Today's Senior being highlighted is: Alyssa Perez
Research Paper Topic:
Teenage Pregnancy
Project Plan:
To shadow a labor and delivery nurse.
Who is your mentor? How did you decide upon this person as your mentor?
My mentor is a person that I met only through my senior project. When I first met her, we connected. Although Suzie is my mentor, I also consider her my friend. She has shown me more than I could ever imagined about the whole labor and delivery process, and has taught me more about myself than I could have ever found on my own. I am a better person because I was introduced to her.
Why did you choose this topic?
I chose teenage pregnancy, but not at first. I think the topic found me. I originally wanted to learn more about nursing. I have always been a person who enjoys caring for others. I am also someone who loves children. With those two ideas, I eventually chose to learn about labor and delivery nurses. I would be able to combine my passion for caring for others with my love for children. It seemed the logical choice for me. It opened my eyes to an issue larger than I had originally realized. As I learned more and experienced more with my mentor in labor and delivery, the topic hit me like a brick. Although my passion for caring was still as strong as ever, I saw patients who were teenagers having children. Many of these were girls I did not know personally, but they were my age. My views for caring for others never changed, and my view of the love I have for the newborn children that I witnessed being born did not change. What did change was the reality of teenage pregnancy in our area, and the large number of girls who were pregnant. It was at that point, I changed my topic from nursing to teenage pregnancy.
What have you completed so far with your project?
I have completed 25 hours with my mentor, and have completed my paper that
is about 6 pages long.
What are you proud of concerning your project?
I am proud of my perseverance to work through the project and complete it.
At first I was like most of the students who are assigned the Senior Project.
I almost dreaded the thought of having to do it, but I really took ownership of
my learning. I realized that I am only going to get something from this
experience, if I fully apply myself. I made the commitment at that moment
to put 100% of my energy into the project while I was working on it. I
also had the support of my family to spend as much time with my mentor to
completely experience that work of a labor and delivery nurse, and not just skim
the surface. I am proud of the project I chose, proud of the people I
learned from, and mostly proud of myself. I have a better view of my
future through this assignment.
What are some interesting things you have learned from your project or your
paper?
I have learned a great deal from this experience. After meeting my mentor
for the first time, I was put at ease. I was nervous the first day, but
Suzie kept on pushing me, telling, "Get in there!" It only took a couple
of times and I set off on a mission. After a while I was running from one
patient to another to be sure I did not miss anything that was happening.
It was amazing. A funny part of my time with Suzie occurred during my
first witness of an IV being given to a patient. I remember the IV being
started, and then the "feeling" came over me. I woke up a couple of
seconds later with Suzie helping me up off the floor. Although concerned,
she was the one who told me to get "back on the horse" the next time an IV
administration was happening. I learned a lot from that way of thinking.
Don't give up, keep on pushing, and keep the drive toward the dream. I
learned that I may encounter those times, but to "get back on the horse", as
Suzie said, was good advise. I no longer faint at the site of.... pretty
much anything, and that is due to my mentor, picking me up, dusting me off, and
sending me right back in.
Anything else you'd like us to know about your senior project?
During my time with my mentor, I was totally immersed in the field of
nursing. Of course I was not the person doing most of the work; I was able
to witness just about every aspect of labor and delivery. I was witness to
cesarean deliveries as well as traditional deliveries. I witnessed the
emotions that accompanied all of the births. I learned what was probably
the most important aspect of nursing; that although caring is what makes someone
want to be a nurse, it is not enough to care when referring to nurses. The
knowledge that they possessed and the poise they exhibited when working
compassionately with patients was amazing. Yes, I me some absolutely
amazing nurses, who were, in fact, absolutely amazing people. I also feel like I
grew up a bit during the time with my mentor. A mature attitude that I am
trying to adopt in my everyday life. An attitude that I am hoping will
assist me in my goal of entering and completing nursing school.
Other Senior Spot Lights
Jasmine Daoudi