Hometown (where you live now): Fairfield
Job title: RN
Where do you work? Mercy Health – The Heart Institute, Fairfield
Describe what your day is like/what you do: I work in an outpatient setting caring for multiple patients daily with various cardiac conditions, including patients who have had cardiac stenting, bypass/valvular surgery and patients who have irregular heart rhythms. We also care for those patients who want to control risk factors to prevent progression of vascular disease.
What inspired you to get into health care? My father was a prisoner of war in World War II and a nurse saved his life several times so that he could return to his home in Hamilton, Ohio. Her nursing care prevented him from an amputated arm and preserved his vision in his remaining eye after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. He kept in touch with her throughout his lifetime and continually thanked her for his care.
I wanted to be able to impact other peoples lives, like she did.
What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in health care? An elderly gentleman was at home having an irregular heart rate late one Friday afternoon. He was unable to drive in to our office to be seen, so I went to his house to put a monitor on him to assess him for an arrhythmia. This was such a minimal task but it gave him peace of mind that he could stay at home with his wife all weekend while his heart was being monitored. Anytime I can remove an obstacle to help patients obtain health care is so gratifying.
What do you want readers to know about your job right now? I hope to ease the stress of a new diagnosis and to educate and provide the tools for patients to get back to their normal activities. Patients entrusting their care to me is a privilege.
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