A Firsthand Account of Carsey's Winant Fellowship Program
Oh wow! My internship has been a great adventure! As I was in the internship program I got to see many different aspects of how the hospital serves the community and how I can serve the community. By working directly with the community in direct patient care or collaboration with rehabilitation therapists, I have helped the growth and health of many people in the community.
Supporting Physical Therapists
Now we can talk specifics! Through my internship, I often worked directly with physical therapists. I assist them in creating and maintaining a safe environment for the patients. I often worked the time-consuming tasks that the physical therapist might not have had time to do, such as: finding a wheelchair, bringing patients to the rehabilitation gym, wiping down equipment, brainstorming exercise prescriptions and routines, and many other things. Additionally, I helped physical therapists with patient rehabilitation by independently ambulating patients. With permission from the therapists or the nurses, I often walked patients around the halls, aiding in their physical abilities and furthering their recovery.
Nurturing Mental Health
Along with physical therapists, I also worked with occupational therapists. Although some of my tasks may have been the same, the tasks I helped with were more subtle. I.e. checking foot placement and helping patients balance when standing up. The small action I took on, not only helped the therapists pay more attention to their patients but also helped with charting and overall care.
Now that's enough about what I did to help patients physically—let's talk about what I did to help them mentally. One priority of my internship was bringing patients outside as much as I could. Although that may seem like a small task, the patients greatly appreciated it for many reasons. Some of the patients I took outside had been admitted to the hospital for over a year. If you didn't know, hospital windows don't open, so I took advantage of any chance I got to take a patient outside for a breath of fresh air. Not only does it help patient mentality, but it can help motivate, act as an antidepressant, strengthen immune systems, and give them something to look forward to.
Compassionate Care
Another way that I helped patients' mental healing was through Compassion Care. In my downtime from my physical labors, I often sat with patients just for some conversation. I listened to patients and distracted them from their worries. The hospital can be a lonely place, so having a friendly face matters.
A Life-Changing Experience
This experience as a whole was a challenging but rewarding memory for me. It reinforced the idea that I want to have a career in rehabilitation and furthered my excitement for that in the future. I was also extended the opportunity to continue this work at Dartmouth during my gap year, which I gladly accepted. I am fortunate and excited to continue to serve my community through my work at the hospital.
The opportunity to serve the community and dive into your passions through a hands-on internship is a priceless experience. This program is available to UNH juniors and seniors who live in New Hampshire! If you're interested in gaining real-world experience, check out the Winant Fellowship program and apply to be a part of the next cohort!
