#bgxonthejob

Kristin Joostema, a 19-year-old biology major is tightening her focus within the field of neuroscience at the University of Richmond.

With a major such as this, it’s all about EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE. We’re talking hands on engagement between Joostema and the health field. To enrich her confidence and presence in this career, Joostema worked diligently to achieve and succeed in her most recent internship at The Goodwin House as a CNA (Certified Nurse’s Assistant)
“I have learned how to give the best restorative care to patients.” Says Joostema.
“My responsibilities include any activity of daily living - these include bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, transferring from bed to wheelchair safety, and promoting the residents dignity and happiness. I have learned how to communicate with the residents and truly learn from their vast life experiences. I also learned the administrative side of the administrative part of the job by logging all the care I perform in the patient's file. Finally, I learned how to effectively work with my coworkers to give care for all our patients in an effective and efficient way and transition from shift to shift or provider to provider smoothly.”

For Joostema, creating confidence in herself became a creation of confidence within her patients. I think we can all recognize in some sense just how important the role of a nurse can be! When asking Joostema how The Brand Girls helped her lock down this internship, she mentioned…

“Rachael Bozsik, CEO of The Brand Girls, motivated me to go after what I wanted in life, which is ultimately to be a Physician's Assistant, and take tangible steps towards that goal. This motivated me to apply for the Red Cross program and becoming a CNA to gain clinical experience and make myself a qualified candidate for graduate programs. After BG, I find myself walking into a room with my head held high and a bounce in my step, ready to take on any challenge- something that I definitely would not be able to do without BG.”