Kaj participated in an internship for Provo Rehab as a certified nursing assistant during 2022 spring/summer semester.
Describe a day in your life as an intern.
My days were usually 8 hours long working as a nursing assistant. I would help with patient cares including personal hygiene, toilet use, ambulation, showering, and feeding. Each day also included taking residents' vitals, charting residents' activities, helping coworkers, and communicating residents' needs to nurses.
What industry/job specific skills did you learn?
I learned how to provide hands-on personal care, how to communicate effectively, how to take vitals and blood sugars, and how to chart effectively and precisely.
What is one thing you learned from this internship experience that could be applied to other settings?
The biggest thing I learned from working here was effective communication. I was able to improve my communication with co-workers, supervisors, nurses, and residents, all of which were different from each other. I learned how to listen effectively and how to respond appropriately depending on the situation.
What was your favorite part of your internship experience?
My favorite part of my intern experience was being able to make a difference in the lives of the residents I cared for and gain personal relationships with them.
Did this internship experience affect your future goals?
This internship experience affected my goal of wanting to work in medicine. Before, I thought I wanted to work in the medical field, but now I know for sure that it is the right path for me.
How did you find your internship?
I found my internship by talking with the international internship advisor and searching the BYU internship website.
How did this internship experience contribute to your growth (personal, academic, professional, etc.)?
This helped me grow by giving me needed patient exposure hours, building a network of friends and accomplices in the medical field, and helping me gain hands-on experience in the field I would like to go into.