Chanita Foushee, R.N.

1. What do you do in your job?  As a Registered Nurse in a hospital setting, I function in a

multitude of areas. I provided care to patients across the lifespan from newborn to adulthood. That care of patients includes assessing their needs physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, socially, and economically. I am also an integral part of a multidisciplinary team that provide continuity of care to all patients which include physicians, assistants, social services, and other ancillary staff. I am also responsible for patient teaching and discharge planning. As an experienced nurse, I oversee the unit in a Charge Nurses role, assign patients to other staff and assure that the unit is functioning in a safe and efficient manner.  I also lead and participate in in-services to keep myself and other staff up to date on current healthcare issues.

2. What is a typical day for the position?   A typical day as a nurse in a hospital setting includes first and

foremost, preparing myself mentally and spiritually to handle whatever I may encounter throughout my shift in a professional, safe, and compassionate manner because the hospital setting is a face-paced environment. I obtain report on all patients on the unit from the off-going shift as well as unit-based issues. After obtaining report, I assign patients to staff, as well as myself, based on the level of experience of the nurse and patient acuity, prepare the list of patient’s for discharge in the morning for the physicians, and check both adult/newborn/child cold carts for proper supplies and to make sure the cart is up to date. I then check all of my patient’s charts for prior and current orders, lab or diagnostic results, and other pertinent patient history so that I will be well prepared as best I can to take care of my patient’s needs and so that I can address any issues or concerns I may have with the physician. I also make sure that all supplies, medications, and tests are ordered/available before I make rounds on my patients. Prior to me making individual and focused rounds on my patients, I check in with each one of them to introduce myself to make sure they are alive and well and without any discomfort or needs at that particular moment and I then notify them that I am the Charge Nurse for the shift and that I will return shortly after making rounds on the other units. After making rounds on the other units and speaking with

the other Charge Nurses, I have a better idea of how to plan the rest of the shift as far as patient admissions, scheduled/unscheduled surgeries, and other surgical procedures, staff assignment and responsibilities, etc.  I am then able to focus on my patients by performing assessments, administering medications as needed, providing extensive hands-on and one on one teaching and demonstrations and answering any questions or concerns that the patient may have, all which takes place thought the entire shift. In between patients, I am able to write nurses notes in the patient’s chart covering all aspects of the patient’s plan of care. I am also required to insert intravenous catheters for infusions, draw blood for laboratory tests, insert other types of catheters, recovery post-operative patients, provide respiratory care as needed, and so on. By the end of my shift, all patient’s should be comfortable and without any concern until report is given to the on-coming shift in which continuity of care continues.

3. What hours do you work?  I am currently considered a Per Diem (as needed) employee. I

worked as a full-time employee up until about 4 years ago. I have another full-time career using my nursing knowledge in the research setting. I usually work either a 4-hour, 8-hour, or 12-hour shift on weekends.

4. What school subjects are important for this job?  The most important school subjects for this job are math,

sciences (microbiology, chemistry, biology, etc.), pathophysiology, psychology/psychiatry, research, social studies, human development, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, statistics, health assessment, nursing across the lifespan, information technology/health informatics, pharmacology/complementary and alternative medicine, management and leadership, case management, nursing theory, public/community health, cultural studies, and occupational and environmental health.

5. How and when did you decide to enter this job?  I was interested in the healthcare field in high school and

decided to enroll into college immediately to earn my nursing degrees. I have always been interested in the science of nursing and providing respectful and compassionate care.

6. What are the most rewarding aspects of the position? What are the most challenging components of the position? 

The most rewarding aspect of this position is knowing that I am able to put my extensive knowledge and training to use to help

another person in a multitude of situations. It is also awarding, in my opinion, to constantly learn about new and updated developments in the field of nursing, medicine, and healthcare as a whole. The most challenging components of my position can sometimes be the amount of stress that I am constantly under as one nurse taking care of multiple patient’s needs all at one time. I think another challenging component of my position is not always having the management team provide support when the tough times roll around with staff shortages and increases in patient numbers.  It would be nice to hear a thank you or nice job once in a while, but in this field, it is few and far between so you just learn to praise yourself and know that you have done your job to the best of your abilities.

7. Did you have a career plan that you followed?  Yes, I did have a career plan that I followed. I obtained

my Associates of Science degree in Nursing first, began working as a Registered Nurse immediately, and then went back to college to obtain my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing and hopefully my Masters degree sometime in the future. I have over 10 years of clinical experience and have branched out into health informatics and technology research for the past 4 years writing cancer clinical trials, using my health expertise.

8. What major changes have happened in your career area since you have been working? 

Nursing have gotten away from the team work and collaboration approach which is the foundation from which nursing comes from and the clinical setting has seen the downside of this mistake over the years.  Also, a lot of these type of healthcare settings are trying to be successful by relying on the business aspect only and not taking into account how important including health management is to running a healthcare institution.  Not only do the staff suffer from this, but so do the patient’s as well.

9. Would you change anything about your job?  Yes, I would like to see more cohesiveness and mutual respect

amongst staff (including CEO’s, physicians, nurses, technicians, etc.) like back when I first began my career as a nurse as well as more nursing leadership.

10.  Did school prepare you adequately for your work?   I have to admit that my educational training equipped me with

the knowledge and tools that I needed to enter the nursing field and continue to build on my expertise.

11.  How do you coordinate your family/home/job responsibilities? 

This is a tough question because it is always difficult to balance life responsibilities. Thanks to the support of God, family, friends, and coworkers, they help you through. I think that balancing these responsibilities is individualized. What works for one person may not work for the other.  Basically, I prioritized my life and those priorities changed as I saw fit.  There were times when one responsibility would be more important than the other at that moment in time, in which I had to deal with, and then I would bring those responsibilities back to a more equal state.

12. What personal characteristics are important in your job?     Those would include trustworthiness, professional, outgoing,

caring and compassionate, adaptable, a quick thinker, organized and detailed oriented, observant, able to multitask, open-minded, culturally sensitive, assertive, positive, ambitious, willing to learn at all times, patient, a leader, and a great communicator.