SA Health & Fitness† Medical series:†2021' Jennifer Hill Why did you choose nursing as a career? I remember when I was in college and my grandfather had passed away. I remember the nurses who were so compassionate and caring as we slowly watched him pass. I also recall the nurses who were not so caring and this is when I vowed to become one of the nurses who would make a difference and positively impact the lives of my patients. Was there a particular person in your life that drew you to the nursing profession? What do you find difficult about being a nurse? There comes a time in the career where you come to terms that you canít help everyone and you canít fix everyone. You can place all your efforts into someoneís care, but at the end of the day, the outcome is affected by multiple factors that are out of your control. Do you prefer to work alone, or as part of a team? I enjoy my profession as a psychiatric nurse practitioner
because of the one-on-one interaction I am able to have with my patients. I like the bond and rapport I am able to build with every session. I currently work in a private practice that allows me to have more time with my patients and I also have open communication with my attending physician and fellow nurse practitioners in the office. What do you contribute to your patients as a nurse? I like to think one of the best things I am able to offer a patient are open ears. I want patients to feel validated and heard. Sometimes being able to vent and have someone listen is therapeutic and medications are not needed. What interests you most about working in the nursing field ? I enjoy the flexibility of being a nurse and the bedside manners that I have developed while working in the field. The experience I have learned working on the floor has helped me transition to outpatient care and building therapeutic relationships with patients.