An overview of my internship experience at the Joseph F. Sullivan Center in Clemson, South Carolina.

1. SAVANNAH HENDERSON
SPRING 2017
Health Science Internship
The Joseph F. Sullivan Center
Clemson University

2. Internship Site
This semester I interned at the
Joseph F. Sullivan Center, located in
Clemson, South Carolina.
The Sullivan Center is on the first
floor of Edwards Hall in the heart of
Clemson University’s campus.
The Sullivan Center staff also travels
on a solar-powered mobile unit to
many communities in the Upstate of
South Carolina to reach
underserved populations.

3. About the Sullivan Center
Mission:
“The Joseph F. Sullivan Center will
drive community health research
initiatives providing innovative,
real-life student learning”
Values:
1. Relationships define health.
2. Holistic balance is wellness.
3. Affordable care is a right of all.
4. Transdisciplinary teams
promote positive skills.
5. A global and environmental
perspective is critical to human
development.
History of the Center:
The Sullivan Center is one of the oldest
nurse-managed health clinics in the
country. Founded in the 1970’s, the
clinic was originally a “Family Health
Center,” and services were provided by
nursing faculty free of charge. In the
1980’s, the JFSC director began
researching the needs of the
surrounding communities to determine
how the JFSC could expand their
capabilities. With the help of an
endowment from BlueCross BlueShield,
the Sullivan Center expanded to offer
free services to all Clemson employees
as part of the CU Well initiative. Since
1978 the Sullivan Center has been
offered programs and services to
improve the health, education, and well-
being of individuals, families, and
communities.

4. My Goals and Objectives
Health Assessment Goal
By the end of my fieldwork experience, I
will be able to assess and report the health
status of patients after completing a full
work-up.
Health Planning Goal
By the end of my fieldwork experience, I
will be able to meet with individuals and
help them understand their current health
status, and guide them in setting goals to
improve upon specific areas.
Intervention Development Goal
By the end of my fieldwork experience I
will be able to list the ways in which the
Joseph F. Sullivan Center aims to care for
the underserved.
Intervention Evaluation Goal
By the end of my fieldwork experience I
will be able to describe how the Joseph F.
Sullivan Center evaluates the effectiveness
of the Best Chance Network program.
Affective Goal
By the end of my fieldwork experience, I
will be able to articulate how I feel about
pursuing a career in the field of nursing.

5. Daily Duties and Tasks as an Intern
Patient intake (vital signs,
history, current medications,
reason for visit)
Running in-house laboratory
tests including urinalysis,
strep A, pregnancy hCG
urine tests, and hemoglobin
measurement.
Report to nurse practitioner
about patients waiting to be
seen.
Use the AllScripts EMR
system to chart patient
information and track
laboratory test results.
Clean and restock exam
rooms, lab , and procedure
room.

6. Patient Intake
 Bring the patient back and take all
of their vital signs (height, weight,
blood pressure, pulse,
temperature, waist circumference)
 Take the patient to their exam
room, enter vitals into AllScripts
 Ask the patient to confirm their
medical history, update as needed
 Confirm allergies to medications
and common allergens
 Confirm current medications the
patient is taking
 Complete social history (alcohol
use, tobacco use, nutrition, etc.)
 Ask the patient their reason for
coming in, chart all necessary
information in AllScripts so
providers have a full
understanding of what the patient
reports Taking a manual blood pressure
measurement.

7. Perform In-House Laboratory Tests
Performing a dipstick urinalysis test.
 Perform simple
laboratory tests when
necessary for a patient’s
visit
 Pregnancy test (urine
hCG)
 Dipstick Urinalysis using
UA machine (pictured)
 Hemoglobin finger stick
 Glucose finger stick
 Rapid Strep A test

8. Using AllScripts Electronic Medical Record
System
Entering information into the AllScripts
EMR system.
 Enter information such as
vital signs, patient history,
medications, allergies, and
reason for visit
 Send charts to providers to
notify them that a patient is
ready
 Look up laboratory tests to
ensure that they have been
entered in the system and
faxed to primary care
providers
 Chart CU4Health counseling
sessions to document the
patients goals that they set
during the session for future
follow-up

9. Reporting to Nurse Practitioner
Reporting patient information to a
nurse practitioner who will see the
patient.
 Report patient’s vital signs,
reason for visit, and
pertinent information to
the correct provider
 Let the provider know
where the patient is in the
clinic (lab room, exam
room, or procedure room)
 Ensure that the clinic is
running on schedule by
being efficient during
patient intake

10. CU4Health Counseling
 Explain lab results to patients
and help them understand what
their numbers mean
 Go through CU4Health online
health survey with patients and
review results
 Counsel patients on ways to
improve their health score
through diet and exercise
modifications and improvements
 Make patients aware of their
coronary, diabetes, osteoporosis,
and cancer risk
 Encourage patients to live a
healthy and active lifestyle
through making realistic changes
that will improve their overall
health

11. Taking Inventory/Restocking Supplies
Counting the number of supplies we
have in stock.
 Make sure all exam rooms are
fully stocked at the beginning
of each day, replenish
supplies as needed
 Monitor inventory in the
stock room and make note of
when a reorder form should
be submitted
 Put away supplies as they are
shipped to the clinic, keeping
the supply room organized
and orderly
 Take accurate inventory at the
beginning of each week to
stay aware of supply levels

