We asked healthcare workers about the champions who inspired them and help shape their careers. Meet Joseph, an emergency nurse, currently working in one of Melbourne's public hospitals.
Briefly describe to me your career path that's lead you to where you are today.
I started in 2013 working in aged care and from there got a bit of a taste for the clinical side of things and was mentored by two of my fellow RNs. This led me to go to nursing school, which I did in 2019.
What was the main challenge that you found?
The constant change of things. It was such an uncertain time (the pandemic) for everybody, so the hospital procedures changed all the time. Family members changed all the time too, so it was a revolving door at the end of the day. It was very busy.
You started as a personal care attendant; tell me about that experience.
I started in 2013 caring for the elderly as a personal care attendant. From there, I got a taste of the clinical side, was mentored very closely by two fellow RNs, and that pushed me to go into nursing school during the peak of COVID-19.
Can you describe a shift in the Emergency Department?
A shift in the ED? A few words come to mind. Definitely unpredictable; you never really know what's going to come through the door. Second of all, it can be quite stressful. There's lots of family members involved in patient care, which has a contributing factor. But most of all, it's very rewarding; there's definitely a component of joy that I feel when I'm working in the emergency department.
In terms of supporting your peers, what does that look like for you?
A big one is active listening and making sure that you have your colleagues' backs. Working in the emergency department is very high paced and it's a high-risk environment. Just knowing that you have each other's backs and that you're caring for each other appropriately means the most to me.
Being a confidant looks like actively listening, sharing new ideas with each other, and having new processes in place. Making sure that you're having each other's backs while you're on the floor as well. It can be a very fast-paced environment. So ensuring that you're listening to each other and supporting each other as well is really important.
Tell me about positive team dynamics in the healthcare space.
Like I said, active listening is important, but also having no judgment. There's no silly question when you're working in the emergency department and we've all come from different walks of life, so have that clear communication and ensure that you're listening actively to what the other person is saying. And trusting their judgment at the end of the day is really an important skill in the emergency department.
What's next for you?
I'm just getting started! I definitely want to go back to university and potentially do some post-grad studies in critical care. Staying in the emergency department is where my heart is, but upskilling and advancing in critical care is where I'm wanting to go.
Is there anyone in your sphere that you look to for guidance?
At the moment where I'm working, I'm right next door to the resuscitation department and I have a friend in there who I also went to school with. She's definitely guiding me on my nursing journey and showing me the way to get where I want to go.
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