Watch one, do one, teach one
This short phrase is a humorous summary of how medical personnel learn to do procedures, although sometimes it may not be so far from the truth.
I am a volunteer at a local children's hospital. I've done it for a couple months. My training was quick-- basically, I was shown where everything is, and then I shadowed a more experienced volunteer for one evening. The work isn't anything difficult; we just go from room to room, asking people if they want to check out a video or books, and then deliver the goods back to the room. And yet, there is subtlety. Each room is a different world, and it's necessary to be sensitive to what is happening in order to know how to behave most kindly.
Last night, there were two new volunteers. The more experienced volunteer that I had followed around was not able to make it. So I became the teacher, the one that the newcomers were shadowing. I did some explaining, but also just forgot about them and did my thing at some moments.
I realized that the most important things I can convey verbally are the rules and basic procedures: Don't go in rooms that require an N-95 mask; make sure to obey the isolation door protocol at the rooms that have it; try to get a signature on the check-out card, but don't be too anal about it; go ahead and leave the movie list with people if they seem to want it. The rest.... well, they'll just have figure out their own style, like I did.
Watch one, do one, teach one.
I am a volunteer at a local children's hospital. I've done it for a couple months. My training was quick-- basically, I was shown where everything is, and then I shadowed a more experienced volunteer for one evening. The work isn't anything difficult; we just go from room to room, asking people if they want to check out a video or books, and then deliver the goods back to the room. And yet, there is subtlety. Each room is a different world, and it's necessary to be sensitive to what is happening in order to know how to behave most kindly.
Last night, there were two new volunteers. The more experienced volunteer that I had followed around was not able to make it. So I became the teacher, the one that the newcomers were shadowing. I did some explaining, but also just forgot about them and did my thing at some moments.
I realized that the most important things I can convey verbally are the rules and basic procedures: Don't go in rooms that require an N-95 mask; make sure to obey the isolation door protocol at the rooms that have it; try to get a signature on the check-out card, but don't be too anal about it; go ahead and leave the movie list with people if they seem to want it. The rest.... well, they'll just have figure out their own style, like I did.
Watch one, do one, teach one.