12. Cleaning Exam Rooms
Wiping down a bed after a patient visit.
 Wear gloves
 Wipe down exam table
and chairs using bleach
wipes
 Dispose of used table
paper, capes, gowns, and
drapes
 Dispose of lancets or
needles in sharps bin
 Replace table paper after
exam table has been
bleached

13. A N O V E R V I E W O F T H E M A J O R P R O J E C T S
T H A T I W A S A S S I G N E D A N D C O M P L E T E D
D U R I N G T H E C O U R S E O F M Y I N T E R N S H I P .
Projects

14. Chemical
Inventory
One of my largest projects
that I took on this
semester was completing
the Sullivan Center’s
annual chemical inventory
report.
The report is a
comprehenssive list of all
the chemicals on site, the
quantity of each, and
detailed information
about each.
Additionally, I created a
checklist and template for
future interns to use to
make this process more
efficient.
Chemical Inventory Guide:
Use this as a guide when locating chemicals. Check in cabinets, closets,
drawers, etc. and be sure to document if chemicals have expired. Using
this list, the master checklist, and the MSDS binder (found in 104E in
cabinet under microscope), obtain as much information as possible to
include in chemical inventory spreadsheet (rooms, manufacturer, CAS#,
and quantity- include # of boxes/bottles and volume).
104E: Lab Room (with computer)
ü Alcohol Prep Pads
ü Asepti-steryl
ü Dispatch towels
ü Hemocue Microcuvettes
ü Kova-Liqua Trol
ü Lysol
ü Multistix 10 SG
ü Nilogel
ü Quickvue Strep A
ü Sodium Chloride
ü Softsoap
104D: Lab Room (w/ toilet)
ü Castile Soap Towelettes
ü Dispatch Towels
ü Hemoccult II Sensa
ü Multistix 10 SG
ü Quickvue Strep A
ü Sodium Bicarbonate
ü Sodium Chloride
ü Surgilube/lubricant jelly
ü ThinPrep
106B: Storage Room
ü Acetic Acide (vinegar) solution
ü Alcare Plus
ü Alcide Activator
ü Alcide Base Concentrate
ü Alcohol Prep Pads
ü Castile Soap Towelettes
ü Clorox Cleaner+Bleach
ü Dispatch Towels
ü Elmers Slide-All
ü Febreeze Air Effects
ü Glass-Plus
ü Great Stuff Foam
ü Hot Shot Ant Killer
ü Hydrogen Peroxide (bottles)
ü Hydrogen Peroxide (spray)
ü Isopropyl Alcohol 70%
ü Kleenaseptic
ü Phenol Liquified
ü Purell Hand Sanitizer
ü Natrapel

15. Stock Room
Reordering
Information
One of the major
difficulties at the Sullivan
Center is the process of
taking inventory and
reordering supplies.
Typically, people just write
on a sticky note what they
need and somehow it gets
done. To help with this, I
created a checklist based on
the layout of the supply
room that will make it easy
and much more accurate
when documenting the
supplies on hand. Also, I
included the reorder
information so that
supplies can be replenished
quickly and easily.

16. Autoclave
Protocol
One of the most commonly
used machines at the
Sullivan Center is the
autoclave. It is used by
interns and providers to
sterilize instruments that
are used on a daily basis. In
order to make it easier for
future volunteers and
interns to learn how to use
the autoclave, I updated the
JFSC protocol to include
detailed instructions for
operating the autoclave. It is
now being used as a tool for
students to refer to if they
have questions.
Joseph F. Sullivan Center
Autoclave Instructions
Dry Sterilizing Procedure
1. Load: Load instruments directly on tray. Do not use cloth coverings. Load chamber loosely for best
circulation. Insert auxillary door thermometer. Use of dry heat door is essential for measuring proper
dry-heat temperature.
2. Set: Turn lower knob to VENT position. DO NOT turn through FILL position. Depress button beneath
middle knob and turn knob clockwise into DRY STER section until it hits stop. This setting gives a
temperature of 350° F. Set timer for 60 minutes when thermometer reaches 350° F.
3. Vent: When bell rings, remove door and unload. Rotate middle knob into steam section. Button will
pop out. Lower knob can then be turned to OFF.
Note: Middle knob cannot be turned to DRY STER section unless button is depressed. Button cannot be
depressed unless lower knob is in VENT position.
Note: When middle knob is in DRY STER section, lower knob cannot be turned from VENT position.
Note: For proper sterilization, do not overload chamber.
Steam Sterilizing Procedure
1. After instruments have been cleaned (scrubbed with brush and cleaning solution) and dried, they are
ready to be sterilized.
2. Prepare: Place instruments into the appropriate sized bag. Only one instrument should be placed in
each bag. Bags are found in the top drawer to the immediate left of the sink. Before placing an
instrument into a bag, make sure it is completely opened, and the handle (on speculums) is facing the
side that will be opened by the provider (opposite the sticker side).
(Note: small bags hold items such as tweezers, short-handled scissors, etc. Large bags hold items such as
speculums, long-handled scissors, etc.)
3. Date: Seal each bag by removing the sticker at the top end of the bag, and folding the adhesive side
over to close off the opening. Using a pen, write the date on the top of the bag.
(Note: if the instruments will not be sterilized that day, do not indicate a date. The date written on the
bag is the date that the instrument was sterilized.)
4. Fill: Open the autoclave door. Turn the lower knob counter-clockwise until the indicator points to
FILL. Allow water from previously filled resevoir to enter the chamber until the fill plate is covered.
5. Load: Load the chamber with 3-4 instruments maximum. Close and lock the door by pushing the
handle downwards and to the left.
6. Set: Turn the lower knob to the STERILIZE position. Monitor the temperature gauge until it reaches
the optimal range, indicated by the green area (~260° F). Once the optimal temperature is reached,
turn the upper (timer) knob to 20 minutes.
7. Vent: When the timer is done, rotate the lower knob so the indicator points to the VENT position. Wait
approximately 10 minutes before opening the door to allow the machine and instruments to cool off.
When the pressure gauge reaches 0, it is safe to open the autoclave.
8. Open: Push in on top of door handle while pulling handle up. Slide the door handle bolt to the right to
unlock. Open the door about halfway, and allow sterilized instruments to cool (approx. 5 min). Remove
instruments and let dry on countertop.
Note: Always rotate lower knob counter-clockwise
Note: During stand-by periods, leave door closed or slightly open and leave lower knob in VENT position.
Note: Add water to resevoir only when lower knob is in VENT or POWER OFF positions.
Note: Safety valve is set for 30 pounds.

