Name: Chlorinda Shannon
Job Title: Registered Nurse at Sentera
Degree or Certification: Associates degree
Q: What inspired you to become a Registered Nurse?
A.) I was unsure about what to do. And my mother passed away 2 weeks after I graduated from High School I was going to be a nurse, so I know I wanted to be a nurse. But then that got side tracked a minute. But, when she passed away, it really encouraged me to continue to try to pursue it because we didn’t know what to do. She passed away at home and I just took CPR and, I was just too afraid to use it. And, I didn’t know know if it would help or not but, we just didn’t know what to do. So, in that sense, we just panicked and froze a little bit. So, I said “I need to do something about this.” I’m always a person who helps and gives so, it was kind of an easy path to take.
Q: What pathways or steps did you take to get to your current job as a Registered Nurse?
A.) I started out as a CNA, not even a CNA because I had no certification. So, it was just this facility that allowed me to work with the elderly. I did that for 2 years and when I was working there, I went to get my LPN and I got that. And once I got that, I did LPN for like 12 years and then I went back and got my RN.
Q: What are the basic responsibilities of being a nurse?
A.) Just really the stability in workforce.
Q: Do you have any favorite or rewarding out of your job?
A.) At the end of the day, If I’ve done the best job I can do, I’d day I’ve done a great job. I like to see patient get well. I like trying to teach them how to do it. Also, the reward is when patients leave and come back after a year or so or whenever they come back, you see them that they are doing very well or getting better. So we ask them “okay come back and let us see you” and some of them do and they come a long way.
Q: what is the most challenging part of your career?
A.) The most challenging part is if you can’t figure it out. When you figure out what to do. And you know, everyone put their heads together. We try to figure it out. And sometimes, it’s not for us to figure out. But, it just each discipline has a part to play in the person getting well
Q: What is there any suprising aspects out of your career?
A.) I guess some of the nurses know that they can come together and all can do a good job. You know, when we do something well, its really done. So, it’s suprising that a lot of people you don’t think can get along, they get along when something needs to be done
Q: Is there any advice you can give me that may be help me in the future?
A.) You have to have a lot of patience. And, do not be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t know something, ask question. Cause nurses change everyday all the time. So if you don’t know something, don’t pretend you know something.