Staff Nurse
Name: Karen Scott
Place of work: Kettering Medical Center
Job Title: Staff Nurse
Hours worked: 7pm-7am
How many yrs/months in profession: 6 years
Where you received your education: Sinclair Community College and Indiana Wesleyan
What degree did you earn: Baccalaureate
How many yrs/months for your education: Minimum of 2 years
A Typical Day: Get my patient assignment and introduce myself to my patient and their families. I then perform a nursing assessment, pass medications and perform any treatment that is ordered. Working in an intensive care department, I see a wide variety of patients. Some patients are recovering from surgery and others are stroke patients. Some patients are so sick that despite our best efforts and advances in medicine we are unable to save their life.
What was your inspiration: My grandmother was a nurse and I always knew that I would work in health care. I started as a medical assistant and worked in a doctor’s office while attending nursing school. After working on a medical surgical unit for a year, I wanted more of a challenge. I transferred to the ICU where I have worked for the past five years.
Best Advice you ever received: Always be compassionate to your patient and their family.
What would you tell someone interested in going into health care: Work as a nursing assistant to make sure your heart is in health care. Nurses will never be replaced and there will always be jobs available.
One interesting anecdote about your career (optional): As a nurse, you have many options for career moves. You can work in doctor’s offices, a cruise ship, a hospital, home care agencies, school nurse or an insurance company.
