Patient/Family Liaison

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Patient/Family Liaison

It's only been a few weeks since I've felt compelled to find volunteer opportunities. I just happened to stumble upon two things that sounded like a great fit for me, but I didn't know what would come of them, so I didn't want to say anything too soon.

The first opportunity that got the ball rolling was to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). I just found out more about that today and am excited to get the process started. It will entail a background check that is expected to take 6-8 weeks as well as a series of training classes that don't start until May.

The other opportunity I wanted to pursue is with Primary Children's Hospital. The first time I went to their website, the only volunteer openings they had listed were for Hospice. I thought that was something I could do and considered signing up. But by the time I went back to their website, many of the other positions had opened up. I looked through the various descriptions and was really excited about the possibility of becoming a Patient/Family Liaison.

The practical functions of this position is to meet with newly admitted families and let them know about the showers, beds, cafeteria etc to help them know the resources available to them while their child is in the hospital. The sideline function of this position is to be there to ask how they are doing and lend a listening ear to a family who is probably dealing with some pretty emotional and overwhelming circumstances. I am really excited about being involved in this way.

I had to submit my resume and it was very nerve wracking. It's been more than five years since I applied for a job. Fortunately I had to update my resume for a class earlier this semester so with just a few minor tweaks it was ready to go.

I heard back from Primary Children's Hospital immediately (the next day) and was scheduled to go in for an orientation/interview. It really was much more of an orientation. The only real question that seemed to potentially disqualify the candidates was if they lost a child in the last 12-18 months. Obviously that could be really triggering to be at the hospital watching families going through difficult medical issues. Fortunately, I haven't had to endure that sort of experience, and I was cleared to go forward with the volunteer process.

I need to finish some online training, get a drug test, and show evidence that my immunizations are complete. I was told to expect the process to be 2-4 weeks. Once I finish those steps, I'll be working Monday mornings from 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon. I was kind of nervous about what kind of time commitment to expect and was thinking that I really didn't think I could do much more than one shift a week. I was excited that the weekly three hour shift was exactly what they schedule.

It is amazing to have these things really happening. This has been a crazy busy week with the two different meetings for my volunteer opportunities as well as the General Training for Relief Society downtown. Juggling all this with the regular school responsibilities and my family has been fun. (My house has been a wreck all week despite being cleaned really well on Monday morning.) I'm looking forward to the experiences these opportunities will bring into my life!

2 comments:

MichelleMarch 29, 2012 at 3:51 PM
It is so neat of you to do this.
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Heather HMarch 30, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Jenny, that sounds like an amazing thing for you to do! You really are amazing!
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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.