interview with a practical social worker (8 page)

SLWK201 Interview responses

5pts • Name of the agency (1) • The social worker’s job title (1) • Range of the social worker’s responsibilities and activities (1) • The kinds of clients they work with (1) • The kinds of problems or challenges faced by their clients (1)

•Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center • Inpatient Case Manager • Responsible for: 1.) the provision of medical social work services to patients receiving care in the hospital setting 2.) Assesses the social, psychological, cultural, environmental, and financial situations, as well as disposition needs for each referred patient 3.) Collaborates with patients, families, healthcare team members, and community organizations, and using strong advocacy skills identifies needs and resources in the hospital and community 4.) Develop and evaluates e�ective transition plans taking into consideration the client diagnosis, prognosis course of treatment, past and present services, short-term and long-term goals, provider options, and/or available health care benefits as appropriate to the continuum of care • sick patients,families, parents,babies in the NICU • No caregiver support, lack of housing, lack of insurance, lack of citizenship, child abuse, adult abuse, guardaniship, etc

4pt •Background to why they chose to become a social worker (including any relevant life or job experiences) (2) •Their educational and field placement background (2)

•First started college with the intent of becoming a registered nurse then the end of her 2nd year in college she failed one of her classes and had no idea what to do now & one of her nursing professors told her that there are many more healthcare professions where you can help people like in nursing and guided her toward the social work avenue and from there she continued her last two years in college majoring in social work and ended up loving it. While in her college years she started a CNA job in her nearest hospital and gained relevant healthcare experience working with patients, families, and medical sta� while also seeing the day to day life of an actual social worker in the medical field. • Graduated with her bachelors from Longwood University. Masters from Norfolk State University and field placement was at Sentara Chespeake Nursing Center

6pt •A typical day in the social worker’s week (1) •How they interact with other professionals(1) •Positive client outcomes that the social worker hopes for (1) •Negative client outcomes that sometimes occur (1) •Three rewarding aspects of the job and three major challenges in carrying out the job (2)

• No idea what you’re going to face each day. Medicare letters, see patients and arrange. Not one day that is the same. Certain units. Get assignments together, what patients you need to assess, who needs follow up, who needs discharging. Fully sta�ed: take a portion of each unit. 5-6 Communication with other departments is very important. 8-4:30pm. Make your own day to day schedule. 30-40 minutes in the pt room sometimes, depending on sta�ng. • Common courtesy, respect • Safe discharge, patients get what they need when they discharge, preference in top choice of rehab. Going where they wanna go. Patient’s choice always comes first. Unless cognitively impaired. • Medicare/medicaid; Kaiser insurance: rehab 8-10 declined (northern virginia) declining parkinson's disease & broken arm. Managed medicare. • Positive: 1.) Gratitude family provides 2.) comfort & safety the patient feels when discharged 3.)knowing u had a positive a�ect in someone's life. Negative: 1.) Not being able to get services for patients that need it, 2.) getting treated badly, 3.) Getting told how to do your job outside of department

6pt •How did this assignment enhance your understanding of social work practice? (3) • How did the information you gathered affect your attitude about the social work profession? (3)

Opinion