Casey Green Talks About Critical Care Transport Nursing

Casey Green Talks About Critical Care Transport Nursing

As a sponsor of the annual Critical Care Transport Nurses Day on February 18,  the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association aims to raise awareness of this nursing career path while simultaneously celebrating the nurses who work in dynamic critical care transport settings. Headshot of Casey Green critical care transport nurse

The critical care transport nursing specialty offers variations of work settings so nurses can work in settings including air transport, ground transport, and military transport. Critical care ground transport nurse Casey Green, BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, CTRN, CFRN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CNRN, NRP says the skills and approach to nursing care in this specialty appeals to her.

“I really enjoy the autonomy of nursing care in the emergency department and the intensive care units, and transport nursing is a combination of using both skill sets to assess, monitor, and treat patients safely,” she says.

Because critical care transport nurses work in ambulances, helicopters, or on ships, they are often the nurses who reach remote areas, trauma situations on roadways, and work in areas that are unfamiliar. They could transport one patient to a hospital or be part of team that needs to transport many people out of an area. The challenge appeals to Green. “I like the variety of patients and just how complex their care is,” she says.

As with any nursing situation, things can change quickly and nurses have to be ready. But transport nursing poses additional challenges including vehicles, weather, and terrain. Green says that transport nurses need to be aware of any potential situation. “To prepare myself for this line of work, I took a lot of courses in patient care for all patient populations, especially those who are critically ill,” she says. “Each shift I work I refresh myself on equipment, medication, or a patient population that we may have not transported recently just to keep the information fresh in case we have a request during my shift.”

Nurses who are interested in this specialty should enjoy the physical challenges, fine tune their critical thinking, and have an ability to read and react to a situation immediately. “Two of my biggest takeaways are to develop strong assessment skills because they help guide your intuition if something feels or seems off during transport,” says Green.

As with other nursing career paths, transport nurses don’t operate in a vacuum even though their work is done outside of a typical hospital or health care facility setting. “Teamwork needs to be at the forefront of your mind when you step on a transport vehicle,” Green says. “Often, your team is all you have between hospitals, and all levels of patient care have a say in patient care during transport.”

Critical care transport nursing is an exciting career path, and Green says if a nurse is interested in pursuing it, preparation is key. “Get experience in the ICU and the ED and apply,” she says. “Don’t worry that you may not have what an employer is looking for; get your experience and develop strong critical thinking and assessment skills.”

Meet Cardiac Nurse Diana-Lyn Baptiste

Meet Cardiac Nurse Diana-Lyn Baptiste

Longtime cardiovascular nurse Diana-Lyn Baptiste, DNP, RN, CNE, FPCNA, FAAN, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) board member,  gave Minority Nurse some insight into a career in the broad field of cardiac nursing. As the nation marks American Heart Month in February, Baptiste shares some of what makes this career choice a good fit for her. Cardiac nurse Diana-Lyn Baptiste

What inspired you to have a career in cardiac nursing?
I was inspired to become a cardiovascular nurse in nursing school. I remember learning about heart failure in my pathophysiology course for the first time. I was fascinated by learning how the heart works, and the effect it has on our bodies when it isn’t working properly. I was surprised by how, when the heart fails, it creates a domino effect on our circulatory system, impacting other vital organs such as lungs and kidneys. It was then that I realized that I wanted to always care for patients who required care and treatment for heart problems. I wanted to become a part of the solution and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

What are the most important nursing skills for cardiac nurses to have?
One of the most important skills for a cardiac nurse is physical assessment. For some patients, their cardiovascular issues aren’t immediately identifiable by vital signs or diagnostic tests. Nurses must have very sharp assessment skills to detect when their patients are experiencing an issue. Physical assessments such as listening to the heart with a stethoscope, and assessing for changes in color of skin (paleness or bluish undertone) can tell us a lot about our patients. Also, asking the right questions about pain and symptoms can tell us a lot about what’s happening with our patients. Active listening is a great nursing skill that has proven to save lives. When nurses listen to their patients, they are more likely to detect that something is going wrong.

As a cardiovascular nurse, I have always relied on my assessments, diagnostic labs, and exams, as well as my patient’s verbal accounts to develop a safe plan of care to support good health outcomes.

With so many advances in cardiovascular health, how do you stay current on new trends, nursing techniques, or evidence-based practices?
As a cardiovascular nurse, it is imperative that I stay abreast to the latest evidence-based literature and guidelines to support safe and efficient care, and education for patients. As a nurse and researcher, I follow the most up-to-date treatment national guidelines published by the American Colleges of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) and PCNA. These organizations are committed to providing the best practices, based on research to ensure good health outcomes for all.

