My knowledge of delirium and preventative factors was previously elementary but has since developed into a more sophisticated knowledge level. I knew that it was important to work the patient’s mind and reorient the patients, but I did not know how to approach doing those. Through volunteering with HELP, I was able to practice ways to engage the patient’s mind. I asked them questions about themselves to get to know them. This required the patient to use their memory to answer my questions. To orient them, I asked them if they knew the day of the week, and if not, I would gently correct them. Being able to practice these skills with patients was very helpful to my future nursing practice.

The most meaningful aspect of volunteering for me was being able to connect with patients who may not have visitors. Some patients had only seen staff for clinical encounters, but no one had sat and talked with them. One patient I sat with was very excited to tell me about his photography and his love of reading. Making connections with patients is very meaningful to them, as well as engaging for their mind. My first goal was to make an impact on the patients that I worked with. I believe I achieved this when I engaged with the patients in conversation, and they would tell me about themselves. My second goal was to learn more about HELP and delirium. I believe I achieved this as well, as I felt like I learned about the ways to prevent delirium and the ways that HELP works to do that. I learned a lot from this experience that I can use in future practice. All the strategies that HELP taught me, such as bringing the patients activities and asking them how they slept, works to engage with the patients and prevent delirium. Using these strategies in my future practice allows me to provide quality care for my patients and helps to prevent complications, such as delirium.