I Am a Critical Care Nurse Mary Young, RN, BSN, CCRN, is a staff nurse in the cardiovascular/medical ICU at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.
Why did you become a nurse? I became a nurse because the nursing profession offers a unique combination of compassion, human sciences, and professionalism—the nursing profession is like none other. I am the first person in my family to graduate with a college degree and I did not want to pursue any area of study other than nursing. What about your job as a nurse makes you happy? Seeing my patients recover from being severely ill is emotionally rewarding. There is also a high level of excitement about caring for acutely ill and unstable patients. Being a critical care nurse means that I will never be bored. I’m happy that I work with nurses who are knowledgeable and whom I can trust to help me make critical decisions. It is exciting and essential to me that I am part of a team that is truly patient focused. Tell us about an extraordinary experience you’ve had as a critical care nurse. I cared for an elderly patient who required mechanical ventilation. His lungs were fibrotic and he had multiple pneumothoraces, requiring several chest tubes. He was often too weak to even motion his communication. This patient was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. At the time, the Cardinals were playing in the Championship Series against the San Francisco Giants, and I’m an avid Giants fan. I ensured him that he would not miss a game. He and I joked about the teams, plays, and scores. While I performed my assessment and care duties, he held my hand and during certain plays squeezed it tightly. I enjoyed bonding with my patient as I provided care to him as a person, rather than merely thinking of his condition. ©2014 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ccn2014394
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CriticalCareNurse
Vol 34, No. 5, OCTOBER 2014
What are the challenges you encounter and how do you overcome them? I am challenged every day by my patients’ complexity, new technology and pharmacological agents, and the psychosocial aspects of the nursing profession. I embrace challenges because they help me find strength, develop experience, and grow. What has your journey as a nurse been like? Thus far, my journey as a nurse has been extraordinary. Many peers and clinical leaders have extended challenging care experiences. Managerial and administrative leaders have provided various opportunities such as attending the NTI and ANCC Magnet Conference, delivering clinical presentations, and being active in the Quality Council in my hospital’s Nursing Shared Governance. I have experienced some really exciting things, both as a bedside nurse as well as nursing activities that extend beyond the bedside. At the end of a busy day, how do you find balance in your life? My friends and family are reliable, encouraging, and strong. It would be nearly impossible for me to do my job if my social life were chaos. Of course, there are times that are more trying than others, and that is when a good laugh (or cry) is warranted. When all of the above have been exhausted, spending time with my 2 dogs is wonderful therapy. What would we be surprised to know about you? I love to write and read on a daily basis. Even as a young child, I entered many writing and poetry contests with success. I find it interesting and refreshing to be able to express myself through writing. How has AACN played a role in your career? AACN has guided me in my professional development. I have pursued many educational opportunities available through AACN. I enjoy sharing information with my peers and staff at my hospital. That kind of satisfaction has led me to apply to become an AACN Ambassador to help facilitate professional development and awareness among my nurse peers. CCN
I Am a Critical Care Nurse features the extraordinary in a critical care nurse’s ordinary experiences. To be featured in this department, contact Critical Care Nurse via e-mail at [email protected].
www.ccnonline.org
Why did you become a nurse? I became a nurse because the nursing profession offers a unique combination of compassion, human sciences, and professionalism—the nursing profession is like none other. I am the first person in my family to graduate with a college degree and I did not want to pursue any area of study other than nursing. What about your job as a nurse makes you happy? Seeing my patients recover from being severely ill is emotionally rewarding. There is also a high level of excitement about caring for acutely ill and unstable patients. Being a critical care nurse means that I will never be bored. I’m happy that I work with nurses who are knowledgeable and whom I can trust to help me make critical decisions. It is exciting and essential to me that I am part of a team that is truly patient focused. Tell us about an extraordinary experience you’ve had as a critical care nurse. I cared for an elderly patient who required mechanical ventilation. His lungs were fibrotic and he had multiple pneumothoraces, requiring several chest tubes. He was often too weak to even motion his communication. This patient was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. At the time, the Cardinals were playing in the Championship Series against the San Francisco Giants, and I’m an avid Giants fan. I ensured him that he would not miss a game. He and I joked about the teams, plays, and scores. While I performed my assessment and care duties, he held my hand and during certain plays squeezed it tightly. I enjoyed bonding with my patient as I provided care to him as a person, rather than merely thinking of his condition. ©2014 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ccn2014394
84
CriticalCareNurse
Vol 34, No. 5, OCTOBER 2014
What are the challenges you encounter and how do you overcome them? I am challenged every day by my patients’ complexity, new technology and pharmacological agents, and the psychosocial aspects of the nursing profession. I embrace challenges because they help me find strength, develop experience, and grow. What has your journey as a nurse been like? Thus far, my journey as a nurse has been extraordinary. Many peers and clinical leaders have extended challenging care experiences. Managerial and administrative leaders have provided various opportunities such as attending the NTI and ANCC Magnet Conference, delivering clinical presentations, and being active in the Quality Council in my hospital’s Nursing Shared Governance. I have experienced some really exciting things, both as a bedside nurse as well as nursing activities that extend beyond the bedside. At the end of a busy day, how do you find balance in your life? My friends and family are reliable, encouraging, and strong. It would be nearly impossible for me to do my job if my social life were chaos. Of course, there are times that are more trying than others, and that is when a good laugh (or cry) is warranted. When all of the above have been exhausted, spending time with my 2 dogs is wonderful therapy. What would we be surprised to know about you? I love to write and read on a daily basis. Even as a young child, I entered many writing and poetry contests with success. I find it interesting and refreshing to be able to express myself through writing. How has AACN played a role in your career? AACN has guided me in my professional development. I have pursued many educational opportunities available through AACN. I enjoy sharing information with my peers and staff at my hospital. That kind of satisfaction has led me to apply to become an AACN Ambassador to help facilitate professional development and awareness among my nurse peers. CCN
I Am a Critical Care Nurse features the extraordinary in a critical care nurse’s ordinary experiences. To be featured in this department, contact Critical Care Nurse via e-mail at [email protected].
www.ccnonline.org