I also attend ACC/AHA and PCNA conferences and continuing education programs to ensure that I’m learning the latest research-based guidelines. As a researcher, I conduct research and publish articles to contribute to the cardiovascular science. Finally, I also serve on writing committees for the above noted organizations, where I have the opportunity to contribute to the development of guidelines for nurses and other cardiovascular healthcare providers. All of these activities are a part of my commitment to lifelong learning and the enhancement of cardiovascular care of patients with cardiovascular diseases.

What do you most enjoy about your career as a cardiac nurse?
As a cardiac nurse, I have the privilege of meeting and working with wonderful patients and colleagues. While working in community outreach, I meet the most dynamic patients. I found that through the years, I enjoy speaking with individuals living with cardiovascular disease. There is so much to learn from them as they share their experiences and wisdom.

What would you want other nurses to know about this career path?
Almost 50 percent of individuals in the United States are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. There is much opportunity for nurses to enter the cardiovascular field. Cardiac nurses are not limited to hospital inpatient units, they can work in outpatient clinics, operating rooms, cardiac cath labs or rehabilitation units, nuclear medicine procedure areas, and critical care units, among others.

I want nurses to know that among several nursing specialties, they can choose any area of their choice, whether that is oncology, obstetrics, surgery, pediatrics, or neurology. What I’d like nurses to remember is that every patient has a heart, and the heart serves as the center for all functions. With that being said, every nurse is a cardiac nurse. All nurses are trained to take care of the heart.

Perianesthesia Nurses Celebrate Dynamic Career Choice

Perianesthesia Nurses Celebrate Dynamic Career Choice

Patients are often aware of all the nurses who care for them during a medical procedure, and particularly the perianesthesia nurses who are fierce patient advocates during a time when patients are under and emerging from sedation.a group of five nurses for perianesthesia nursing

As PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week (this year from February 5-11) celebrates all the work nurses do in this specialty and helps raise awareness of perianesthesia nursing as a career path.

A perianesthesia nurse has diverse responsibilities that can change instantly. They assess patients as they are preparing for a procedure, as they begin, undergo, and emerge from anesthesia–and the process is different for every patient (even if they have worked with the patient previously). The skill set in this specialty is vast and includes an ability to use critical thinking to identify, prevent, or manage a potential crisis.

Perianesthesia nurses care for patients in the time before a procedure during what might seem like a hectic time for patients. As patients are answering questions, getting ready for the procedure, and meeting the medical team, the perianesthesia nurse is developing a rapport and gathering valuable information that can help keep the patient as safe as possible while they are under sedation.

Perianesthesia nurses are also right at the patient’s side during recovery keeping a close watch to assess patients as they are emerging from of the effects of anesthesia. This is an important time because although the procedure may be over, patients are just beginning their recovery process. Their bodies might react in different ways as the anesthesia wears off, so nurses have to be ready for anything from a patient who is crying to one who might be shouting. And during that time, they are constantly assessing the patient for their levels of pain so they can most effectively establish a pain management plan and ensure patient safety.

An essential part of perianesthesia nursing is to develop a fine-tuned awareness of each patient, even during hectic times. Perianesthesia nurses scan patients to take a comprehensive inventory of their vital signs, skin color, breathing patterns, and subtle body movements to ensure that a patient feels safe and has the very best outcome.

Perianesthesia nurses are often passionate about the work they do and the way they are able to connect with patients and their families in a short time. They develop an intuitive approach to patients–from their anxiety level before a procedure to their process in recovery. They are advocates for their patients and are also aware of the important professional connections they make with their other health care team members and with each other.

The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) offers excellent resources and opportunities for networking and education for anyone interested in a career in perianesthesia nursing. Whether you’re interested in attending ASPAN’s annual conference, are looking to attain CPAN® and/or CAPA®  credentials through certification, or want to expand your knowledge by reading more information about perianesthesia nursing, ASPAN has a wealth of resources for this dynamic nursing career.

Celebrating Nurse Anesthetists with CRNA Week

Celebrating Nurse Anesthetists with CRNA Week

As Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Week comes to a close, nurses interested in this career or already working as a CRNA are celebrated for the work they do and the dedication to their patients.

As the primary professional organization for CRNAs, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) sponsors the annual CRNA Week and supports nurses in this specialty. Nurses who decide on a CRNA path know that it is one that requires years of preparation and education, but that offers a distinctive career.  round logo for CRNA Week 2024

According to AANA, more than 61,000 CRNAs practice or study in the United States. Their professional specialty requires precise administration of all areas of anesthesiology so they meet with patients before procedures that require anesthesia, monitor them closely while they are sedated, and provide care as they are emerging from anesthesia. They have a patient’s safety as a top priority and must learn to work within the uncertainty of how each patient’s physical state can change their anesthesia reaction.

