Informational Interview On June 23rd, 2024, I had the pleasure of interviewing 24-year-old registered nurse Naydel Garcia from Edinberg, Texas. This interview gave me a much better insight into what it means to be a registered nurse. We discussed questions about the RN career path, roles/responsibilities, skills/competencies, work environment and advice for aspiring nurses. In the following paragraphs, I will summarize the overall interview and explain how this interview was beneficial. Naydel Garcia is a registered nurse who works in the intensive care unit at the HCA hospital in McAllen, Texas. ICU nurses mainly deal with open heart, neurological and leg medical patients. She also has experience with the operating room as well. Naydel always …show more content…
Two years of prerequisites followed by the Health Education Systems Incorporated exam and interview with UTRGV led to acceptance into nursing school. A typical day in the ICU is described by Naydel as, “keeping patients alive”. This is the blunt statement she follows. The primary responsibilities include taking patients released from the emergency room that have been given enough treatment so that medicine is the last factor required before they leave the hospital. Some skills Naydel has learned along the way are OG/NG tubes, wound care, follies, IVs, compressions, resuscitations, and titration of medicine. Naydel is trusted and takes full care of her patients so she is allowed to make important decisions for her patients when it comes to the dosages of medicine they receive as she sees fit so her patients get well and can go home. You might think every health provider has one another’s back. Naydel describes some of the higher ups or office workers as being very meticulous on how certain things are done within the nurses’ rooms. This, along with the older, more seasoned nurses being rude sometimes to the new and younger nurses, was the only issue Naydel ran
Nurses have a considerable amount of responsibility in any facility. They are responsible for administering medicines and treatments to there patient’s. While caring for there patients, nurses will make observations on patient’s health and then record there findings. As well as consulting with doctors and other healthcare professionals to plan proper individual patient care. They teach their patients how to manage their illnesses and explain to both the patient and the patients family how to continue treatment when returning home (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014-15). They also record p...
The charge nurse Michelle N., at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center has been working there for approximately seven years. She graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing back in 1994. From there, she started working at a small clinic specializing in cardiac. She said that working in a small clinic, she had to handle a lot of patient care and administrative work. It was very unorganized, but it allowed her to build her leadership skills. She realized that she wanted to get her masters degree and started looking into master programs shortly after. She always knew that she wanted to work towards the management side of nursing. After getting her masters of Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA, she landed a job at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center. She specializes in the ICU unit and has been working there for several years before working her way up to be a charge nurse.
With all of the different specialties in healthcare, some get overlooked or may be under the radar. An uncommon and often disregarded career choice in healthcare is that of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or a Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Although not many people know about these healthcare careers, they play a vital role within the healthcare team. This field is growing rapidly and the likelihood of coming into contact with a nurse anesthetist during a hospital stay is on the rise. Knowing the history, education, responsibilities, and career outlook for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or a Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice can aide in understanding their very specific role in the care of patients.
As a medical / surgical RN, I provided care for the elderly, the infirm, the mentally challenged, the young, and the psychologically disturbed. The wide variety of patients exposed me to the effects of life style choices, health care choices, and the resulting impacts to the patient as well as to the family of the patient. This experience has fully matured my view of the awesome responsibility that we, as health care professionals, have been charged with, and it has furthered my desire to obtain the skills necessary to provide more advanced care for my patients. In addition to exposure, maturity and experience, my career as a medical / surgical RN has also sharpened my critical thinking abilities and provided insight on observing signs and symptoms that a patient may be unware of. Furthermore, as a charge nurse I learned the importance of collaborating with other health care professionals in order to provide the highest level of care available. In summary, my career as an RN has provided valuable experience, maturity, exposure to impact and outcome, enhanced my critical thinking abilities, and improved my collaboration
Jeanne Mance is the founder of the Hotel Dieu in Montreal and one of the great role models for nurses. She emphasizes a strong value and ethics on how to take care of the people. Her determination in taking care of the ill greatly inspires all the nurses to follow her path. She only devotes her life on the patient and the people who need her. It is the reason why Jeanne Mance is significant to my program because her beliefs still persist that we strongly uphold up to these days. The nursing program is challenging and intense, but it is also inspiring. We learn about the importance of caring, respect and communication for the patient to have a safe and secure environment. It is because of Jeanne Mance’s belief that a competent patient care is
For my informational interview I spoke with a nurse who has experience working on a medical surgical unit in a hospital setting. She has been a nurse for 10 years. She also has her bachelors degree in nursing. I started my interview by introducing myself and explaining what my assignment was about, and how she could help me tremendously with answering some questions regarding her nursing career, and what she does as a medical surgical nurse.
