My capstone has been very dynamic, educational, and exciting. My first rotation took place at Powell Valley Healthcare where I was able to work on the intensive care unit, as well as the medical-surgical floor. I had the opportunity to conduct assessments on a wide-range of patients, engage in patient advocating, and conduct a variety of nursing skills. I helped with everything from assisting laboring mothers to comforting patients in their final moments.
My second rotation has taken place here in Laramie at Albany County Public Health. I have had the wonderful opportunity to be working primarily with Maternal Child Health (MCH), where I am able to visit and educate women throughout their pregnancy and during the first two years after delivery. I have greatly enjoyed the continuity of care, being able to establish a high level of rapport, and being able to utilize my nutritional background to help promote healthy lifestyles. I get to work with families from various cultural backgrounds in the comfort of their own homes with a truly holistic approach. Every visit, we are responsible for addressing the client’s needs with consideration of aspects of personal health, environmental health, life course development, maternal role, family and friends, and health and human services. Outside of MCH, I help in the various roles of public health nursing. I have done everything from conducting travel assessments to STI testing to testing of public water supplies. My second rotation has been really informative on the vast responsibility and importance of public health. They do anything from handling community disasters to educating childcare providers on domestic violence and postpartum depression.
I have greatly enjoyed my clinical experience and I have particularly enjoyed getting out and giving back to the community.