CRNAs develop a rapport with their patients in a short time. They often meet with patients who are anxious about a procedure and not feeling their best. In a short time, they evaluate the patient while gathering background medical information from the patient and the medical team. They perform an in-the-moment physical assessment that could flag any potential difficulties with anesthesia. This multi-pronged approach requires years of practical nursing experience and the critical thinking skills that can help a CRNA spot and react to any issues.

In many areas, CRNAs provide the anesthesia care available to all residents of a region, particularly the more remote or rural areas. With this option, CRNAs make available a level of care that would otherwise require long travel distances or would remain out of reach. According to AANA, they are also the primary anesthesia providers in the military, especially for hard-to-access field locations, military ships, or other transport modes.

As a CRNA, nurses are able to work in many different locations where anesthesia is used, so the career options are varied and plentiful. In nearly half of the states and all military bases, CRNAs are given full practice authority and they can practice without the supervision of a physician. This designation is given after years of academic work and nursing experience.

CRNAs have a distinct path to achieve the credential. To become a CRNA, nurses first earn a BSN before completing several years of training in a critical care environment. With that combination of school and hands-on nursing work, the next step is to enter a certified nurse anesthesiology program (according to the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), there are 130 such programs in the United States). Finally, passing a CRNA certification exam is required after finishing a program.

Once in practice, CRNAs need to remain current in the field with certification that is renewed every four years and also pass required periodic retesting. The result is a career that pays highly (the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states a $189,000 mean salary for a CRNA in 2020) and is in demand as more procedures are being offered that require anesthesia. According to the BLS, CRNAs can expect to see 38 percent growth in the next eight years along with nurse midwives and nurse practitioners.

CRNAs are dedicated to a fast-paced career in which lifelong learning is an expectation. They are as intrigued by the science as they are by the human connections and must be able to adapt to, and react with precision and accuracy to, situations that change rapidly.

Meet Infusion Nurse Danielle Jenkins

Meet Infusion Nurse Danielle Jenkins

IV Nurse Day is honored every year on January 25, and the day helps spread awareness of the work infusion nurses do. Minority Nurse recently caught up with Danielle Jenkins, MBA, BSN, RN, CRNI, and president elect of the Infusion Nurses Society. Jenkins offered her perspective on a career as an infusion nurse and what keeps her so dedicated to this specialty. infusion nurse Danielle Jenkins standing outside in a blue blazer and white shirt

How did you decide to make a career as an IV/Infusion nurse?
I chose a career as an IV/Infusion nurse after starting as a nurse tech on an oncology ward. Exposure to the infusion suite sparked my interest due to the autonomy it offered. The one-on-one interaction with patients and the opportunity to care for them throughout the entire process further solidified my passion for infusion nursing.

What makes your days interesting?
The excitement of meeting and serving new patients keeps my days interesting. Teaching patients how to do their infusions is particularly rewarding. One memorable moment was training a patient in her 70s in a home infusion setting. After the training, she proudly exclaimed, “Nurse Danielle, I got this,” and went on to train her daughter, who was her primary caregiver and supported her during her treatment. Empowering my patient in that moment was incredibly fulfilling and added a sense of empowerment to my own experience.

How do you keep up with the latest happenings in the field and/or professional development?
I stay updated in my field and focus on professional development by relying on the Infusion Nurse Society (INS). Their standards have been instrumental in shaping my policies and procedures, ensuring best practices in infusion nursing. This commitment to staying informed has not only led to successful patient outcomes but also motivated me to contribute by applying for a role on the INS board, emphasizing the importance of knowing and implementing best practices for excellent patient care.

What has surprised you about being an infusion nurse?
One surprising aspect of being an infusion nurse is the lack of awareness among many nurses about the field, despite their involvement in infusing medications. It’s surprising to see the underrecognition of the opportunities this field offers. Personally, I’ve been pleased by the flexibility in working hours, allowing for a better balance between professional and family life. I promote infusion nursing at every opportunity I have to speak with nurses looking for flexible hours, more personable patient care experience, better wages, and better opportunity to get into management.

What gives you the most career satisfaction and why?
The most satisfying aspect of my career is utilizing all my nursing skills in infusion nursing. I often say that in an outpatient setting an infusion nurse operates in five areas of nursing serving as an admissions nurse , case manager, infusion nurse, charge nurse, and discharge nurse. It’s a field that allows me the autonomy I love. Witnessing patients’ journeys from diagnosis to healing at discharge is incredibly fulfilling. Additionally, obtaining my certified registered nurse infusion (CRNI) credentials has been a crucial step in showcasing my commitment to continuous professional development in this field.

