Introduction
For my master’s prepared Nurse Interview, I chose my candidate because she illustrates and illuminates a passion for nursing. She has been involved in numerous committees, and projects, ranging from quality control to patient and medication safety. Furthermore, she is involved in nursing research, and information technology. She has served as an Informatics Nurse Specialist within my institution of employment. She is always the first to recognize a need, and to help others. It is an honor and privilege to know her and have her assist me with this interview.
My candidate has been in the health care industry for more than 30 years. She started when the focus of nursing was on clinical nursing and the general work was in hospitals, physician’s offices, and in home health. “I never dreamed I would leave bedside nursing when I went for my master’s degree while working as a nurse in the Intensive care Unit. There were very few options.” She never anticipated the explosion in information technology that would help transform health care. She never expected her career path to take her into administrative nursing, nor did she predict that she would embark on years of advanced nursing education earning her Ph.D. in Nursing Informatics - an area she describes as “the marriage between computer science and nursing science.” ”Nursing has evolved into its own profession over the years. There are endless opportunities and I can go in many directions.” She began her career as a nurse’s aide at Mercy Hospital and pursued her BSN at Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, IA. During her junior year, she became a student employee on the Medical-Telemetry Unit. After graduation in 1982, she returned as a regular employee until transferring to the ICU.
Graduate Education
In 1989 my subject enrolled at The University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA in the MSN program with emphasis in Nursing Administration. There were only 2 students enrolled, herself and another student. The university eventually closed their program in 1990 resulting in her enrollment at The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA in the Masters of Arts in Nursing Program. She completed her degree in 1993. She later enrolled again at The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA in pursuit of a doctorate in Nursing. She finally completed that degree in 2006.
Present Position
Her current position is Director of Clinical and professional Development at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque, IA. She has served as an Informatics Nurse Specialist for 12 years and has served as Director of Nursing Professional Development. She has presented nationally on the implementation of Nursing standardized languages, clinical information systems, and nursing practice - such as the utilization of Magnet Programs. Further, she is also currently serving as Magnet Project Director for Mercy and is preparing the paperwork for the organizations third designation. She has been selected as one of the great 100 Nurses and has won the Edith Ruppert award for significant contributions to the improvement of nursing.
Certifications include: Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Administration (HRSA) grant reviewer (08/2012). Fellow of the Advisory Board (FABC), Washington DC (11/2010-05/2012). Mount Mercy University Alumni Professional Achievement Award (10/2009). Adjunct faculty position, The University of Illinois at Chicago 12/2006-present). Adjunct faculty position, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (12/2006-present). Reappointed as Chairperson of the Nursing Information Data Set Evaluation Center (NIDSEC) Panel, American Nurses Association (07/2006-07/2008). Named as a Fellow to the Center for Nursing Classification and Clinical Effectiveness (04/2005-present). Chairperson of the Nursing Information Data Set Evaluation Center (NIDSEC) Panel, American Nurses Association (04/2004-07/2006). Member of the Nursing Information Data Set Evaluation Center (NIDSEC) Review Panel, American Nurses Association (06/2002-07/2004). Informatics Nurse Certification (06/00-present) (Recertified in 2005). 1st Vice President District 6, Iowa Nurses Association (INA) (06/1998-06/1999). Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau (04/1998). Member of the Nursing Information Data Set Evaluation Center (NIDSEC) Review Panel, American Nurses Association (06/1997-07/2001). And the list continues on.
Pearls of Wisdom
I was given the following advice regarding graduate school education: be prepared for the workload. From the clinical environments that are faced after undergraduate nursing education, to the academic nursing environment is a big leap. On top of clinical work it is imperative to stay on top of school work too. The ideal situation is engineering the knowledge streams so they overlap, and one is able to slip from work into the academy and vice versa with ease. However, it is not always possible to have this workout properly, at which times it is important to rely on coffee and patient colleagues. It is impossible to become a nurse by yourself. It is important at all times to respect the environment in which we practice, but that should not stop one from thinking about radical ideas for reform when the opportunity arises for improvement. My subject recounts that she has lived in two very different worlds. The world of paper nursing worked one way, and then came the informatics revolution. Those who were unable to adapt were shoved out, their utility quickly diminishing. On the other hand came a whole new generation of nurses, who are unfamiliar with pre-digital nursing. Were the systems to fail, most everyone would be lost and adrift not knowing what to do next. There are always paradigm shifting changes, and one should be on the lookout to be on the cutting edge of science and not fall behind. The foundation of everything though, remains, the clinical nursing practice. Patient care is at all times paramount, and education and minds should be geared towards the fulfillment of that particular goal.
Conclusion
As nursing has evolved over the years, changes have been brought about for the benefit of society as well as for nurses. In order to survive and thrive in nursing it is important to take on a wide variety of roles. Clinical nursing is the foundation of the work, and the profession demands contact with patients first and foremost. Beyond the clinical practice it is imperative to stay current with the scientific literature. The breadth of scientific literature that must be kept abreast with is staggering. However, one area should remain the passion at which we excel. For my subject, the area happened to be informatics. But for another, it could just as easily be pharmacology or surgical technique. From the fields we are passionate about it is necessary to develop the skills and the trade for future generations of nurses. The profession is geared towards continuity and the transmission of hard earned knowledge is the duty of any healthcare professional who takes his oaths seriously. It is also important to remember that the patient care environment is more than just the bedside physicians and nurses. There is a massive structure that requires tending in order to make sure the practitioners have the proper tools to provide the best possible care. From the bedside, it is sometimes necessary to return to the belly of the beast, and advance less ‘sexy’ causes, because they are important for the greater welfare of all the patients.
