#you should. talk to Jessica in human resources for assistance

[spinchs-field]

have you filled out your UAC accidental death and dismemberment form yet?

[animalsoffarmsanctuary]

Celebrating Be Kind to Humankind Week

Here at Farm Sanctuary, we mainly talk about farm animals — rescuing and rehabilitating these animals who experience cruelty on an industrial scale, and educating and advocating on their behalf in an effort to make the world a more compassionate and understanding place.

But who does the rescuing, educating, advocating, and other important work that makes this organization run? It’s the “humanimal” staff members, interns, and volunteers, of course — and these kind, intelligent, thoughtful, talented, caring, resourceful humans are a huge part of what makes our lifesaving work possible (along with the incredible supporters who power everything we do!).

This week is Be Kind to Humankind Week, and while our work primarily focuses on nonhuman animals, we like to think that compassion toward all beings goes a long way toward healing — and working on behalf of others often helps those doing the work as much as those on the receiving end.

For many of us at Farm Sanctuary, this work is a way of inspiring our own lives and giving back to other humans in addition to the animals. Here’s what a few of our amazing “humanimals” have to say about what this work means to them.

Volunteer Program Coordinator Kameke Brown writes:

‘I love Farm Sanctuary.' Even just in this past week, I've heard myself say those words multiple times. 'I love Farm Sanctuary.' But why? As I walk around each sanctuary — reflecting on my experiences visiting Orland, CA; Acton, CA; and Watkins Glen, NY — there is this distinct sense of belonging and community that I feel, seeing each resident of these sanctuaries not as animal-others but as fellow members of a collective 'us.’ My journey to Farm Sanctuary and commitment to its mission are grounded in an understanding of 'us' that seeks to reject injustice, inequality, and oppression against any member of that whole — human and non-human. I love Farm Sanctuary because it is a space in which I can embody, embrace, and explore that understanding in compassionate community. It is a space within which I know and believe that we have the potential to create a transformative reality grounded in justice and compassion, for all, that is SO powerful that its reach can't help but be felt beyond sanctuary borders. From Charlottesville to the Bay Area, coast to coast and beyond, there is a simple but profound and resounding desire for a world in which there is truly peace, justice, and equality for all of 'us.’ I love Farm Sanctuary precisely because I believe it to be a space and community where that desire can become reality.

Volunteer Program Coordinator Kameke Brown bonds with Panza goat in the sheep barn.

Dana Penman

“I had spent far too long at a job as a bar manager because it paid the bills, but didn’t fulfill me,” says Caregiver Dana Penman. “You should never stay at a job because the money is good. You should stay at a job because it fills your heart with joy. And that is how I feel here at Farm Sanctuary.”

Caregiver Dana Penman shares a laugh with Marjorie goat.

Perry Snyderman

“The biggest change for me [since coming to Farm Sanctuary] is my happiness,” says Farm Assistant Perry Snyderman. “It hit me when I first started interning; I hadn’t felt so consistently happy ever in my life. Since starting working here I finally, for once in my life, feel a sense of belonging — and that is because every person who works here has accepted me for who I am and supports me. Also, I now see veganism as being the norm, probably because I’m surrounded by vegans every day. I find it super awesome that I went from viewing veganism as extreme to seeing it as completely normal.”

Farm Assistant Perry Snyderman bonds with sheep friends Dan and Ferdinand.

Paula Tharp

Any day I can spend at one of the shelters hanging with our wonderful members and knowledgeable staff is a memorable day,” Major Gifts Officer Paula Tharp explains. “Most recently, I had the pleasure of joining Hilda Club members at the annual Hilda Club party held at Watkins Glen. After an amazingly delicious vegan dinner getting to know one another, we had a twilight tour of the farm with Susie and Gene. You’ve never seen so many happy people smiling, laughing, and crying — as animal lovers hanging out with animals (and other like-minded folks) do. Being where vegan is normal, as Gene says, and feeling connected to all beings — just pure joy. I feel part of a forceful tide that is changing lives in a meaningful way.”

Major Gifts Officer Paula Tharp poses with pal Valentino steer.

Kat Thorpe

“There is something about working here that gives me strength,” says Caregiver Kat Thorpe. “I build more self-confidence every day. I learn something new every day. And every day I go home, knowing that the animals in our care get to sleep safely that night, without fear and without harm. It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of that type of peace.”

Caregiver Kat Thorpe shares a tender moment with Shirley sheep.

