Nurse Practitioner Research Papers
Former successful Olympian, Gail Devers, once said “Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication” (Gail Devers, Brainy Quotes). Dever’s words resonate as she inspires those who usually let obstacles keep them from chasing their dreams. As children with an overactive imagination, nothing seems out of reach. Somehow, as we grow older, we begin to notice our strengths and weaknesses and we end up letting go of our old dreams and moving on. Growing up, I fanaticized over what I would do as an adult. Those fantasies ranged from a world-famous pop star to President of the United States. Through all those times of make-believe speeches and singing into a hairbrush, one of my
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fantasies as a child continues to stick with me. During free-play as a preschooler, my teachers would usually find me pretending to give other kids shots and talking to Mr. Bones. Even though I dreamt of fame as a child, the medical field has always been a passion of mine. The medical field has an overwhelming amount of career paths to take. Entering high school, I had a general idea of what I wanted to do, but I had no idea of which path to take. The ProjectDREAMS job shadow process helped push me in the right direction. Shadowing a general practitioner, nurse practitioner, and pharmacist helped lead me in a direction that strengthened my interest and love for the medical field. In seventh grade health class, I developed an interest in bones. To this day, I can’t recall what drew me to liking bones so much but it was something that I understood and I accompanied my mom at her appointments and I thought that Orthopedics may be something that I would want to do when I graduated.
My first job shadow was at The Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on January 8, 2016 where I shadowed an Orthopedist, Dr. Deluca. During the shadow, I was able to sit with Dr. Deluca and analyze x-rays to prepare and organize information before meeting the patient and even get a head-start on a diagnosis. We then visited each room to officially diagnose the patients and give them treatment options. Most of the patients that I saw were recovering from surgeries. I saw a couple procedures being performed such as draining fluids from a patient’s surgical wounds and cortisone shot injections which helped patients with joint pain. Dr. Deluca even sat with me and explained his process for trouble shooting patients using their signs, symptoms and his knowledge from his schooling and experience.
Overall, I enjoyed my first job shadow and it strengthened my love for the medical field. I noticed the positive relationships Dr. Deluca made with his patients and how they trusted and relied on him to take care of them. The only concern that I had with becoming an Orthopedist was the amount of schooling I would have to go through. I knew in advance that the medical field involves a lot of education and a rigorous curriculum, but I wasn’t sure that eight years of schooling, an internship, and a residency was a path that I’d want to pursue.
Following my job shadow, I continued to research similar medical occupations and I became interested in becoming a nurse practitioner. I liked how a nurse practitioner carries the same responsibilities as a nurse but can take on more of a leadership role like a doctor. I wanted to learn more about what a nurse practitioner does throughout his/her day.
My second job shadow was an interview with my aunt, Nurse Shelley Harbold.
She is a nurse practitioner who specializes in chemotherapy at Pinnacle Health West Shore Campus. Although I was not able to job shadow, I learned what happens in the average day of a nurse practitioner. Patients are brought back to chemo rooms where Nurse Shelley meets with them to discuss treatments and what procedures she will be performing. She accesses the patient’s medi-ports and connects him/her to the IV and programs the IV pump to distribute the medication. Following the treatment, Nurse Shelley checks the patient before he/she leaves for side effects and discharges the patient. Nurse Shelley brought me pamphlets to read and a small book with chemotherapy terminology which taught me more about her specialty and gave me information that I can carry with me throughout my medical field career. She also taught me a trick to help patients that are afraid of needles by pressing down their skin before puncturing the skin. No matter where I go in the medical field, there is a high probability that I will need to use that trick one way or another. Interviewing a nurse practitioner sparked my interest for a leadership role in the medical field that is the perfect balance of showing compassion and maintaining professionalism. At that point, I was set on becoming a nurse practitioner but I thought it would be beneficial to continue exploring jobs with different responsibilities in the medical field.
After shadowing a doctor and interviewing a nurse practitioner, I thought it would be helpful to broaden my horizons and look into medical field professions that are more behind the scenes. I decided to look into pharmacy because a pharmacist still interacts with patients, which is important to me, but works on his/her own in a completely different
setting.
My third and final job shadow was with Mrs. Erin Stradley, a pharmacist at Rite-Aid in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Jonestown Road. While at the job shadow, I observed several tasks that Mrs. Stradley does throughout her day. She checked her computer database for prescriptions sent by a doctor or to review and check if the medication dosage was correct for each patient. She also has to keep record of CII drugs which are addictive medications with street value such as Xanax, Vicodin, and Adderall. If she notices the pharmacy is running low on certain medications, she has to prepare ahead of time to order the medications so that the patients can get the medicine they need right away. The most valuable information that I learned during my job shadow is that a pharmacist doesn’t just sit at a computer and count all day. A pharmacist is always on his/her feet and sometimes has to go out of his/her way to make sure each customer has exactly what medicine they need when they need it. I also learned that a pharmacist needs to be organized and possess problem solving skills in order to succeed. After my job shadow at Rite-Aid, I realized that becoming a pharmacist was not a profession that I wanted to pursue. I want to have direct and one-on-one interaction with patients. I felt that a pharmacist did not have too many opportunities where he/she could interact with patients at the level that I want to.
