Name: Toccora Johnson 

Education Background: Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at Lamar University Port Arthur, TX

Education Background: Associate Degree in Nursing at Lamar University Port Arthur, TX

Position: Registered nurse 

Current Job: Mid Jefferson Extended Care Hospital & Jefferson County public Health Clinic in Port Arthur, TX

 

Inspiration?

Cora told me that she was inspired to get into the field because when she was a little girl her mother had cancer, she was the only child and they did not talk much with their family. Therefore, she helped her mother a lot before she died. Unfortoantely, she passed away when she was 15, and she had to move in with her grandmother who wasnt in the best health condition either. Cora stated that she felt like God put her on this Earth to contribute to the care and safety of people.

Duties?

She then began to tell me the duties she has to do on a everyday basis. She told me that she can give out medicaton to patients, run diagnostic test and anylazy them, observes and records the patients symptons or reasons for coming in, and she also helps with the follow-up. She explained to me that she is the first person you see beside the receptionist!

Education?

Futhermore, she went into depth with me about the schooling and how difficult it was. I asked her “How hard was school, did she ever want to give up?” She replied, and told me that it was the hardest thing in her life, and discussed how she would undergo tons of stress in medical school. However, she made sure to tell me to keep my head up and work hard. “No one wants a lazy nurse!”

Whats the most rewarding aspect?

Cora also stated that she feels like a better person every time she leaves work. She feels like her job makes a difference in so many people’s life. That is the best reward and feeling in life to her.

Diffucult Aspects?

I also asked her about the most diffucult aspect in her job? She responded by reminding me of all the schooling she had to undergo, and she also touched base on dealing with a difficult administration. She used to work in Houston, TX and she explained how her co-workers had the worst attitutude and how the clinic was very bad overall.

Thoughts about Salary?

On the other hand, I asked her about her salary and is she able to live comfartable. She told me that she believes her job can support and her newborn baby-girl. She thinks that registered nurses make an decent amount for the amount of schooling they have to take.

Pathway?

Cora discussed with me that she went to the same college throughout her entire college career. She got her Bachelor’s and ADN at Lamar University in Port Arthur, TX. She stated that she stayed home for college and decided that it was best for her so that she will stay focus. She could not stress enough how imporant it was for me to not have any distractons besides school.

Advice?

She told me that the advice she would give somebody following her pathway was to, “Stay Focused!” She expressred how boys and family got in her way sometimes during school, and how she had to cut them off. She expressed how much stress nursing students take on can be unbearable, so we need to stay in a peaceful enviroment. She also stated that she would tell the next individual to keep striving, just because you do bad on your test does not mean you are a failure. She discussed that she went through multiple episodes of feeling like she wasnt enough when she did bad on a quiz after spending weeks studying. She ended with telling me to, “Keep God close to me, because prayer helped her majority of the time.”