What would you want other nurses to know about a career as an infusion nurse?
For nurses seeking career growth, infusion nursing offers a path to management, even reaching the role of a chief nursing officer. It’s a field where better wages and improved work-life balance are attainable. Infusion nursing opens doors to enhanced opportunities, allowing nurses to infuse better prospects into their professional journey.

Change, Meaning, and Your Nursing Career 

Change, Meaning, and Your Nursing Career 

There are countless reasons why some of us fall into nursing. And when we choose this particular professional journey, all types of motivations keep us in the game.

For many of us, a family member who was a nurse inspired us to continue the tradition. For others, it was witnessing the nursing care of a sick or dying loved one that opened our eyes. For still others, nursing seemed like a flexible, well-paying job that could support a family, especially since nurses will always be needed (until the robots take over).

But we all change, as do our lives, and this begs the question: if the nature of your life and your reasons for being a nurse change over the years, how do you continue to find meaning in what you do?

How it all Began

You became a nurse because your grandmother and mother were both nurses. Your grandmother told fascinating stories about being a nurse during World War II, with air raid sirens, soldiers missing limbs, and lives lost and saved all around her. Your mother also had good stories, though maybe not as romantic as grandma’s.

You could have finished high school and gone to nursing school, launching your career at 22. Or your story might involve, like yours truly, spending your twenties doing all sorts of different jobs and arriving at nursing in your early 30s when you had a family to support and a pre-adolescent son to set a good example for. And there are also those who come into nursing after an entirely different career: FBI agent (a true-to-life story I recently heard firsthand), accountant, office manager, etc.

No matter how you find your way, you have a story that includes the motivations that led you there. Maybe you truly felt a calling, or perhaps you just needed a reliable job. Whatever the vehicle, it delivered you to the door. But what happens when that original vehicle eventually pulls out of the parking lot, and you’re left wondering why you’re still here?

When the Sands Shift

The sands of your life can shift for many reasons: having children, getting married or divorced, finding a new passion, aging, getting bored, or moving to a new state or country.

The sands of your career and the healthcare industry can also change. Here are some observations I’ve heard from nurses I’ve spoken with:

  • Healthcare is becoming more corporatized, and the healthcare business feels more focused on money than human beings.
  • The bullying and incivility at work is terrible and demoralizing.
  • Nurses are subject to an unprecedented amount of on-the-job violence.
  • Unsafe staffing consistently puts our licenses at risk.

And the list goes on.

What do you do When things change— inside of you, in the world around you, or likely both? If your motivations for being a nurse feel different than they used to, you’re not alone. And if you’ve lost your motivation and passion entirely, how do you continue?

Acknowledging and Accepting Change

For some nurses, when the world shifts around them, they bury their heads in the sand, perhaps doing okay for a while. Others become bitter, burnt out, and resentful, and may themselves become bullies who make the lives of those around them miserable. Either that, or they fall into depression, anxiety, or addiction.

You may also arrive at a place where your kids have left the house, and you have the freedom to explore. You can study massage therapy, learn astrology, write a book, or become a podcaster. It’s all valid, and the world is essentially your oyster.

But the original question remains: how do you continue to find meaning in your actions?

Much of this comes down to your core values. The Barrett Personal Values Assessment and the Schwartz Portrait Values Questionnaire are both valid tools for identifying your values. You can also work with a mentor, faith leader, therapist or counselor, career coach, or other trusted individual to help you uncover what’s currently most important to you.

Aside from your values, you also need to examine the current state of your life:

  • What are your needs?
  • How have the nature of your home life and relationships changed?
  • Do you have more people dependent on you, or are you more independent than ever?
  • Has your health changed over the years? Do you have less physical stamina? Have you developed chronic illnesses?

Acknowledging the changes in your life, your family structure and relationships, your body, and the world around you is one of the keys to examining what’s currently making you tick and how to continue.

Based on what’s changed over the years, there may be a way for nursing to continue to be a natural fit, but you may also find that nursing no longer offers the fulfillment it used to. Being honest with yourself is an excellent place to begin since a critical assessment of your life and career must start with clarity.

As you examine your values, the current state of your life, the things that feel important to you, and your needs, things will become more apparent.

If you began your nursing career because of grandma’s inspiring stories but now find that the inspiration is no longer there, it’s not shameful to acknowledge the truth and seek other career options. And if nursing is now simply a job and no longer feels like the calling it once was, you may still be able to continue.

However you move forward, keep in mind that change is the only true constant, and the path that you once traveled may need some readjusting. Be patient, have self-compassion, and forge ahead towards whatever the future may hold.

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