Alexa Perez

Major: Kinesiology and Health

Minor/option/emphasis: Exercise Science

Company/Organization: Mary Greeley Cardiac Rehabilitation

Company/Organization website: https://www.mgmc.org/careers/internships-job-shadowing/

Destination: Ames, IA

Timeframe: Spring

Advisor/Coordinator Email: dpower@iastate.edu

Responsibilities

Learning about phases 1 and 2 of Cardiac Rehab and learn about supervised exercise and protocols/ priorities for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). Learn how to read EKGs and telemetry packs and how to monitor, take blood pressures on patients, and learn about and help assist with patient assessments. You will gradually learn and take up to one- two patients per class. Always help with office duties/ tasks, class prep, and turnover. Meanwhile, help with research and revision of assigned cardiac rehab projects.

Accomplishments

Being able to work with an amazing team of nurses who showed me the way into the medical field. I got to experience way more than I was expecting. I am happy to have gone on some life changing journeys with patients and be there to help them through it meanwhile, learning what that process looks like from beginning to end.

What advice would you give?

Be patient, be kind, and be positive. Remember in this field it will always be about the patient therefore, help them in any way that you can. Being people-oriented and having a lot of compassion can help patient a lot.

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