Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1187856
28 Working Nurse l WorkingNurse.com November 18, 2019–January 13, 2020 "I try to be a source of peace during a patient's day." Zack Peters, RN, BSN Pediatric Oncology CITY OF HOPE What do you particularly love about your specialty? Pediatric oncology treatment can last a long time, especially if there are any complica- tions, which means a long time in the hospi- tal. This allows me to form close bonds with my patients and see them overcome some of the most difficult trials they've ever had to endure. This is actually the aspect of my job I love the most. Please share the funniest or most moving thing that's happened to you as a nurse (bearing HIPAA in mind). One of the most moving moments of my career was when the mother of a teenage boy I had cared for months earlier visited our unit. She told me that I was exactly what her son needed during that time in his life. I was amazed; I got along well with this patient and enjoyed caring for him, but I had no idea I had such an impact on him. It made me realize how, as nurses, we can affect our patients more than we'll ever know. What has being a nurse taught you? I used to think that when patients came into the hospital, their health was their sole con- cern. It wasn't until I became a nurse that I realized life doesn't just stop for these patients. The worries they had before getting sick still exist and, if anything, are exacerbat- ed by their hospitalization. I try to keep this in mind whenever I'm caring for a particularly anxious or short-tem- pered patient. I strive to be a source of peace during their day rather than an additional source of stress. "You have to start by listening." Justin Marinaro, RN, MSN, NE-BC Unit Director, Orthopaedics UCLA MEDICAL CENTER, SANTA MONICA What do you particularly love about your specialty? Most of our patients are here for elective surgery and are excited about their recovery. I round on all our patients, so I have the opportunity to hear about the daily activities to which they will be returning when they are fully recovered. It's rewarding to know that when they leave the hospital, they will enjoy a better quality of life. Please share the funniest or most moving thing that's happened to you as a nurse (bearing HIPAA in mind). Several years ago, I was working the Christmas Eve night shift on the oncology unit. One of my patients was a woman who was dying. She was awake, alert and visibly anxious. Since she didn't have family with her, I made it a point to stay with her during all of my downtime. We talked about our upbringings, where we had come from, things that mattered to us. We went through a range of emotions as we talked, but as the night passed, I could tell her anxiety was easing. At the end of my shift, she wished me a Merry Christmas and called me her angel. I gave her a hug and said that she was actually mine. What has being a nurse taught you? That you have to start your interactions by listening. This applies equally to patients, family members, nurses and others I encounter in the hospital. Once someone feels listened to and validated, it's easier to address challenges and solve problems. MEN IN NURSING 2019