Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Wednesday, May 19, 1976, page 2 (of 35)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Candy Stripers get head start in pursuit of medical careers
Until two weeks ago, Andy Calvijo, Henry Rodriguez and Angel Cuesta of West Dade had been inside a hospital no more than once or twice as patients. Now they've committed themselves to spending a full summer in a hospital environment, this time, seeing it from the other side as volunteers at Westchester General Hospital, 2500 SW 75th Ave. The three boys, all 14-years-old, look forward to their volunteer activities as a stepping stone to attending medical school and eventually becoming doctors. As for the volunteer schedule — a maximum of three days a week after school and during the summer — Henry says, "It's a lot more fun than staying home and watching a football game." Barbara Dewey, R.N., director of volunteer services at the hospital, encourages young men as well as women to enlist in the program. "Anyone 13 years or older," she said, "can be a volunteer as long as they have a "C" average in school, have parental permission and a recommendation from a school counselor. "I probably wouldn't have gone into nursing if it weren't for my experience as a volunteer," she added. The candy-striper program, Ms. Dewey said, makes a person more prepared for a health care career and gives young people a chance to relate to adults other than their parents. What is difficult about being a volunteer? After a week's training session (which is an ongoing process throughout the summer), Angel winced when he recalled his first experience with a patient in severe pain. Andy said he was "a little nervous" when a patient who spoke no English became upset — leaving Andy to translate for the nurse on duty. But the overriding feeling among volunteers is one of intense enthusiasm; even if it's just pouring a glass of water, the young volunteers are, as Andy points out, "glad to be a part of the hospital's operation because unless you actually do something, you don't really learn what a hospital is all about." The director of the volunteer program is still recruiting young people for the spring and summer. Anyone 13 years or older interested should call Westchester General Hospital at 264-5252 and leave a message for Ms. Barbara Dewey. She will answer all calls. New volunteers at Westchester General Hospital learn the technical aspects of operating a wheelchair. Angel Cuesta, (l.), tests the brake as Barbara Dewey, R.N., director of volunteer services, Henry Rodriguez and Andy Calvijo look on. Each volunteer both operates and rides in a wheelchair so he knows how a patient feels.
Pre-operative education may curb patient apprehension, nurse says
By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer The anesthetic has worn off. The operation is over. You are alone, facing a cold, white wall. You lift your hand slowly, and run it over your chest. Your breast is gone. The initial panic leaves you weak, but you are no longer afraid. Instead, you are grateful. You have seen such an operation detailed step by step. You have been counseled by experts and you understand your life has been saved by the loss. Hundreds of patients at Baptist's Hospital in Kendall are finally out of the dark, thanks to a number of patient education programs developed in recent years. Victims of diseases such as cancer are being trained by professionals in how to cope — before, during and after surgery. Carolyn Trescott, a young nurse with a masters degree in Community Health Education, is coordinator of the hospital's Patient Education program. She said that Baptist offers a variety of such programs: for the diabetic, the mastectomy or hysterectomy victim, expectant parents, the child patient, the colostomy victim and the heart attack patient. Mastectomy education, said Carolyn, is conducted by two middle-aged nurses — both of whom have had a breast removed — who visit all mastectomy victims and counsel them extensively. Patients learn exactly what the operation entails beforehand, and what options are available for them afterward. They are taught to exercise properly to minimize painful recuperation. "The criteria is to provide psychological support and to educate them in the use of prosthetic devices," said Carolyn. She said that since the program began in January, 1975, 80 to 100 women between the ages of 17 and 84 have been educated. Husbands and families are also encouraged to participate. "Awake and Aware," the program offered to parents who want to experience natural childbirth, is offered in seven weekly two-hour sessions for $25 per couple. Childbirth Education designed to help expectant parents understand pregnancy and the birth process, is offered for $10 a couple in four weekly one and a half hour sessions. Carolyn said that since Awake and Aware was begun in August 1975, 325 couples have participated, and 25 per cent of Baptists' deliveries are now conducted naturally. Hysterectomy patients are shown a film entitled "Having a Hysterectomy" to start with, Carolyn said. The film details the operation and ends with the mock patient recuperating at home. Women are counseled in post-operative sexual responsiveness and body care. Hysterectomy education was begun at Baptist last summer, and Carolyn said about 42 women participate each month. A Spanish interpreter is provided if necessary, she added. For child patients, the "Waddles Pre-Operative Teaching program" is offered. Every Saturday, from 2-3 p.m., child patients and their mothers are given a tour of the hospital and are shown slides explaining what the operation involves. "One little girl, only three years old, was so relaxed after the program that she fell asleep before the operation without needing an anesthetic," said Carolyn proudly. One of the hospital's most popular and successful programs is Diabetic Education. Lois Exelbert, the RN coordinator, said that diabetics who are admitted for any reason are counseled on a one-to-one basis on how to keep their blood sugar within normal range through the use of diet and/or insulin. "We try to teach the diabetic what the disease is, the problems they may encounter at home and how to overcome them, and the importance of diet," she explained. Lois added that the program, active since October, 1973, is offered to 50 to 60 diabetics a month. "We still have failures." she admitted, "those who go through the program and listen to nothing that is said. But most realize that education is the only way they're going to be able to successfully control the disease." Colostomy education — for patients who have complications of the intestinal tract — and Cardiac Rehabilitation are also available at Baptist. Pre-Operative Visitation, a regular program where nurses from the recovery room counsel patients before and after surgery, is another. Carolyn Trescott ... coordinator
Nursery vigilante group stems from plant thievery
From Page 1 to have his sentence reduced to probation. Otherwise, I'll press charges fully." Shaw said that the homeowner can easily mark his plants for positive identification if they are ever stolen. "Take a pocket full of pennies, record the dates of the coins and hide one in the soil of each plant," Shaw said. "That way, if you take a suspect to court, you can tell the judge that the stolen plant is yours because it has a 1923 penny in its soil." But the most effective way of stopping plant thieves is to cut off their markets, said Shaw. Refuse to purchase plants from strangers until you've checked them out — gotten the sellers license tag and social security number and copies his driver's license, Shaw advised. Even then, Shaw stated, the plant theft victim should call Shaw's Nursery Hotline for a double check. When Shaw first thought up the vigilante idea, he called a seminar of all the police departments in Dade County, the state attorney's office and representatives of the insurance industry. The group mapped out the vigilante program and alerted nurserymen in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. In addition, the participants began contacting state legislators. So far, Shaw said, results of the vigilante committee are encouraging. "Plant thefts have tapered off to a fairly constant level, far below when we first panicked. It's been a combination of public awareness and recognition of the problem by the police," Shaw said. South Dade homeowners who have a plant stolen should call Shaw's Nursery Hotline at 666-4616. The vigilante committee promises to come to the rescue. "Fourteen months ago, plant thievery began to mushroom and something had to be done." Joe Shaw