Hannah Hubbell

Responsibilities

During my internship in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Pocahontas Community Hospital, I took patients' vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation, before, during, and after exercise. I documented exercise sessions by creating a daily log on the LSI system and monitored the ECG telemetry of phase II cardiac and pulmonary patients. I helped develop and update patient care plans every 30 days, and assisted with admissions in rehab. Additionally, I educated patients about the importance of exercise for heart and lung health. I was able to gain some experience with the respiratory therapist as well and assist with inpatient respiratory treatments, emergencies, respiratory tests, and administering EKGs.

Accomplishments

One of my greatest accomplishments was creating strength training programs for patients with therabands and body weight exercises that they can do at home. Additionally, I created a core exercise program for a patient who was interested in strengthening core muscles. Additionally, I became more independent with working with patients as my internship went on and built on my strong rapport with patients.

Learning experience

One of the greatest lessons I learned was the importance of prioritizing individualized patient care. Every patient has been through a different health event in their lives, and not one is the same as another, so it is important to create exercise goals and care plans that are tailored to help them meet the goals they want to achieve in cardiac and pulmonary rehab. Additionally, patient education is important to help them make lifestyle changes to make them stronger and healthier. I also learned that communication is key to working with a healthcare team. Making sure everyone is on the same page about patient care will be beneficial to the patient and everyone they work with.

What advice would you give?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and step outside of your comfort zone. Be willing to learn from everyone around you because they might be a connection for you in the future and open doors for you. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because they can be the best learning experiences for you and become an opportunity.