Nursing Work in a Hospital Gift Shop
A volunteer is often the first person a visitor or patient encounters at the hospital and are a much needed friendly face to ease the anxiety that can accompany a hospital stay. As a nursing student, I have had a learning experience volunteering in the hospital gift shop. Most of my roles have to provide gifts to enhance care for the patients and giving hope to patients who have been having difficulties accepting their medical status. I have been tasked with providing gifts associated with the care that a patient is going through. Also, the gifts have been helping patients to adhere to their prescriptions as well as on the right diet. Working in collaboration with other medical officers has been crucial in assisting in the growth of my career. The more we give, the happier we feel. Volunteering increases self confidence, and gives you a sense of pride and identity. You are doing well for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment.
My feelings around the patients have been built on the desire to assist patients in their recovery journey. I had the ability to provide a needed service to the hospital with dignity and understanding. It was a chance for me to give something back to my community and make a difference to the people. Recovery is always a process that requires a combination of confidence and the spirit to recover from whatever illness (Usher et al. 2017). The creation of a positive environment around the patients helps patients in the recovery process. I have been determined to touch the lives of patients who get gifts from the shop and provide hope even in the darkest times. I have always had the feeling that the notion that someone cares gives a patient confidence and energy to fight longer.
Volunteering is always a difficult decision to make. However, I have learnt throughout the process of the strengths that I hold. While volunteering there where an arsenal of skills that I gained and improved for myself. Socially, the benefits of volunteering show up quickly and hopefully have long term effects. Social interaction is noted to improve mental and physical health (Qi, Smith & Yeoman, 2018). However, I have realized that I sometimes care too much for others and forget about my welfare. Caring too much has cost me several chances of moving on with my career because I have always chosen the patients above everything else. However, I have realized that I have a strong personality, and I have dealt with the hardship that comes along volunteering work.
In sum, hospital gift shops pace the interests of the patients above everything else. When a patient realizes that other people care about their welfare, the recovery process becomes more manageable. Volunteering is not an easy decision to make, but my strong personality has been helpful.
Reference
Qi, H., Smith, K. A., & Yeoman, I. (2018). Cross-cultural event volunteering: Challenge and intelligence. Tourism Management, 69, 596-604.
Usher, K., Woods, C., Parmenter, G., Hutchinson, M., Mannix, J., Power, T., … & Jackson, D. (2017). Self-reported confidence in patient safety knowledge among Australian undergraduate nursing students: a multi-site cross-sectional survey study. International journal of nursing studies, 71, 89-96.