Mentor questions (Mrs.

McFarlane)
1. How has the field changed since you first started your career?
The technology has improved so much. Nurses can be so much more efficient with the
technology advances that have happened over the last 20 years. Examples such as
online charting, trackers that show what room staff members are in, tracking how often
hand sanitizer is being used by staff, bladder scanners, etc.

2. What times of year are busiest/slowest?

In OB it is always busiest from spring to the fall. The winter months were typically a little
slower. For people that plan their pregnancies, many plan for a spring/summer baby
when the weather is nice. Also, teachers many times would have spring babies because
then they would have time off after the baby and then it would be summer so they would
have a long stretch of work off.

3. Is it difficult to find an opening?

Not at all. RN’s are in high demand. There are many organizations that offer sign on
bonuses of thousands of dollars because they are so desperate for staff.

4. Are there any professionals in your network that you would suggest I talk to?
I can link you to some nurses in OB that I used to work with. There is a previous student
that went to KCTC and now is a nurse tech in the ER. She eventually wants to go into
nursing. It would be nice to hear about her journey.

5. Describe your career path. How have you progressed to your present position?
I knew I wanted to be a nurse since I was a little kid. I loved being in a hospital setting
even if it was to visit a family member or neighbor. I started off working at Mercy Health
when I was in high school in nutrition services. I then transferred into a position as an
EKG technician when I started college. In my last year of nursing school, I got a job as a
nurse tech in outpatient surgery. My first position as an RN was at Spectrum Health as an
OB nurse. I worked on several floors, high risk OB, postpartum, and woman’s health.
Since then I have done home care, worked in doctors offices, taught clinicals at GVSU,
and finally teaching at KCTC. Everything I did over the course of my career led me to my
position now.

6. What kinds of experience do employers want?

Acute care experience, hands on experience, people that have worked with patients in
the past. Volunteer experience in a hospital setting helps too.

7. In what ways can this job be stressful?

Long hours, 12 hour shifts often turn into 14, sometimes with no breaks. Lots of pressure
caring for patients to make sure your are giving 100%. Patients and their families count
on you, there is no room for mistakes. Another stressful part is not always feeling like
you have enough time to spend with your patients.

8. Why did you get into this field?

I love helping people. The human body and medicine has always intrigued me. Also, with
my brother being a type 1 diabetic I learned a lot and remember how important his
nurses and doctors were to our family.

9. What are the things you find personally rewarding in your career?
You make a difference in your patients lives. They will remember you and appreciate
what you did for them forever. Everyday is new and exciting and you will always learn
something new. There is nothing better than knowing you have helped someone and
made their day a little better.

10. Do you have any additional information that might be helpful?

Nursing school is hard. Keep pushing through. One semester at a time. Nursing is an
extremely rewarding career and it is all worth it.