Tag Archives: Nursing Program

Olympic College Nursing Program Treats 2010 – Meet Charlene and Amber

I can’t let 2010 slip away without showing a few photos about one of my 2010 highlights – the joined Harrison Medical Center and Olympic College RN Nursing program.

I had the privilege of being a senior /patient type for two charming OC nursing students who paid weekly, two hour visits to my home during the fall quarter.

The nursing/patient/senior program is super and I was lucky they had room to fit me into the program.  I knew it would be a fun experience and I agreed when my oldest granddaughter said no shot was involved.  All that was needed is a real person and/or family.

I will do almost anything to help medical students progress, thought it would be interesting, and knew it would be fun.

What I didn’t expect was the growing attachment I felt toward these girls and know that great things are ahead for them and their patients.  May love and best wishes follow them always as they touch other lives as they have mine.

The Harrison Medical Center and Olympic College Nursing partnership is an awesome success if the two nursing students I met weekly for fall quarter 2010 is an example.

Charlene Engelland and Amber are opposites in personalities but joined in their intense dedication to learning medicine and patients.

Both are personable, funny, and professional in manner and appearance.  I looked forward to every visit and enjoyed learning along with them and from them.

They took turns checking, among other things, temperature, pulse, blood pressure and I learned there is a pulse on the upper foot between the big and adjoining toe.  All these years have gone by and I never knew there was a pulse there.

Charlene, left and Amber, right…

My photo editing skills aren’t there…sorry…

Charlene’s shoes were made for dancing…. too bad I’ve misplaced the edited version of this photo (uncluttered it)

Charlene’s live patient test for one of Harrison Medical Center’s finest RN/instructor, Mary.  Mary works in my favorite area, the “M” department..

Thank you,  Ladies, for a wonderful experience!… Sharon

Btw:  Another highlight of 2010 is the miracle birth and life of our latest great-grandson.  I call him the Lucky Little Prince because in the old days he would have died.  He was born with medical issues – his heart.  He not only survived, he is thriving after complicated heart surgeries after his birth.

The Lucky Little Prince’s mom works at Harrison Medical Center full time, taking classes to be an RN.  Proud daddy, our youngest grandson, works around high rises.

Happy New Year Everyone!

More later… Sharon O’Hara

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The University of Washington Rocks!

The University of Washington is a God send to us. I wrote the following in answer to a letter to the editor and decided to add it here as well.

“The University of Washington ‘elitist’? If ‘elitist’ means dedicated fine professors teaching a subject they they live their work. They teach what they are passionate about to kids eager to learn.

It was the University of Washington’s Medical Center Specialties and Dr. Raghu specifically with then, Super Fellow, Christopher Goss, who gave me an open lung biopsy and found the granulomas and fibrosis in my lungs to prove Sarcoidosis added to emphysema (COPD)

When I had a sudden loss of ability to breathe, the local pulmonologist just handed me a steroid inhaler to add to the others he had prescribed and I was on my way out the door.

Mom’s worry. My mother worried that her daughter all of a sudden lost even more ability to breath and nothing was being done. She strongly pushed for me to get evaluated through the U or the Mayo Clinic. We needed to know.

I went to the U. The following letter is a direct quote from a Thank you card I have written out but forgot to leave there last week after my appointment.

Dr. Raghu –
Dr. Goss –

“Thanks for all you do for us now and in future to make the next generation of lung patients fewer, I hope, living quality lives.
When I first came here I never expected to live out the year much less be here years later and looking at tomorrow.”

The doctors at the U are open minded, they look and think about the entire body, not just lungs. Had I not gone there, I would not be sitting here now.
Their doctors are open minded and actually THINK. They treat their patients like partners in their own care and work together.

The old type doc and his “I Tarzan, You Jane’ mentality is over. Patients have a right to be involved and understand what is going on and what they can do to help themselves.

The University of Washington offers stellar, quality, educated medical people and professors. Who wouldn’t want the best training available?

That said, my own primary care doctor, Dr. Eady, is right here in town. If she ever moved I’d have to move too…same with my pulmonologist at the U. They, and others, are examples of medical care and caring not easily found these days.

I haven’t even touched on the superb Nursing Program at the U…in fact they lead THE COUNTRY…ask US News and World Reports…they are #1.

Is this what you call ‘elitist?

University of Washington – you rock!

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/09/my-turn-is-university-of-washington-only-for-the/?comments_id=233309#ixzz0qyxBonTy

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