When I first dreamed up the idea of this podcast, I knew who I wanted as my first guest. She has been an anchor in my life for as long as I can remember. While I had only known her as mom for so many years, I’ve gotten the privilege to see her be a mom to others. I’ve seen how her care and compassion for her children have extended into her professional life. She is an advocate for health, her patients, and healing. And her career journey is one full of excitement, perseverance, and growth. Without further adieu, let’s listen to the story behind her incredible journey!
From Caregiver to Healer: A Nurse Practitioner's Inspiring Journey – Career Buddy
Key Takeaways✨
Let’s be honest most of us don’t have over an hour to listen to a podcast, no matter how AWESOME it may be, so I’m doing you all a favor and giving you the highlights!
#1: Some Experiences You Can’t Train For
Where are my planners at? You know who you are 😉 You like to know what’s happening, you live by lists, you play by the rules, which are great qualities to have. During this episode, my mom shared that while in school, you are trained to handle a variety of difficult situations that may come your way. Nothing is quite as impactful as actually experiencing those situations. Losing a patient, delivering bad news are just some of the difficult encounters those in the medical field experience. Instead of brushing off those hard experiences, she shares that it’s actually better to process them. Think about it, allow yourself to recover from the day, and reach out for help or the listening ear of a loved one.
#2: Invest in Supportive Relationships
As mentioned above, workers in the medical field experience traumatic situations. What’s something that could help them? Having support! Whether it’s a family member, colleague, friend, or counselor, every little bit of support helps. Investing in the right relationships could save you from future stress and heartache. During the episode, we talked about the dynamics of codependent relationships and how those working in the medical field can become susceptible to them. My mom got honest about how many people in healthcare become so used to caring for others and denying their own needs that they gravitate towards partners and friends who are needy because medical workers are used to being needed or crave that deep down themselves. So take inventory of those around you. Are you investing in your close relationships because you want to be needed?
#3: The Disease is not the Person
An emerging trend within the medical industry is treating as many patients as possible, also known as the numbers game. When emphasis is placed solely on quantity, it threatens the essence of the art of medicine, which involves seeing patients as individuals with unique needs and experiences. In this episode, my mom shares that while medical providers are trained to identify symptoms and illnesses, it’s crucial to remember that individuals are more than just their medical conditions. Health encompasses every aspect of our lives, whether we realize it or not. There may be greater discoveries and benefits when providers adopt more integrated approaches to caring for their patients. My mom hopes that the future of healthcare will prioritize advocating for patients first.
#4: Breaking Barriers Where It Counts
We all probably come to a point in our careers and lives where we might have to decide if we want to forge a new path or stay where we are. While it’s important to have balance in our working lives, sometimes you’re going to have to take risks without knowing the outcomes. My mom shared that growing up, she became the first in her family to graduate and advance in her studies. It was scary; she failed many times, but she chose to challenge herself, and it ultimately led to so many opportunities to grow and impact others’ lives.
She also shared how she physically went over a road barrier while she was down in NYC volunteering with a group of nurses dealing with the aftermath of 9/11. She shares how she and the nurses, hand in hand, ran down the streets of NYC shouting, “We are nurses from Tucson, and we want to help you,” meanwhile with police everywhere. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments as the firemen lifted their eyes, dropped their gear, and greeted them with hugs and tears. Sometimes we need to break barriers to show others we care.
#5: Know Your Worth
It’s no surprise that everyone experiences challenges in their journey. Often, these challenges can be a testament to your character or perhaps reveal gaps in your character. Like everyone, my mom wasn’t a stranger to struggle, especially while navigating her career. Something that she has grown throughout her journey was security in who she was and knowing that she was valued, and like everyone, deserved to be treated with respect. This strong sense of security would prompt her to take action when she encountered the “Barracuda” nurse. She didn’t let this overbearing nurse influence the core of who she was. She didn’t just sit back and take the blows because she had more authority and experience; she respectfully communicated how she wanted to be treated.
Similarly, she didn’t silently let a doctor sexually harass her as a young nurse. While he had titles and authority at the hospital, he didn’t have the authority to take advantage of her in such an unprofessional way, and she let him know. That takes a lot of strength, and I believe it’s an indicator of a healthy person. They don’t settle for mistreatment or excuses; they let their needs be known and their intentions clear. Not many people work like this, and I’m forever grateful to have my mom as an example to follow.
Thank you everyone for tuning into this episode and recap! I’m super grateful for my mom and all of her wisdom she shared! If you have a friend or loved one that’s struggling on their career path, feel free to share this with them!
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