 Jessica Due

“I love coming to work every day knowing I am surrounded by people who want the best for these animals, and are not disconnected to the realities of their lives,” says Caregiver Jessica Due. “We all have common goals at Farm Sanctuary: to help as many animals as possible and show compassion in each and every single situation – to our rescued farm animals and to one another. It’s great to look up and see your coworker giving their all, right beside you.”

Caregiver Jessica Due brings blind and elderly Bernadette sheep some much needed comfort and kindness.

Kate Powell

“I think the best way to describe how my life has changed since coming to Farm Sanctuary is that I feel I found my home,” says Shelter Manager Kate Powell. “I have always heard people describe that they feel their home is their sanctuary – they don’t have to pretend to be someone they aren’t, they feel safe, they are comfortable, etc. In my head I had always pictured this as an actual dwelling. My perception of that completely changed after coming to Farm Sanctuary. I’ve realized that no matter what shelter I am at – my home base in Orland, visiting Watkins Glen, visiting Acton, and most recently New Jersey, I feel at home. I work with amazing animals and humanimals on a daily basis – these animals and humanimals have become my friends and family. I have had some of the happiest times of my life as well as some of the hardest while at Farm Sanctuary, but not for one second have I not felt like it wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be.”

Shelter Manager Kate Powell helps Timi and Mason explore their new surroundings.

Michelle Waffner

“We spend a lot of time at work, and it’s nice to know that what I am doing is making a difference in the world – or at least attempting to,” says Director of Visitor Experience Michelle Waffner. “Sometimes activists talk about burnout, but this job has allowed the opposite to happen with me. I feel like I am contributing in a way that fits with my personality and skills, which is uplifting. I also have met a ton of really amazing people who also care about animals through this job, and that is also uplifting.”

Director of Visitor Experience Michelle Waffner takes some time to check in with her turkey friends at Farm Sanctuary’s Southern California Shelter.

Sierra Sundseth

“At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if they’re the reason why I have straw in my hair, mud in my boots, and my clothes are covered in unexplained farm stains and holes,” says Caregiver Sierra Sundseth. “All that matters is that they’re all healthy and happy.”

Caregiver Sierra Sundseth and buddy Hemingway goat spend some quality time together.

Tara Hess

“Much like teaching, this job requires that you put everything you’ve got into it,” says Senior Shelter Manager Tara Hess. “There are long days, there is heartache, it’s physically exhausting, it’s stressful – it’s not something you would put yourself through if you weren’t 100% committed. I feel so grateful to have finally found what I think I was searching for all along. I can’t ever imagine doing anything else.”

Senior Shelter Manager Tara Hess gives Eric pig a well-deserved belly rub!

[amedkarim]

Walk In Clinic To Serve More Patients

By Jessica Phillips

Almost all clinical organizations are finding ways to improve the orderliness of their clinics. This is only achieved through keeping records of appointments and not accepting immediate consultations. Today, let us talk about walk in clinic Birch Run to serve more patients. Expensive consultations might only discourage ill people to avail medical services. This especially happens when they are advised to submit laboratory results. Thinking about the expense it needs when performing laboratory procedures will make us think twice. As a negative result, it would only worsen our conditions. However, this has shown several pros and cons in the health of people. It highly affects the amount of diseased people because of the complicated reservation processes. Fortunately, most care centers are implementation speedy services by setting an appointment through phone. However, most clinical services only utilize online reservations to properly disseminate the patients and to ensure orderly accommodation. Think about those citizens who have no internet connections in their house and are forced to wait for a confirmation instead of constant follow ups. The government is aware that there are lots of homeless individuals in their country who cannot afford to do online reservations and secure a priority spot. Senior citizens and disabled individuals deserve a spot in every medical center. This is to minimize further complications and risks. This is all because of the growing population and medics are seeking for solutions equally assist everyone without compromising their health. It would tragic to think that these people who were not able to have enough resources to access their online websites just to secure an appointment would just die with their current conditions. Most people want private care because they have been known for their quality and efficiency. After providing the necessary information, you can now book your personal appointment. In this case, you will know in advance what time you should visit their clinic. However, in every advantage, there will always be a disadvantage. This would be convenient for those people who have internet connections and can access on line applications anytime they want. Luckily, government health units are already doing this for free. This is to serve the homeless people the equal quality of service private clinics can give. They are employed with the best professionals to accommodate people who belong in the poverty line with respect and politeness. Everyone gets sick. It would be ridiculous to have medicines only affordable for these individuals who are financially capable. These centers also offer laboratory procedures like blood tests, pregnancy tests, urinalysis, drug testing, and all other procedures. In this way, financially unstable people can already afford to avail these quality prescriptions and services. They also need money to feed their family and to give them the quality of life that they need. It would definitely need a strong person to have the initiative to serve the poor and to help those who are in need. After all, we should realize that these people are also humans and they do not feel any different from what we also feel.

