Pre-Med Junior Fieldwork Reflection Writing:  

 
Name​: 
Riley West 
 
A/B Day:  
A Day 
 
Advisory Teacher:  
Mrs. Fitzgerald 
 
Fieldwork Location:  
Memorial Hospital 
 
 
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT:  
Complete this section ​before​ you go on your fieldwork trip. If you do not know about the 
organization, please research and include your research findings below. 
 
 
1. What do you know of the location you will be visiting? What services does the 
organization provide?  
The hospital is a very generous building that does not discriminate against any gender, 
religion, race, income, etc. This hospital is very well ran, and  
 
2. If you are visiting a specific department within the agency, what is that department's 
primary focus?  
 
I believe I signed up to visit the intensive care unit within the hospital to visit during the 
length of my shadowing. 
 
3. What is the public health function the organization/agency addresses?  
(Assessment, Policy Development, Assurance) 
The public health function that this organization/facility addresses is care for all, with a 
focus on those who are less fortunate and would not typically be able to pay for medical 
services. 
 
 
 
4. What preconceived ideas (personal bias) do you have about the location you will be 
visiting? 
 
My parents like this hospital, and chose to have me and my siblings here, so they say it’s 
great. 
  
 
 
 
​ URING YOUR VISIT - OBSERVATION: 
D
Review the prompts i​ n advance​ and take a small notebook on your fieldwork visit. You should 
be taking notes on each of these topics so you will be able to add your observations ​after you 
return.  
Close Read your Surroundings:  
Observe the physical space and "read" them as if close reading a text. Pay attention to: 
● sensory details 
● signs posted 
● languages you hear 
● colors of the offices and uniforms.  
● does the location have a certain smell? 
● what sounds do you hear?  
Observations: 
-bland coloring, nothing bright and flamboyant 
-smelled sanitary/of medication 
-many small rooms 
Set up in triangle formation 
-3 branches 
-beeping buzzing typing talking coughing noises 
-signs about hand washing, personal hygiene, being respectful, and medical history of 
patients in specific rooms 
 
 
Observe your Emotional Response: ​Take notice of your reactions (emotional and physical) 
to different things and reflect on why you might be reacting this way.  
 
Observations: : 
-the area was smaller than expected 
-not as busy 
-most patients=elderly 
-more illness based than accident 
-legs were tired from standing/walking and watching 
 
Ask questions of the person you’re shadowing and/or the industry people you encounter:  
- general questions of interest 
- relating to your potential career choices 
- public health related issues and challenges they see as important to consider.  
 
Record your questions and answers here. 
 
Observations: 
-how many new patients come in per week? 
-what do the shifts look like? 
-why is the center set up the way it is? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Summary Reflection   
After your return from your fieldwork experience address each prompt below to capture your 
thoughts on your experience.  
 
Reflect on specific highlights or observations from the day. What was a lesson (big or small) 
you took away from your experience? . Consider lessons that presented themselves in both 
positive and negative ways.  
Reflection: 
Over the course of my shadowing I learned that life is to be lived now because as we 
age there will be many possibilities and chances for serious illness and accidents. The 
head nurse of the ICU made a comment to me while we were going through rounds and 
said that this unit is a great reason why right now should be fun instead of spent entirely 
on work and stress as it greatly affects our future.  
 
How did the experience meet, exceed, or fall short of your expectations? Explain and 
include specific details from your fieldwork notes to help support your answer 
Reflection:: 
Although I expected there to be more excitement in the ICU, I was not disappointed. I 
got to see what happens after patient goes through a tavr or a non invasive heart valve 
surgery, which really demonstrates the post operation procedures. some of the stories 
of the patients were very eye-opening and interesting, even though the day was slow. 
if I had the chance I would go back to this area of the hospital. 
 
What connection can be made between what you ​saw​ on your fieldwork experience and 
the functions of Public Health?  
Some suggestions 
- the role of public health within this career path 
- public health needs or challenges within the field you observed 
- thoughts on how to address these needs 
 
Reflection:: 
Memorial Hospital Works to provide healthcare for everyone including those who are 
less fortunate, which is just one of the ways they can be compared to the public 
house of course. The ICU in specific helps a wide variety of patients from all different 
backgrounds, and supported the driving forces behind Public Health.