Author: Natalie Austin

A Nursing Student’s Experience with Online Classes and Thoughts on Returning to Campus in The Fall by Natalie Austin

Radio assignment script:

Host Intro (not included): Since March 2020, CUNY students have been taking their classes remotely due to COVID-19. Now that it’s that time of the semester to register for classes again, CUNY students have been informed there are plans to return to campus almost completely with in person and hybrid options being added. Natalie Austin spoke to a CUNY student on her thoughts about returning to campus for the Fall semester.

AMBI: Nursing online homework program called Shadow Health.

TRACK: Saige Davis is a 21-year-old student at Hunter College studying to become a nurse. As she was completing her online nursing homework, she discussed her preference for in person classes.

ACT: SAIGE: I prefer in person classes, just for the sake of being in class and actually interacting with people. On zoom, I could just not turn my camera on, and I could just be on my phone, or I could just daydream. I mean you could do that in person too but, it’s like a different feel from when you’re at home. You’re just on your couch or something, whereas when you’re in class, it’s like okay I’m in class, this is the time to listen to the teacher especially since I traveled all the way there to be in class and pay attention.

TRACK: Davis goes on to speak about her experience going to campus once a week for her lab course.

ACT: SAIGE: I have been on campus for lab classes. At first when this all started, that first semester when they cancelled classes, everything was cancelled. We just were online and that was it, and then last semester, they allowed us to come to campus to go to lab class. It’s like we’re practicing what we are supposed to be doing in clinical.

TRACK: For nursing students, clinical is the hands-on experience in which students apply the things they have been learning at hospitals and nursing homes.

ACT: SAIGE: So, what we’re supposed to do is go to lab, learn the skills, and then go to clinical and practice it on a real patient; but we didn’t get to do that last semester. We just were, uh, basically practicing on the mannequins and that was it.

TRACK: She explained how COVID-19 has limited her clinical experience, making her anxious about becoming a full-time nurse.

ACT: SAIGE: I am very nervous because you should be getting all your experience in clinical. You need to be able to communicate with the patients, first of all. And you have to be comfortable talking to people. That’s something I need more experience with.

TRACK: This semester, Davis has been able to go to clinical, but she is feeling less prepared in comparison to previous graduating classes.

ACT: SAIGE: I was able to go to some clinicals, but due to COVID, it’s a shorter period of time that were allowed to be there. We’re only there for like three hours now. So, I won’t have the usual amount of clinical experience that past graduates have already had. So that’s going to be a challenge.

TRACK: With the new vaccines available, CUNY is preparing to have in person and hybrid classes for the upcoming fall semester.

ACT: SAIGE: I don’t think that things will be ready for the fall. I would not feel comfortable going back to campus in the fall. Um, I don’t think that people are really taking this pandemic seriously and I feel like things are only going to get worse.

TRACK: Davis leaves us with suggestions for CUNY and their students to keep everyone safe.

ACT: SAIGE: A certain amount of time goes by, they might clean or provide masks that people can take. But you know, it’s just too many students. So, I’m not really sure that would really help. What I think should be done is, it’s really up to us students to take this pandemic seriously and do what we have to do at home. Do our part: stay home and, you know, get the vaccine so that when we do come back to campus, there won’t be a virus to spread.

TRACK: For Baruch College, I am Natalie Austin.

The Netflix documentary Extremis was short but very compelling. Overall, I am saddened that this is a reality for not only doctors but many families as well. Life is about choice, therefore, to possibly have your choice taken away is a very scary thought. For others to have to be in the position to make the choice of life and death is an extremely hard thing to do daily. It was tough to see the discomfort the patients were in and hearing the families discuss the possibility of losing their loved ones.

There was an important message about life and family. Selena’s family touched my heart because of their faith. It was difficult to watch her family struggle between their faith and what the doctor was telling them. She had a strong support system that was not going to give up. Selena’s story also brought up a sad truth about financial costs of hospital care. Selena knew she needed to go to the hospital but could not afford the cost of riding in the ambulance so decided to get in her son in laws car instead.

The filmmakers and videographers did an excellent job at capturing the story and emotion of everyone. The close ups on the doctors with the patients, catching painful tearful eyes of families, and the conversation between the circle of doctors helped to fully tell the story. The shots of the hand holding of different patients with their families and doctors caught my eye. It showed a way for the voiceless patients to communicate but, also the support of those holding their hands, essentially holding on to hope.

The doctors have a very tough job! There is a lot of pressure to save lives by making the best decision all while advising families. The documentary showed the relentless effort and patience the doctors have. My heartbreaks for them because there is an emotional toll with their job.  It made me wonder if the doctors ever want to quit How do they cope with all death, the family’s grief/hopelessness, and stress?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bJddX-Ba8E

1. My mom is getting her second vaccine dose tomorrow. The story could be about her reaction, her thoughts on people getting vaccines/the availability of vaccines, and what she is doing daily now that she has the vaccine.

https://natalie-austin.medium.com/a-retired-womans-pandemic-hobby-making-face-masks-18918db8eee1 

       

     

I was thinking of making my photo essay a character driven story of my mom. She has recently retired and picked up a new hobby of making face masks. I feel this is timely because the pandemic has changed everyone’s life; wearing a mask has become our new normal and she enjoys making them. She has a few ideas on selling them and donating some to healthcare workers. I anticipate photographing several steps in the process of her making masks, all of her completed mask, her trying on a few etc