Name: Brittany Kal

Registered nurse at Sentara Leigh Hospital orthopedics unit

Associates degree in nursing, currently enrolled for her bachelors in nursing

What inspired him/her to get into that field?

She has a stepmom who is a nurse and growing up and watching her inspired her to want to become a nurse

What was his/her path to his/her current job?

Started as a cna at an assisted living facility for two years while she was in nursing school, and then right after school she started at sentara lee

Basic roles and responsibilities:

Cares for 6 patients at a time, med administration, room care, care planning, education, and she also oversees the care partners and their daily tasks 

His/her favorite (or most rewarding) aspect of the job?

Potlucks, sending people home better than the way they came in

What is the most surprising aspect of their career?

How large the homeless population is that frequently come into the hospital 

What is the most challenging aspect of their career?

Juggling six patients and all of their needs, and just trying to give well rounded care of every patient we see in what feels oliken such a short time

Advice he/she would give to someone entering the health field:

Get your bachelors degree before you start working and just be empathetic and know that you can’t fix every problem but that sometimes just being there makes all then difference