Appetizers

Starting with some basics.

Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day job.

Tell us about yourself and your job.

I always loved helping people. Nursing was a way to make a living and give me purpose at the same time. My job is difficult to describe to someone who's never done it. There's so much more to it than pushing medications. You are responsible for a person's life for 8-12 hours, but at the same time, you are sometimes the only person they can talk to. Patients emotionally and physically rely on us.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I always knew that I wanted to be in the medical field. When my grandpa got admitted for a GI bleed, I was in college struggling to figure out where I was going and the nurses who took care of him inspired me. I love that you never stop thinking while you're on the job, everything you do has a reason behind it. When a patient shows gratitude towards you, there aren't really words to describe the feeling that you take from that interaction.

What does a typical morning look like on the job?

I work the evening shift currently, so we get there at 3 pm. I usually try to get there about 15 minutes early to gather my supplies so I'm ready to receive reports from the off-going nurses. After getting the rundown on each of my 5 patients, I take another 15-30 minutes to read doctor's notes and look up labs. When I'm ready I'll go in and do my vital signs and start the first medication pass. If everything goes smoothly, I'll be caught up by 5 pm, but there are plenty of interruptions.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

After our lunch break, we go for another round of vitals and medications. This is usually the time when I take the time to check if a patient has urinated because patients often hold it in. I make sure they are comfortable before they go to bed.

What types of projects and meetings are you involved in?

My work for the most part involves tasks that we complete. A lot of work also goes into the assessment of patients' conditions and reporting back to the doctors. We have unit-based councils that we can participate in, which try to address concerns that nurses have about the unit or workflow.

Who do you collaborate with within meetings and projects?

We collaborate with every member of the healthcare team. We keep the doctor updated on the condition of the patient, especially if they are looking unstable. We work with case management to ensure that the discharge process is smooth and appropriate for the patient.

Physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy all report to the nurse before and after therapy to keep us updated on how the patient is doing and what their recommendations are. We are basically the middle man between the patient and everyone else.

Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your job?

The most challenging thing about the job is the emotional stress. There are so many things that we can't cure or do anything about. We can only support the patient as they fight. The worst thing is when you do all you can but they still lose the battle. The loss of a patient hits you hard the first time, but as time goes on you have to learn to cope, because there are 4 other patients that are depending on you.

What are some characteristics that can help someone succeed in your role?

Someone who is a multitasker but detail-oriented and works well under stress would be good for this job. You really can't take any shortcuts, everything should be done according to protocol. The consequences of not doing it by the protocol can potentially bring harm to a person. Being able to work under the stress of having 5 patients all calling for you at once is also essential.

Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those just starting off?

I will admit it is extremely difficult to get hired in the Bay Area as someone freshly out of college. I moved to the Central Valley for a year to gain experience so that I would be able to come back. The only advice I have is to study up on possible scenarios that they may ask you and just be yourself during the interview. They want to know how you will present yourself to patients as a nurse.

What's something that surprised you about your job?

I was really not expecting any of this when I first decided to go into the field. I would have never guessed how much of a toll every day takes on your body and mind. During my first year of nursing, I really questioned whether I wanted to stay doing this. And from what I've heard, it's totally normal to feel that way.

What do you see your next step being?

I have been very interested in education for nurses. I would love to be a clinical instructor or even teach theory at a university for nursing.

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to do what you do?

You really have to be in it for the patients. You have to love helping people, because no matter how much they pay you, in the end, it's only worth it if you love your practice. There's nothing else that will pull you through some of the toughest days.