CAREER COACH’S CORNER
‘WHILE ON THE ROAD TO EXPERT’ By Shunta Fletcher, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CVRN-BC
Tyechia Lavalais, RN IV, a clinical nurse expert in the Center for Professional Excellence, started at Houston Methodist Hospital in 2006 as a graduate nurse in the medical-surgical unit. After obtaining her RN II and RN III certifications, Lavalais began to wonder about her career options.
with her career coach, to determine if she wanted to work as an FNP or explore other opportunities at HMH. She was encouraged and decided to work toward a promotion to RN IV. Lavalais and her coach were able to develop the right plan to A career coach talked with Lavalais about her career move her to her current role. Her journey is not over, as goals. Once the conversation was over, Lavalais decided she told her coach she would like the road to continue to return to school for a master’s degree in nursing to toward a doctor of Nursing Practice in the near future. pursue family nurse practitioner (FNP). In 2014, Lavalais graduated and successfully passed boards while “Working with a career coach is a great opportunity continuing to work at the bedside. for growth and positive change in all areas of your life,” Lavalais said. “Additionally, I felt a sense of relief after She continued career coaching after school to consider sharing my concerns during career coaching.” a position to fit her new skills. Once again she consulted If you want greater career success or need help in solidifying your vision for the future coaching appointments are flexible and are conducted by face-face interview or telephone. For more information please contact the Center for Professional Excellence at 713.441.4546 or email at cpecareercoaching@houstonmethodist.org.
HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL NURSE HELPS HAITIANS WITH HURRICANE RECOVERY Tasha Roberts, MS, MS, APRN, AGACNP-BC, cardiology/medicine/observation nurse practitioner watched on TV as Hurricane Matthew raked the island of Haiti in October. As soon as the storm had passed, she made plans to go there and help. Roberts asked for resources from a church and from Houston Methodist Hospital to help Haitians hit hard by the hurricane. She delivered homemade dresses from Sugar Creek Baptist Church Sunday School class to needy children at the Bread of Life Orphanage. She also joined a medical team that was able to assess, treat and diagnose 287 patients.
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“I hope this is just the beginning of many medical missions to come,” Roberts says. “This was a lifechanging experience I will never forget.”