ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

What is your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give us a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?

I am currently a Registered Nurse in the High Risk Perinatal unit at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD (after working as an ER nurse in NY for around 18 months after graduating from Boston College.) I started in this unit about 3 months ago because I’ve always been interested in labor and delivery and felt well prepared to handle high acuity patients and obstetric emergencies after establishing my background in critical care. On this unit, we care for obstetric patients with a wide range of maternal (and fetal) complications, some chronic and others strictly due to pregnancy. We treat patients who need short or long term care anywhere from early pregnancy to postpartum, and also do labor & delivery.

What skills do you need to do the work you just described?

Working as a high risk perinatal nurse is often very intellectually and emotionally demanding, especially during the pandemic. To be successful and confident doing it, you need strong critical thinking skills especially while under pressure, thorough attention to detail, the ability to multitask efficiently, resilience, genuine empathy, and adaptability to unpredictable circumstances. Since things can change so quickly especially during labor, it’s also incredibly important to be able to work safely and efficiently to optimize the outcome of unforeseen emergencies for both mom and baby. Due to the high acuity of our patients, we also do encounter more maternal, fetal, and neonatal deaths than many other hospitals, so it is critical to have strong therapeutic communication skills with parents undergoing tragic circumstances. A positive mindset and resilience are vital, as well as gratitude for the groundbreaking resources we do have that improve or entirely save countless lives that many other places wouldn’t be able to.

Please describe any experiences at Westlake High School that influenced your career decision?

As a member of the National Honor Society, volunteer work was required, and I chose to do my placement at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. This further opened my eyes and heart to the experiences of families battling severe illnesses, and reaffirmed my desire to spend my life learning from and caring for them to the best of my ability. I also participated in Poetry Alive and various off-campus editing workshops (through 9H English with Ms. Matthews) that helped hone my writing and public speaking skills, which significantly increased my confidence articulating my thoughts and communicating with others. These skills allow me to have meaningful interactions with each patient I have the privilege of caring for, and be able to teach and connect with them in a way that sounds mature and professional.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

In addition to my nursing classes and clinical rotations, I also did slam poetry competitively throughout all 4 years of college! I was in a club that performed at open mics on campus as well as various venues in downtown Boston. Nursing is a very intense major, but even while studying it you can absolutely still find time to develop your passions outside the classroom.

What advice do you have for students interested in going into your field?

If you are interested in any form of nursing, the best things you can do are shadow professionals and/or volunteer in healthcare. These opportunities will help give you a better sense of daily life as a nurse and whether or not that matches what you’re looking for in a career! Also, trust your gut! There is a lot of outdated advice surrounding this field, such as that you have to or should always work for 2 years in a medical surgical unit before specializing, or always work in a hospital before switching to outpatient, and that’s not always best for everyone! I went straight from critical care (immediately after graduating) to an intensely specialized area of the hospital, so don’t be afraid to follow the path YOU’RE passionate about, not what others deem the traditional or easier route.