At this point in my life, I have a general idea of my future in the medical field. I want to my degree as a physician’s assistant to specialize in pediatrics. To achieve this goal, I plan on taking a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program at Harrisburg Area Community College over the summer. That way, I can gain medical experience and get a head-start to further build my resume. I have already taken steps to gain medical experience by volunteering in the emergency room at Pinnacle Health Community Campus over the summer and interning at VibraLife. I am currently enrolled in anatomy and physiology as well as statistics which are both honors classes. I intend to apply to University of Pittsburgh, University of the Sciences, Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, and Chatham University, with University of Pittsburgh being my top choice. I plan to major in biology or enroll in a Physician’s Assistant Studies program where I can take an accelerated curriculum course.
With the help of all three job shadows, I have strengthened my love for the medical field. Each experience has given me some direction that has lead me to my dream of becoming a physician’s assistant. For being an Orthopedist, I intend to practice the leadership qualities that I observed when dealing with patients and discussing diagnosis with a physician. As for a nurse practitioner, I will be carrying out similar responsibilities but not with a degree in nursing. Lastly, I will use the skills that I observed from a pharmacist by continuing to learn about medications and recommending dosages for patients. All of the job shadows I attended connected similar skills that I would need wherever I go in the medical field.
Despite my struggles and complaints regarding ProjectDREAMS, I found it extremely helpful because I was able to explore different professions and work settings in the medical field and truly take away from each shadow. Without this experience, I would have found myself in college, stressed and confused, with no idea of what profession I mainly want to pursue. It’s much better having an idea of what exact profession I would like to go into rather than wasting thousands of dollars and constantly switching majors. I love helping others and making them feel great. I still have concerns that I may switch back and forth from physician’s assistant to nurse practitioner, but I know what field I belong in and that I’ll truly be successful and happy with either one of those professions.
Like Gail Devers, I am dedicated when it comes to the medical field and determined to succeed. I will do whatever it takes to achieve my dream of becoming a physician’s assistant. Diving into the medical field is scary at times because I know that it will be difficult and rigorous schooling. However, I have faith that with my passion and determination, I will succeed and make a fantastic addition to the field of medicine. The opportunities that I have been given from ProjectDREAMS and throughout my years at Mechanicsburg Area School District have given me support, exposure, and the background knowledge I need. I am not frightened, but I embrace the journey that I will embark on for these next six years of my life and I cannot wait for what is to come.
fantasies as a child continues to stick with me. During free-play as a preschooler, my teachers would usually find me pretending to give other kids shots and talking to Mr. Bones. Even though I dreamt of fame as a child, the medical field has always been a passion of mine. The medical field has an overwhelming amount of career paths to take. Entering high school, I had a general idea of what I wanted to do, but I had no idea of which path to take. The ProjectDREAMS job shadow process helped push me in the right direction. Shadowing a general practitioner, nurse practitioner, and pharmacist helped lead me in a direction that strengthened my interest and love for the medical field. In seventh grade health class, I developed an interest in bones. To this day, I can’t recall what drew me to liking bones so much but it was something that I understood and I accompanied my mom at her appointments and I thought that Orthopedics may be something that I would want to do when I graduated.
My first job shadow was at The Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on January 8, 2016 where I shadowed an Orthopedist, Dr. Deluca. During the shadow, I was able to sit with Dr. Deluca and analyze x-rays to prepare and organize information before meeting the patient and even get a head-start on a diagnosis. We then visited each room to officially diagnose the patients and give them treatment options. Most of the patients that I saw were recovering from surgeries. I saw a couple procedures being performed such as draining fluids from a patient’s surgical wounds and cortisone shot injections which helped patients with joint pain. Dr. Deluca even sat with me and explained his process for trouble shooting patients using their signs, symptoms and his knowledge from his schooling and experience.
Overall, I enjoyed my first job shadow and it strengthened my love for the medical field. I noticed the positive relationships Dr. Deluca made with his patients and how they trusted and relied on him to take care of them. The only concern that I had with becoming an Orthopedist was the amount of schooling I would have to go through. I knew in advance that the medical field involves a lot of education and a rigorous curriculum, but I wasn’t sure that eight years of schooling, an internship, and a residency was a path that I’d want to pursue.
Following my job shadow, I continued to research similar medical occupations and I became interested in becoming a nurse practitioner. I liked how a nurse practitioner carries the same responsibilities as a nurse but can take on more of a leadership role like a doctor. I wanted to learn more about what a nurse practitioner does throughout his/her day.
My second job shadow was an interview with my aunt, Nurse Shelley Harbold.
