By Guest Blogger Susan Fleming, PhD, RN, Perinatal CNS, Assistant Professor, Washington State University College of Nursing, Spokane
I am a nurse. For the past 35 years, I have worked in a variety of situations, primarily in hospitals serving and providing care to moms and babies. As I traveled the globe with my “Army” husband, I was able to reap the benefits of working in a variety of health care situations, which often followed intense interviews.
As I reflect on my career, I was able to secure solid employment in hospitals because of my abilities to work and contribute to a team of nurses. Since I focused on my ability to provide suitable nursing care, my future employers did as well. After all, I could provide care and do anything that is expected from a nurse, right?
Well, not exactly. I was born without my left hand, so I wear a prosthetic one. However, most of my days at work were very similar to those of other perinatal nurses – I assessed my patients, analyzed their situation and created plans to improve their outcomes. In addition, I collaborated with members of the health care team to provide this care in a holistic fashion.
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