About the Author:

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Walk In Clinic To Serve More Patients via bestfit34 https://ift.tt/2OxVnfk

[meganlhaan]

Nurses rarely talk about what traumatized them. We encourage an atmosphere of mental well being and care for the caregiver, yet every nurse I know has something that traumatized them. I knew I was going to be in situations here that were not ideal, and some that led to death due to lack of resources, but nothing prepared me for the inhumane ways that some women are treated. For example, my teammate Jessica pointed out a fourteen year old who had been brutally raped, with fingernail marks and choke marks around her neck. Jessica said that was the second patient this week in that condition.

It was easy for me to walk away last Tuesday thinking "I hope I never go back to that place" after seeing a comatose woman on her death bed, tied to the bed, in blood, a classical incision that looked as though it had been performed with a chainsaw. I figuratively rolled my eyes every time the midwives or students would educate their patients at mobile clinic or the matrons on reasons to go to the hospital. "So they can be treated like garbage," I thought. It made me wonder what all this is for, if at the end of the day, the woman has no autonomy, no consent, and no dignity.

So when Stecy asked me last night if I could go to the hospital today, I said yes. I remembered my promise to be flexible. But all night I also remembered the stories of the strong nurses I know who have braved the storm and gotten back at it after something that traumatized them.

I went to St Terese hospital today, feeling the strength of all the nurses that continued, and I cannot tell you the joy I had when that same mom was sitting up in bed, smiled for us, and can move her legs. Her hematocrit was up to 15 when it had been 9 and it was probably even higher since that was several days ago. She still cannot move her right arm which was twice the size it should be. I taught the family to elevate it and massage it, that the fluid needs to move out of her skin. I taught the family that she needs to eat and drink lots of water to get better. I asked if I could hand express milk and was overjoyed when breastmilk came. And when I asked if she could feel when she was soiling herself, and she said yes, I said, "then tell the nurse to clean you up because you are a human being and you don't have to sit in your own poop" I told her how so many of our peers back home were thinking and praying for her. They appreciate you all so much.

While Jessica and I were at the hospital, we saw many pre and post natal clinic patients. My room stayed hopping as there were no students in there to help. Jessica said the students mostly worked in her room while she supervised. We weighed babies in this sling that I would lift with a scale-similar to the ones you use to test your luggage bag. The babies would always look mesmerized as the hung in that thing. We saw a baby with an umbilical hernia who we referred to pediatrics. They will evaluate her and check in with her to see if it's improving over the next few months. We send a baby to pediatrics for a rash that needed an antibacterial cream. Two moms we sent to the maternity ward for treatment for preeclampsia which the midwives had them give a urine sample in a temperate probe. They carried their temperature probe back into the room filled with urine and we dipped it for protein. Another woman came in insisting she had something inside her vagina after delivering. We examined her to find nothing vaginally. I asked her if she has had bowel movements to which she described as constipation and we talked about how the pressure she feels is hemorrhoids and needs cream and to change her diet.

In assessing the postpartum and post op patients, Jessica and I found one mother who had been readmitted with a surgical site infection. The dressing that was on looked like a drunk toddler had placed it. Jessica went to receive a tray of normal saline, sterile gauze, and iodine. I grabbed every nurse and nursing student in the ward (remember they are like nurse assistants) and said "we want to show you how to do this correctly" so as Jessica changed the dressing, I educated on what we were assessing, why clean gloves are important when then moving towards placing a clean dressing, and placing an intact pressure dressing. I tried to empower the nurses to speak up when they see doctors not doing what they can to prevent infection. I said "this is preventable, and it takes a lot of work. We have the same problem in the us but it has to start with you all being a patient advocate" they all thanked us.

I assessed an 12 hour old infant who the moment I took off the (millions) of layers of clothes I noticed that this baby was in acute respiratory distress. He was breathing at 120/minute with retractions and had that sga/iugr (severely small) look with waxy skin. I asked if he was born premature. No. Nine months with meconium stained fluid. I looked at the nurse with sharp judgement. "When did you check this baby last!?!" I know that this baby had been doing this for awhile. This baby needs to go to peds now! Surprisingly the baby was transferred within fifteen minutes.

Today I embraced going back to a place that traumatized me. We don't get their strength by necessarily choosing to walk into those situations, but we choose their bravery by returning to the scene of the crime, carrying on, ceaselessly. Whether it be to return to the hospital, to the office, to the classroom, to wake up another day to a terrible president, to screaming kids, or to whatever ails you. Be brave.