I Am a Critical Care Nurse Jessica M. Kelley, RN, BSN, CCRN, is a Staff nurse
patient's progncsis is poor and medical efforts seem futile or appear to prolong the patient's suffering. My goal is to uphold compassion and respect for the dignity ofthe patient, facilitate communication between physicians and the family, and help the family understand and participate in the patient's plan of care.
in the surgical/trauma ICU af Grady Memorial Hospital in
What has your journey as a nurse been like?
Atlanta, Georgia.
Many critical care nurses have inspired and challenged me along the way to develop the knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment necessary to care for high-acuity patients. My position as a staff nurse in the surgical/trauma ICU at this hospital has been, by far, the most enriching, challenging, and intellectually stimulating experience in my life. One of my long-term goals in pursuing a graduate degree is to give back to the profession by helping future generations of nurses achieve excellence in highacuity patient care.
Why d i d you become a nurse?
I wanted to acquire the skills necessary to reduce pain and suffering, help restore function, and provide lifesaving interventions to patients in their time of greatest need. My calling to serve the underprivileged through work and medical volunteerism has been enhanced by my ability to provide the vigilant care that patients require during critical illness and traumatic injuries. One day I hope to use my education and experience to give back by mentoring and teaching the next generation of nurses.
What about your job as a nurse makes you happy? I enjoy the endless learning opportunities in my unit. Many of my patients require complex care, and providing this care is so satisfying, both because of my level of autonomy and confidence and because ofthe high degree of attention to detail and critical thinking.
Tell us about an extraordinary experience you've had as a critical care nurse. In 2011 f volunteered at the Bernard Mevs critical care hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Caring for the disaster-stricken people of Haiti was extremely rewarding and helped clarify the goals in my professional and personal life. In the fiiture, I hope to join humanitarian surgical teams that reach people who are otherwise unable to receive the medical care they need. It is deeply fulfilling to serve others, especially those who most desperately need help.
What are the challenges you encounter and how do you overcome them? My role as a critical care nurse in implementing aggressive, lifesaving measures can be emotionally exhausting and morally distressing, especially when a
©2014 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses doi: http://dx.doi.0rg/i 0.4037/ccn2014837
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CriticalCareNurse voi 34, No. 3, JUNE 2014
At the end of a busy day, how do you find balance in your life? The challenges and learning opportunities each work day brings are physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting, but they never fail to stimulate my efforts to better myself outside of work, to spend time with and be grateful for my family, to be mindflil of all of my blessings, and to nurture my faith in a higher power.
What would we be surprised to know about you? I have a passion for learning languages, traveling, and exploring other cultures at home and abroad. I spent a summer teaching English in Costa Rica and a semester studying Spanish language and culture in Merida, Mexico. My ability to speak Spanish fluently and my proficiency in Brazilian Portuguese and French have been invaluable assets in my nursing career. How has AACN played a roie in your career? AACN has been a constant source of inspiration and opportunity to learn more through certification courses and educational resources that expand my knowledge. Contact with other AACN members who have distinguished themselves through higher education and professional certification has inspired me to better myself as well. 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].
wvTO/.cononline,org
Copyright of Critical Care Nurse is the property of American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
patient's progncsis is poor and medical efforts seem futile or appear to prolong the patient's suffering. My goal is to uphold compassion and respect for the dignity ofthe patient, facilitate communication between physicians and the family, and help the family understand and participate in the patient's plan of care.
in the surgical/trauma ICU af Grady Memorial Hospital in
What has your journey as a nurse been like?
Atlanta, Georgia.
Many critical care nurses have inspired and challenged me along the way to develop the knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment necessary to care for high-acuity patients. My position as a staff nurse in the surgical/trauma ICU at this hospital has been, by far, the most enriching, challenging, and intellectually stimulating experience in my life. One of my long-term goals in pursuing a graduate degree is to give back to the profession by helping future generations of nurses achieve excellence in highacuity patient care.
Why d i d you become a nurse?
I wanted to acquire the skills necessary to reduce pain and suffering, help restore function, and provide lifesaving interventions to patients in their time of greatest need. My calling to serve the underprivileged through work and medical volunteerism has been enhanced by my ability to provide the vigilant care that patients require during critical illness and traumatic injuries. One day I hope to use my education and experience to give back by mentoring and teaching the next generation of nurses.
What about your job as a nurse makes you happy? I enjoy the endless learning opportunities in my unit. Many of my patients require complex care, and providing this care is so satisfying, both because of my level of autonomy and confidence and because ofthe high degree of attention to detail and critical thinking.
Tell us about an extraordinary experience you've had as a critical care nurse. In 2011 f volunteered at the Bernard Mevs critical care hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Caring for the disaster-stricken people of Haiti was extremely rewarding and helped clarify the goals in my professional and personal life. In the fiiture, I hope to join humanitarian surgical teams that reach people who are otherwise unable to receive the medical care they need. It is deeply fulfilling to serve others, especially those who most desperately need help.
What are the challenges you encounter and how do you overcome them? My role as a critical care nurse in implementing aggressive, lifesaving measures can be emotionally exhausting and morally distressing, especially when a
©2014 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses doi: http://dx.doi.0rg/i 0.4037/ccn2014837
92
CriticalCareNurse voi 34, No. 3, JUNE 2014
At the end of a busy day, how do you find balance in your life? The challenges and learning opportunities each work day brings are physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting, but they never fail to stimulate my efforts to better myself outside of work, to spend time with and be grateful for my family, to be mindflil of all of my blessings, and to nurture my faith in a higher power.
What would we be surprised to know about you? I have a passion for learning languages, traveling, and exploring other cultures at home and abroad. I spent a summer teaching English in Costa Rica and a semester studying Spanish language and culture in Merida, Mexico. My ability to speak Spanish fluently and my proficiency in Brazilian Portuguese and French have been invaluable assets in my nursing career. How has AACN played a roie in your career? AACN has been a constant source of inspiration and opportunity to learn more through certification courses and educational resources that expand my knowledge. Contact with other AACN members who have distinguished themselves through higher education and professional certification has inspired me to better myself as well. 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].
wvTO/.cononline,org
Copyright of Critical Care Nurse is the property of American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