Examples of patients with complex acute care needs are those with multiple comorbidities who need mechanical ventilator weaning, administration of intravenous antibiotics, and those with complex wound care (Munoz-Price, 2009, p. 438). According to Landon Horton, CNO of Select Specialty Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, “The services provided by LTACH facilities allow the patients to get home who would not otherwise, have a higher level of functioning at discharge, and increase their quality of life” (personal communication, March 7, 2014). The role of the Chief Nursing Officer is a complex position. Educational preparation for the CNO role ranges from a Master’s in Nursing to a degree outside of the profession such as an MBA or a degree in a related area of study (Kerfoot, 2012, p. 38-39). In L. Horton’s role as the CNO for Select Specialty Hospital, the duties required by him are multifaceted.
Many years from now, I will take this experience with me to better myself as a nurse. I know for the future that it is in my patient’s best interest, if I collaborate with other health care professionals. In order to maintain patient safety, I must always remember to work together with my fellow collogues to obtain a positive working environment. In order to be a good nurse, I need to always understand that I am part of a team to help those in need. I want to incorporate providing efficient care to each and every patient the best way I possibly
The nurse to patient ratio is unrealistic in many hospitals. In most cases it is almost impossible to give each patient the true amount of detailed care they really need. This is seen in most cases where there is one nurse assigned to 16 patients and each patient requires a different level of attention. Nurses are pressed for time, forcing them to cut corners, resulting in an increase in nosocomial infections and patient deaths. “The past decade has been a unsettled time for many US hospitals and practicing nu...
A registered nurses job is to take care of the patients and give the patients support (“Registered Nurses” para.1). To be a registered nurse, you need to have skills. If you don’t have enough skill, you need to improve them even though it takes a little hard work and motivation. You do need to be able to talk in front of people, see the patients condition, and understand the patients (Registered nurses” para.9). Registered nurses should ask appropriate questions and shouldn’t interrupt the patient. Nurses should be aware of others reactions and why they are reacting the way they are. Nurses always look for ways to help the patient. Nurses use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their patients (“Occupation” para.19). Registered nurses must provide person assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to co-workers, customers, and patients. Nurses must be organized, must plan, and prioritize their work. Nurses need to keep up to date and should apply new knowledge to their job (“Occupation”para.23). Nurses must be emotionally stable, must have speaking skills, and have compassion towards the patients (“Registered Nurses”para.14). To b...
Most individuals are unaware that verbal violence is more prevalent (61.2%) than physical violence (54.6%) in cases of PTSD levels exceeding 14 points. In the novel The First Stone, verbal abuse is seen throughout Reef’s childhood, transitioning to the present. Having abusive grandparents and being in a foster home made it very difficult for Reef to begin with a happy childhood. Reef’s abusive childhood took a toll on his overall self-control, such as not being able to hold back, cursing at others or making careless choices. This carried onto the present when he was in high school and made him hopeless of having a promising future.
The nursing discipline embodies a whole range of skills and abilities that are aimed at maximizing one’s wellness by minimizing harm. As one of the most trusted professions, we literally are some’s last hope and last chance to thrive in life; however, in some cases we may be the last person they see on earth. Many individuals dream of slipping away in a peaceful death, but many others leave this world abruptly at unexpected times. I feel that is a crucial part to pay attention to individuals during their most critical and even for some their last moments and that is why I have peaked an interest in the critical care field. It is hard to care for someone who many others have given up on and how critical care nurses go above and beyond the call
Nurses are an equally important part of each client’s life. Nurses provide stable care to each client, answers their questions, gives medications and treatments, and assists with medical procedures. They also have the responsibility to explain to clients and family members what they should and should not do as they go through treatment and recovery. Nurses must quickly respond to patients needs. Every individual nurse has his or her own unique way of caring. There are so many ways to show caring that the possibilities are never ending. Nurse’s support, comfort, and help allow the patients to recover to the best of their ability. Their experiences in dealing with different patients that have unique situations on a daily basis helps the nurses become better caregivers. Therefore, every nurse is capable of demonstrating care in their respective environments.
Although students were not allowed in the recovery unit, I was able to talk to one of the recovery nurses. I learned that a nurse’s duty of care includes monitoring the patient’s vital signs and level of consciousness, and maintaining airway patency. Assessing pain and the effectiveness of pain management is also necessary. Once patients are transferred to the surgical ward, the goal is to assist in the recovery process, as well as providing referral details and education on care required when the patient returns home (Hamlin, 2010).
Nurses play a huge role in the health care system. A nurse is a bridge between doctor and patient. s/he is a compassionate, understanding and nonjudgmental yet firm and grounded. S/he is probably one of the most important yet least appreciated person in a patient’s life. When many think of a nurse they probably recognize them by a white hat and uniform. Today those white uniforms have been replaced with vividly colored scrubs worn by both male and female nurses, and many other employees in healthcare. Nurses are not just the people that are limited to bedside care and drug administration; they are highly skilled and well-educated nursing professionals.