Get to Know a BHC Nurse

Andrea Primus, BSN, RN, PNDP-5

Emergency Department

I was born and raised in Columbia, Mo. I attended the University of Missouri and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. For the first several years of my nursing career, I worked in Kansas City, Mo., in large Level 1 Trauma Centers. Following that, I worked as a flight nurse for Staff for Life Helicopter Service and had the opportunity to train and learn under Frank Mitchell, MD who our local Trauma Center was named after. I would have to say this role was the highlight of my nursing career! I stayed home for a couple of years with my children and then returned to Boone Hospital in the Emergency Department.

Why did you get into the health care field?

I knew during high school that I wanted to be a nurse. Science was always my favorite subject, so a degree in health care was a natural choice. During my first year of college, I worked at a local nursing home as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and at a Veterans Administration Hospital as a phlebotomist; this solidified my desire to become a nurse. I thoroughly enjoyed the patient interaction and belonging to a team of caregivers.

What interested you in your particular specialty?

I was interested in emergency nursing because of the fast pace and unique environment that it brings. Working very closely with physicians and learning a great deal about all specialties and variations of patient populations. Every day is different, and I enjoy the challenge of adapting to an ever-changing environment. There’s also opportunity for professional growth and development with unlimited opportunities to engage with topics that fuel your passion, whether that’s teaching new nurses or working on process improvement projects to make the ED more efficient.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I find nursing very rewarding because you know you can make a direct impact on your community, patients and families. I also appreciate the flexibility that a nursing career provides. As you move through different stages of life – whether you’re focused on building your career or transitioning into motherhood – nursing offers adaptable schedules and hour commitments that support a healthy work-life balance.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

One of the more challenging aspects of nursing is constantly having competing priorities to juggle. You have to find a balance that maximizes the benefits to patients. In the emergency department, things can go from calm to chaotic very quickly. You have to learn to adjust and pivot to meet the needs of your patients as well as your coworkers.

What has changed in your field since you started practicing?

I have seen lots of changes in the field of nursing over the last 32 years. One large change was the conversion to electronic health records from paper. Another ever-changing part of nursing is evidence-based practice. This impacts change in everything we do: CPR, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), how to care for burns, trauma, sepsis and strokes. Nursing practice changes constantly as we gain more technology and knowledge with regards to illness and injury.

What do you see changing in the next 5 to 10 years?

In the next 5 to 10 years, it will be interesting to watch how Artificial Intelligence will advance and change the healthcare field. I anticipate a lot of what we do as healthcare professionals will be delivered remotely using technology.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my two daughters, friends and family. I enjoy cooking, baking, walking with our dogs and being outside in the sunshine.

What advice would you give someone looking to become a nurse?

A career in nursing is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys connecting with people, often in time of challenge. Nursing offers great flexibility in geographic choices, schedules, as well as vast areas of interest. My best advice for someone looking to join our profession is to be committed to becoming a lifelong learner. Lifelong learning is necessary for nurses because of the ever-evolving changes in healthcare.