Second Interview Questions

Content:
The purpose of the second interview is justify your mentor as an expert in the field.  Thus, you will be asking at least 5 questions about their background and/or the background of the organization or company where they work. 

Questions:
1. How did you start working at Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park?
2.Why did you want to become a nurse? 
2a.Was it the career choice that you had in mind in the beginning of your career search?
3. Where and how did you get your nursing credentials from?
4.What are the daily duties that your job entitles you to do?
5. How closely do you work with doctors in the Otolaryngology department?
6.What has/have been  the highlight(s) of your job while working in this department?

Working EQ

The Pentagon:
1. Positive Statement: What positive thing happened as a result of what you have completed do far?
The positive thing that has happened as a result of what I have completed so far is the fact that I am volunteering at a wonderful place, and I have the opportunity to experience things that I never would have imagined. Volunteering at the Head and Neck Department at Kaiser Permanente  Baldwin Park has introduced me to such wonderful people that are willing to help me with my senior project, I feel very grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me.

2.EQ Content: Pick a piece of research or your interview. How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?
One piece of research that has helped me understand my topic is the article titled "About Otolarynogology", by Marcella Bothwell. In this article, it talks about what is otolaryngology, which is the treatment and mangemet of disorders/diseases of ears, neck, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. I also like this article because it gives a insight as to what otolaryngologists do. For example, they manage diseases/disorders of the sinuses, larynx, ear disorders, and facial cancer. One particular piece of information that I did not now was that otolaryngologists have to spend up to 15 years in college and post graduate training to be qualified otolaryngologists.

3.What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
What has really worked for me so far in my senior project are the daily research checks because I get to learn more about my topic, and have information that I can use for my senior project or science fair. What has also worked for me is the mentorship/hours because I get to be in a clinical setting that allows me to interact with doctors, nurses, LVN's, etc.
4. What hasn't worked out?
What hasn't worked out is my schedule. I would like to go more to the hospital, but due to college classes, I can only go Tuesday and Thursday. Also, there isn't much interaction with the  doctors as I would like since they are extremely busy, and their schedules may not necessarily fit mine.

5.Finding Value:
What possible question or questions come to mind regarding what you would like to study this year?
The possible questions that come to mind, in regards as to what I would like to study this year are:
How do you tell a patient that they have skin cancer, or any other type of cancer?
What is the most important quality to have in order to survive the 15+ years in medical school?
How do you prepare for major/minor surgery? (emotionally, mentally, physically, etc.)
What is your end goal with your senior project?
My end goal with my senior project is to educate myself and others about the topic of otolaryngology since I believe this topic is unknown to most people, especially in teenagers. I would also want to educate other people about the importance of taking good care of their ears, skin, and head because when you grow older, you may result with serious consequences that can affect your health, or other matters. I would also like to know, at the end of my senior project, is if I really want to be a doctor, and if I have what it takes to commit myself to 15 more years in medical school.                                        
Who would you like to talk to next?Why?
I would like to talk to one of the nurses or LVN's that get to work with one of the doctors in the Head and Neck Surgery department. I would like to talk to them because they work hand in hand with the doctors, so it would be interesting to know their perspective about the topic, and see what their typical day is like.

Science Fair Problem Statement

Content;
1.Senior project topic: Head and Neck Surgery/ENT

2. Increased hearing loss over time due to noise (occupational/entertainment). By hearing, for example, an Ipod at the maximum volume daily, over time (span of 10 years) this can lead to hearing loss, especially in teenagers. This is a problem that should not occur since at that certain age, they should not be experiencing hearing loss. Occupational hearing loss is when machinery/tools around your work are causing harm to your ear, and thus cause hearing loss over time. When I solve this problem, I will be able to educate the entire community by seeing if a doctor, or audiologist will be able to help me publish my findings (American Academy of Otolaryngology) , or create headphones/earphones/hearing aids that will effectively help patients that have hearing loss due to occupational or entertainment hearing loss.

3.Another problem in Head and Neck Surgery/ENT is what would be the most effective way to remove facial/skin cancer, either using chemotherapy or surgery. Although both options have it's benefits when removing facial/skin cancer, I want to find out which treatment effectively removes all of  the facial/skin cancer, or which treatment has better results, when concerning the overall health of the patient.When I solve this problem, I would want to see if I can publish my data (American Academy of Otolaryngology, with a doctor's help. 

Interview Preparation

Content:
1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?
I plan on interviewing Cynthia M. LaBauve, an RN(registered nurse)/Department Administrator who works in the Head and Neck Surgery department at Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park. I initially wanted to continue my mentorship in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, but I unfortunately could not get a placement there. I  plan on interviewing Cynthia M. LaBauve because she has a lot of knowledge in regards to her professional field. Also,she would have a lot of experiences, since she an RN and department administrator ,so by interviewing her, Mrs. LaBauve can give me some insight as to what it really is like to work in the Head and Neck Surgery department.

2.You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions do you plan to ask? Ask open-ended questions.
Some additional questions that I plan to ask are:

• How did you know that this was the career for you?
• Tell me what was your first day like when you started as an RN/Department Administrator?
• What has been the most memorable experience up to date?
• What is the most difficult task when doing your job? The easiest(if any)?
• Tell me about the schooling that is required for this career?

