Charge Nurse and Staff Nurse in Neuroscience Critical Care
What is your role with Powers Health?
I am a charge nurse and staff nurse in Neuroscience Critical Care at Community Hospital.
What was your inspiration for getting into healthcare?
My inspiration always had been my father. I have wanted to be in healthcare since I was 11. That was about the time my father had his first stroke. He was chronically ill for the rest of his life. I saw firsthand what nurses could do and knew I belonged where I could help people.
What is a typical day like for you?
I work the day shift full time. I begin my shift at 7 a.m. by getting report from the nurses on the night shift. As Neuro ICU nurses, we typically take two patients for the shift, possibly three. After report, we typically do an assessment handoff with the previous nurse and then begin our shift with more assessments and medicine administration. Then we round with our ICU intensivist and the rest of our team. It is a fast-paced and busy environment, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. Our team works really well together. When I am in charge, I am responsible for checking equipment and determining and making appropriate patient assignments and workflow and leaving the floor to help respond to emergencies like stroke alerts, acute responses and code blue.
How long have you been employed here?
I have been on staff at Community Hospital since December 2006. I started as a nurse fellow and then a registered nurse on Med-Surg and moved to Neuro ICU in August 2016.
What are some of the big changes you have experienced in this position?
I have been involved with start of our comprehensive stroke program and transfer program and all of the changes that came with those. Also, I have taken on the added responsibilities of being in charge; I did not become a charge nurse until I came to Neuro ICU.
What are some of your interests outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and son, gardening, hanging out with friends, reading and traveling!
What do you enjoy most about working at Powers Health?
What I enjoy most are the people I work with and the people we help. My co-workers are more like family, and the camaraderie we have is the best. With all the stress that comes from working on a comprehensive stroke unit, we work so well as a team. It really helps coming to work knowing you can depend on the people who are there with you. Working in the Neuro ICU can be heavy on the heart, but when we can help these patients and they pull and they come back to thank us, it’s the best part of my job and the reason why I do what I do.