She is a nurse practitioner who specializes in chemotherapy at Pinnacle Health West Shore Campus. Although I was not able to job shadow, I learned what happens in the average day of a nurse practitioner. Patients are brought back to chemo rooms where Nurse Shelley meets with them to discuss treatments and what procedures she will be performing. She accesses the patient’s medi-ports and connects him/her to the IV and programs the IV pump to distribute the medication. Following the treatment, Nurse Shelley checks the patient before he/she leaves for side effects and discharges the patient. Nurse Shelley brought me pamphlets to read and a small book with chemotherapy terminology which taught me more about her specialty and gave me information that I can carry with me throughout my medical field career. She also taught me a trick to help patients that are afraid of needles by pressing down their skin before puncturing the skin. No matter where I go in the medical field, there is a high probability that I will need to use that trick one way or another. Interviewing a nurse practitioner sparked my interest for a leadership role in the medical field that is the perfect balance of showing compassion and maintaining professionalism. At that point, I was set on becoming a nurse practitioner but I thought it would be beneficial to continue exploring jobs with different responsibilities in the medical field.
After shadowing a doctor and interviewing a nurse practitioner, I thought it would be helpful to broaden my horizons and look into medical field professions that are more behind the scenes. I decided to look into pharmacy because a pharmacist still interacts with patients, which is important to me, but works on his/her own in a completely different
setting.
My third and final job shadow was with Mrs. Erin Stradley, a pharmacist at Rite-Aid in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Jonestown Road. While at the job shadow, I observed several tasks that Mrs. Stradley does throughout her day. She checked her computer database for prescriptions sent by a doctor or to review and check if the medication dosage was correct for each patient. She also has to keep record of CII drugs which are addictive medications with street value such as Xanax, Vicodin, and Adderall. If she notices the pharmacy is running low on certain medications, she has to prepare ahead of time to order the medications so that the patients can get the medicine they need right away. The most valuable information that I learned during my job shadow is that a pharmacist doesn’t just sit at a computer and count all day. A pharmacist is always on his/her feet and sometimes has to go out of his/her way to make sure each customer has exactly what medicine they need when they need it. I also learned that a pharmacist needs to be organized and possess problem solving skills in order to succeed. After my job shadow at Rite-Aid, I realized that becoming a pharmacist was not a profession that I wanted to pursue. I want to have direct and one-on-one interaction with patients. I felt that a pharmacist did not have too many opportunities where he/she could interact with patients at the level that I want to.
At this point in my life, I have a general idea of my future in the medical field. I want to my degree as a physician’s assistant to specialize in pediatrics. To achieve this goal, I plan on taking a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program at Harrisburg Area Community College over the summer. That way, I can gain medical experience and get a head-start to further build my resume. I have already taken steps to gain medical experience by volunteering in the emergency room at Pinnacle Health Community Campus over the summer and interning at VibraLife. I am currently enrolled in anatomy and physiology as well as statistics which are both honors classes. I intend to apply to University of Pittsburgh, University of the Sciences, Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, and Chatham University, with University of Pittsburgh being my top choice. I plan to major in biology or enroll in a Physician’s Assistant Studies program where I can take an accelerated curriculum course.
With the help of all three job shadows, I have strengthened my love for the medical field. Each experience has given me some direction that has lead me to my dream of becoming a physician’s assistant. For being an Orthopedist, I intend to practice the leadership qualities that I observed when dealing with patients and discussing diagnosis with a physician. As for a nurse practitioner, I will be carrying out similar responsibilities but not with a degree in nursing. Lastly, I will use the skills that I observed from a pharmacist by continuing to learn about medications and recommending dosages for patients. All of the job shadows I attended connected similar skills that I would need wherever I go in the medical field.
Despite my struggles and complaints regarding ProjectDREAMS, I found it extremely helpful because I was able to explore different professions and work settings in the medical field and truly take away from each shadow. Without this experience, I would have found myself in college, stressed and confused, with no idea of what profession I mainly want to pursue. It’s much better having an idea of what exact profession I would like to go into rather than wasting thousands of dollars and constantly switching majors. I love helping others and making them feel great. I still have concerns that I may switch back and forth from physician’s assistant to nurse practitioner, but I know what field I belong in and that I’ll truly be successful and happy with either one of those professions.
Like Gail Devers, I am dedicated when it comes to the medical field and determined to succeed. I will do whatever it takes to achieve my dream of becoming a physician’s assistant. Diving into the medical field is scary at times because I know that it will be difficult and rigorous schooling. However, I have faith that with my passion and determination, I will succeed and make a fantastic addition to the field of medicine. The opportunities that I have been given from ProjectDREAMS and throughout my years at Mechanicsburg Area School District have given me support, exposure, and the background knowledge I need. I am not frightened, but I embrace the journey that I will embark on for these next six years of my life and I cannot wait for what is to come.