Topic Choice

Content:
A.What is your topic and why?
 Although I have not yet been placed in a specific department in the hospital, the topic that I want to focus on is Obstetrics and Gynecology. I want to focus on this subject because I have always had a special interest in the care of a women during their pregnancy. I am also considering this topic as my future career, and if I decided to do this topic, I would learn new information that would inspire me to continue pursing a career as an OB/GYN.
B.  What do you hope to accomplish this year with this topic? (Relating to ESLR's)

• I-Poly Citizen: As an I-Poly citizen and as a volunteer at Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park, I will treat the members, patients, and staff with the respect that they deserve and help them as best as I can. I will follow my schedule at the hospital and fully complete the hours that are required. I will also complete any task that is requested and do it effectively, and as best as I can. Hopefully, if I can get admitted into the OB/GYN department, I hope to access new information about this topic so I can educate myself and ultimately those around me. Not only do I want to learn the current issues of obstetrics and gynecology, but my research will aid me in finding out how the birth/prenatal care of a baby was done back in the old days. I also hope to find out,during my research and experience at Kaiser, how much of an impact obstetricians and gynecologists make not only here in the U.S, but around the world, and the different practices they have, if any. 
• I-Poly Effective Communicator: Being a Concierge Ambassador at Kaiser has taught me so much about how to treat and talk to the members/patients when they come and visit the hospital. I plan to use this knowledge when talking to patients/members and staff  at the OB/GYN department and make them feel welcome, especially the patients. By voluteering at this department, I plan to learn how to communicate effectively when talking to a patient, and relying messgaes to the staff so they can offer assistance to the patients as quick as they can, especially during stressful situations. I plan to work as a team with the staff since ultimately they are the ones who are going to be teaching me everything I need to know about my topic. By collaborating with the staff and patients, I will become an effective communicator since I will learn the skills needed to handle any type of situation, and have qualities that would help me in my future endeavors.
• I-Poly Effective Learner: To become an effective learner, I plan to conduct my research in a timely and orderly fashion so that everything is organized and I can use it effectively when I need to. I will also conduct interviews with my mentors so I have a better understanding about the topic at hand, and also to clarify some misconceptions that I may have. I will take the knowledge that I have collected and personally construct a creative  presentation that will effectively display the information that I have learned and educate others who want to learn more about this topic or are interested in the medical field.
• I-Poly Effective User of Technology: As an effective user of technology, I plan to incorporate the skills that I have acquired when volunteering at the hospital. For example, when on the computer or some other device, if asked, I plan to effectively type, print,copy,etc. so the staff and patients have a clear understanding of what is presented to them. I also plan to be an effective user of technology by conducting research not only online, but in other technological mediums such as videos or blogs,and presenting the research with the best technolgical tool that will effectively display my information accurately.This would help me when educating others about the information that I have learned over the course of this project. Also, I plan to use the researching skills that I will have acquired by the end of this project to help me in my future, thus making me an effective learner.

Summer Mentorship Component

Literal(Know):

Contact Information:

Kelli Houston: Volunteer Services Director

kelli.x.houston@kp.org

(626) 851-6444

Chleta Butler: Project Manager II; Volunteer Services/Reception Connection

chleta.d.butler@kp.org

(626)851-5264

·         8/13/2012  8:00AM-11:00AM

§  On my first shift as a Concierge Ambassador at Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center, I first received a tour of the facility (Medical Office Building and Medical Center) so I could learn where the different departments are at and how to guide patients/members to their destinations. After the quick tour, I got to work at my station, which is the main lobby located in the medical center. For the next three hours, I escorted patients/members to where they needed to go, either a department located in the medical center or medical office building.  I also gave patients/members directions on how to get to the specific department they were looking for.

·         8/14/12  8:00AM-11:00AM

§  On my second shift as a Concierge Ambassador at Kaiser Permanente, it was pretty much the same as the day before. For the next three hours, I escorted patients/members to the department(s) where they needed to go.  I also escorted family members of patients to patient rooms located on the 2^nd, 3rd, 4^th, and 5^th floors, but mostly on the 2^nd and 3^rd floors. Also, in the mornings, it is my duty to make sure that the lobby is clean and tidy. I pick up trash that is on the couches, and I arrange the chairs to how they are suppose to be.

·         8/18/12 8:30AM-12:30PM

§  On the 18^th, Saturday, it was a pretty busy day. A few of the departments that I had to visit were Cardiology, Physical Medicine/Therapy, and General Surgery. It was also necessary of me to speak Spanish to some patients/members to better serve them as to where they needed to go. Other tasks that I had to do were provide a wheelchair to patients/members that needed them, or wheel them where they needed to go. Since I am not CPR certified, I am not able to wheel the patients to departments  that are located on the 2^nd or 3^rd floors, but I am able to take them for example to Physical Medicine/Therapy since it is on the first floor and it’s a short distance. 

Know (Need to Know):

1.     How important is customer service when patients/members visit the hospital?

2.     How does good customer service improve the overall look of the hospital?

3.     Why it is important for volunteers know what good customer service is?

4.     Why is it important for volunteers to establish a connection with patients/members when guiding them to their destination?

Interpretive:

The most important thing that I gained from my volunteer work at Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park is just being a volunteer at this hospital.  Going to the hospital for about two weeks now has taught me so much about how important it is for a volunteer, especially a Concierge Ambassador , to know what good customer service is because that really is the key for establishing a connection with patients/members.

Applied:

Although I have not yet picked a topic due to my placement as a volunteer, I know that I really enjoy working at the hospital, especially being a Concierge Ambassador. Assisting patients/members as a Concierge Ambassador has given me valuable experience that one day I might use outside of the hospital. I really do enjoy my time at the hospital so far because helping patients/members gives me an immense satisfaction, although the task might seem small, I can tell that patients/members are really thankful for taking them on time and to the right place. Being a Concierge Ambassador has also given me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the buildings, which allows me to do my job better and effectively. This would also help me when I transfer departments, or if I have any other volunteering opportunities at the hospital.