Q:
What inspired you to become a nurse?
A:
A few weeks after applying to nursing school, a close friend of mine was the victim of a drunk driving hit-and-run. I witnessed firsthand in the ICU how the nurses saved his life that first night, and every night after that. My friend was not expected to survive, yet six years later he is almost entirely independent, walking independently, is back in school, working, and involved in his community.
Q:
What do you love most about being a nurse?
A:
As a pediatric bedside nurse, I love being able to support my patients and families in some of their most challenging and vulnerable moments.
Q:
What’s a typical day like for you as a nurse?
A:
I work three 12-hour shifts a week. However, I usually arrive at 6:30 and often don’t leave until 7:30 or later. Shift pace varies - days are usually busier but nights you often get more admissions.
Q:
What’s your advice for someone just starting out as a nurse?
A:
Consider all of the possibilities that a career in nursing can offer you. Nurses work in ALL roles and areas. There is likely so much more to a nursing career than you’ve been exposed to.
Q:
How do you balance work and life as a nurse?
A:
Hobbies like hiking, camping, traveling, cooking, crocheting, and group exercise classes keep me sane - and ensure I go to work excited and fresh each and every day.
