Last month, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Clinical Care Technician Xavier Marshall had just finished helping a patient bathe and get ready for discharge from the hospital when he went to retrieve the patient’s clothes. He noticed that the clothes had a moldy, foul odor likely because they were wet when the homeless patient arrived at RWJUH several days earlier.
Thinking that he, a family member, or anyone he knows would not want to wear clothes in that condition, Xavier took the clothes home and washed them as best he could. When he couldn’t rid them of the odor entirely, he brought the patient a new set of clothes and pair of shoes that he had at home, since it was late in the evening and no stores were open. Xavier’s actions are another example of a member of the RWJUH family going above and beyond to help our patients.
“We had just cleaned him to get him ready to leave the hospital, so when I noticed the clothes had an odor, I was like, ‘No, we can’t put those clothes on him, let me see what I can do,’ “ Xavier said.
Xavier’s last day at RWJUH is August 9 as he plans to pursue his master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University. He has been a clinical care technician at RWJUH for two years after graduating from Emory and Henry College with a degree in Chemistry and minors in Biology and Spanish.
Once he completes his master’s, Xavier will apply to medical school with Georgetown at the top of his list of desired destinations.
Working as a clinical care technician showed Xavier how important teamwork, bedside manner and bedside care are when caring for patients.
“One of the best things I took from this experience was the teamwork – working as a team to provide the best care for patients,” Xavier noted. “I also saw how important bedside manner is in health care. How you approach a patient and speak to a patient can have a big impact on their day. This was my first in-hospital experience and I was able to see for myself how important it is.”
Recently, Xavier’s colleagues gathered to thank him for his efforts. The RWJUH family wishes Xavier all the best as he continues on his journey in health care. One thing is for certain, he’s off to a great start!
