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| General Articles :: Hot Career Zone |
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| A Nursing Career with Heart |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
It's Never Too Late...
It wasn't until her senior year at the College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA) that Lori Aavik realized she wanted to be a nurse. That's why, the day after she received her bachelor's degree in sociology, she wasn't looking back at her college days with nostalgia -- she was too busy trekking north to Neumann College (Aston, PA) to start working on a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Why the switch? What began as nothing more than a bunch of friends taking summer jobs together at a nursing home, turned into Aavik's career of choice. "You don't know what's going to happen when you take opportunities," she says of her stint as a nurse's aide. "My interest [in nursing] grew out of that job."
Teamwork is Tantamount to Success
Once Aavik made it to the psychiatric unit of the NYU Medical Center (New York, NY) she knew she was in the right place. It hasn't always been easy, though. "I was overwhelmed at first," she admits. "[I'm] entrusted to take care of people who are at the edge of life."
She makes it through each day by relying on her colleagues to help get the job done. "You need to know when to ask questions, and when to ask for help," she asserts. "It's not all up to you."
And, as an assistant nurse manager, Aavik has quite a bit to balance. Not only is she the liaison between staff nurses and residents, she also spends each day with her assigned patients, monitoring their medications and providing supportive psychotherapy. Despite the workload, Aavik says she loves what she does. "I get a lot of satisfaction working with patients. My goal is to strengthen them to be able to help themselves."
You've Need to Have the Heart
If you envision yourself in an ER-like atmosphere, Aavik notes an after-school job or internship in a hospital or doctor's office can help you figure out what interests you and what doesn't. She also advises beefing up your interpersonal communication skills.
"The nurse-patient relationship is based on trust," she informs. "I have to present myself in such a way that I seem trustworthy."
Ultimately, in order to master this profession, you need to have heart. According to Aavik, "This is a profession that attracts people who like to help others."
About the author:
Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.
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