17. Charge Intern
Flowchart
When the clinic becomes
extremely busy, it can be
hard for providers and
interns to keep track of
which room patients are
in, and where providers
need to go. Because of
this, Will Mayo and I
collaborated on creating a
“charge intern/nurse”
role where a particular
intern is responsible for
keeping track of the flow
of patients. This
ultimately keeps the
center on schedule, and
helps providers know
where their patients are
and where they need to
be.
!
Patient!Arrives!at!JFSC!
Take!note!of!which!
intern/volunteer!takes!
pt!back,!and!what!
room!they!are!in!
After!pt!is!worked!up,!
make!sure!intern!has!
notiEied!provider!
If!intern!cannot!notify!
provider:!
!Gather!pertinent!info.!
and!notify!provider!
If!provider!is!
unavailable:!
Short/sick!visit:!
Let!the!provider!know!
as+soon+as!he/she!
becomes!available!
Long!visit:!
If!appropriate,!knock!
politely!and!let!
provider!know!their!pt!
is!ready!
If!not!appropriate,!
notify!a!different!
provider!who!may!be!
able!to!see!pt!
If!rooms!are!full,!
monitor!availability!!
Once!room!becomes!
available,!immediately!
clean!and!notify!intern!
to!bring!next!pt!back!!
Appropriate+Phrases:+
+
If!you!have!to!knock!and!notify!provider!who!is!in!
with!a!pt:!“
If!patient!has!been!waiting!~15!minutes!or!longer:!
“
If!you!have!to!ask!a!different!provider!to!see!a!pt:!
!
General+Responsibilities:++
QKeep!track!of!patients!and!
where!they!are!
QBe!aware!of!which!
intern/volunteer!is!with!each!
patient!
QManage!flow!of!patients!in!
and!out!of!JFSC!
QMake!sure!providers!are!
notified!promptly!of!patients!
QClean!exam!rooms!
!!
“Charge+Nurse”+Responsibilities+

18. My Overall Internship Experience
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to intern at the
Sullivan Center. I learned so much through hands-on experience,
and know that I will use these skills that I have acquired in nursing
school and eventually my field of work. As a student who aspires to
become a nurse practitioner, it was extremely beneficial to observe
and learn about the role of an NP and see them in action. I loved
getting to know patients and their families. This was something I
was initially nervous about, since it is a skill that cannot be taught.
However, it actually became my favorite part of my internship.
Having patients come back and remember me was especially
rewarding. I have loved forming genuine relationships with
patients and providers at the Sullivan Center this semester. I highly
recommend this site to friends and peers looking for intern or
volunteer experience.

19. Special Thanks!
This internship experience
was especially great due to
the guidance I received from
Elizabeth Garcia. She is truly
a special person who is not
nearly as recognized for her
work ethic or abilities as she
should be. Elizabeth has a
true gift for teaching
students, and is someone I
will never forget. Her
patience while teaching me
new things made me feel so
comfortable asking questions
and allowed me to learn so
much. She even let me learn
how to perform an EKG by
acting as my patient! She has
been at the Sullivan Center
since 1997, and has
contributed greatly to their
success as a clinic.

20. Sources
https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/centers-institutes/sullivan/
https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/centers-institutes/sullivan/wellness/index.html
https://www.google.com/search?q=clemson+sullivan+center&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ah
UKEwjO14Kcwb3TAhUJVyYKHUs8B0YQ_AUICygE&biw=1234&bih=678#imgrc=nEZphpb2G-R50M: