Volunteering Leads To A Fulfilling Career For A Chicago Nurse
For job seekers trying to find employment, it may seem odd for employers to encourage volunteerism. Job seekers are not necessarily looking to work for free; but according to Forbes, volunteer work is one of the top 10 tasks that over 3,000 managers felt would make an applicant more marketable.
Volunteer work may also lead applicants in the direction of their final career path. Just ask Teria Mullin, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, who is currently a contract worker for Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Illinois.
Mullin, CRNA, MS, received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Tennessee State University, earned a Master of Science degree for nurse anesthesia from DePaul University in Chicago, and has been a nurse since 2003. But she started her career doing volunteer work.
How did you initially get started in the nursing industry?
"I volunteered as a candy striper in high school. My mother, whose background is in health care — accrediting hospitals, introduced me to other nurses in different fields of nursing."
Why do you enjoy working in your career field?
"I really enjoy being able to comfort patients who are hurting or scared, and doing my best to take care of them."
What classes do you feel students in your career field are overlooking?
"I think they should take more psychology courses as electives. When you treat a person you have to treat the whole person whether it's spiritual, mental or physical."
Do you feel it's important that nurses build a network with other nurses and why?
"I think it is important to build a network. We can relate even if we're not necessarily working in the same area. I'm affiliated with Nursing First."
Do you have any advice for new people in your current field?
"You have to have love for taking care of people. You're dealing with sometimes difficult patients, combative patients, families who are going through some things. You also have to have tough skin because you are sometimes the liaison between the doctors and the family members. You have to be able to go back to the reason why you got into nursing."
Shamontiel L. Vaughn is a professional journalist who has work featured in AXS, Yahoo!, Chicago Defender and Chicago Tribune. She's been an Examiner since 2009 and currently writes about 10 categories on Examiner.com.
