Children's National's IDEAL clinic. I was fortunate to gain experience in these two areas, the approach to the two unique areas (general nutrition vs obesity) is very different.
In the IDEAL clinic, each patient is scheduled to be seen by a RD, RN, MD, and social worker at each visit. I met with clients, and also followed some clients as they met with the team's RN, MD, and social worker. I am very grateful for the experience I gained in this unique setting as my interview and mental endurance were definitely put to the test! I also witnessed the criticality of being flexible and quick thinking.
You can view my Children's case study on my Work Samples page.
UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center
My first clinical rotation was at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie where I worked with five different RDs in 8 different units at BWMC. Throughout my 10 weeks at BWMC, I learned so much about myself while I improved my MNT and critical thinking skills, as well as my patient education skills.
During my rotations, I assessed patients and followed their progress using the Nutrition Care Process. I worked with many different health conditions and disease states, and also gained experience with amputees and vented patients. I attended morning rounds during my two weeks in SICU where I actively engaged in patient treatment.
I volunteered on a Saturday to gain a feel for what the RDs experience on their rotating Saturday coverage. I’m so glad I took the initiative because I was able to work independently and push myself, weeks before my staff relief.
Staff relief was fantastic. I covered the 5 South unit and enjoyed every minute of those two weeks. I stayed out on the floor, so by the end of my first week most of the providers on the floor knew me and would come directly to me for nutrition assistance.
Thanks so much to the great RD staff at BWMC for their support while I was a part of the team!
You can view my BWMC major case study on my Work Samples page, as well as other work samples I completed during my rotation.
During my rotations, I assessed patients and followed their progress using the Nutrition Care Process. I worked with many different health conditions and disease states, and also gained experience with amputees and vented patients. I attended morning rounds during my two weeks in SICU where I actively engaged in patient treatment.
I volunteered on a Saturday to gain a feel for what the RDs experience on their rotating Saturday coverage. I’m so glad I took the initiative because I was able to work independently and push myself, weeks before my staff relief.
Staff relief was fantastic. I covered the 5 South unit and enjoyed every minute of those two weeks. I stayed out on the floor, so by the end of my first week most of the providers on the floor knew me and would come directly to me for nutrition assistance.
Thanks so much to the great RD staff at BWMC for their support while I was a part of the team!
You can view my BWMC major case study on my Work Samples page, as well as other work samples I completed during my rotation.