Kelsay A.

Richards
Professor Nicole Anderson
Communications 1010
February 12, 2017

Interview Project
I. Introduction
I have always been interested in the healthcare field; originally, it was because of my passion
for science. Ive always excelled in science and math and feel that was the root of my desire to
join this field. Although I have been fascinated with the human body and its physiology for
years, its how I am able to apply my knowledge to help those who need it that makes it this field
so attractive. I love the way helping people and making an impact on someones life makes me
feel. Being in the healthcare field means I can combine my two favorite things in one career: use
science and math everyday while interacting with patients on a very personal level. This has lead
me down the pre-nursing education pathway, which leads to the person I am interviewing.

II. Interviewee
Hayley Gillis was my interviewee for this assignment. She is a pediatric oncology nurse at
Primary Childrens hospital and a good friend of mine who graduated from the nursing program
at Salt Lake Community College. I chose Hayley because she is highly respected within her
department and knows her responsibilities and duties as a nurse very well. She worked as a
Certified Nursing Assistant in the same unit prior to graduation and was offered a job as a nurse
several months prior to graduation; she thoroughly loved her job then and even more so now she
has more autonomy and education to apply to her position.

III. Career
To become a registered nurse, an applied associates of science degree is required which can
be obtained after a few prerequisite courses such as human anatomy, chemistry, and math have
been completed. Although an associates degree is all that is required to become a nurse, one can
continue their education in nursing by obtaining a bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree. Each
degree level increases autonomy for the nurse as well as salary. In Utah, per the Bureau of Labor
statistics in May 2015, registered nurses make a salary of $58,910 - $63,960. This is quite a
remarkable salary for only an associates degree, but nursing is not easy and not for everyone.
Nursing school is competitive: grade point average in prerequisite courses and overall must be
impressive, health care related experience and patient contact is necessary to be set apart from
other applicants, volunteer experience will show character and be beneficial upon application,
and finally, recommendation letters must be exciting to make a notable effect on the decision
makers. If one can make it into the program and graduate, a nurse can find a job in several areas
and facilities: hospitals, nursing homes, urgent cares, home health/hospice, surgery, anesthesia,
and many more. Although each nursing job may vary by specialty and role in the specific facility,
a nurses job may include: direct care for patients by administering medications, tending wounds,
monitoring their status and vital signs, assisting doctors, perform physical examinations,
educating patients and their families, and much more. Nurses must be hard-working, have a good
bedside manner, and enjoy their job to excel.

IV. Questions & Answers

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a nurse?

A: I love that I get to interact with the kids and develop relationships with them, I enjoy the
challenge and the responsibility of it all. Its hard work, but so rewarding.

Q: Why did you choose pediatric oncology? Is it hard?

A: I worked in the unit at Primarys as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) and fell in love with
the kids. Of course, some days are harder than others; but being a big part of a very tough time in
their life is amazing because you make such a huge different. It feels good knowing youre
making a hard time better for them.

Q: What made you interested in medicine?

A: My cousin is autistic and they didnt know what was wrong, so I was constantly going to
hospital with them and loved the atmosphere. My dads side of the family are all nurses, and
throughout high school I took a lot of medical classes and thought it was very interesting. I also
didnt want a 9-5 job at a computer all day, didnt seem very fulfilling to me.
Q: When did you decide that you wanted to be a nurse?
A: In high school.

Q: What do you consider to be your strengths as a nurse?

A: I had an advantage because I was a tech on the unit before nursing school, so I already knew a
lot of the regular patients. I like taking the time to talk to the patients and get to know their life
before cancer, I ask personal questions to get the kids to open up and most of the time we
become friends.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 3 years?

A: In the cancer unit, Ill be done with my bachelors with the University of Utah at the end of the
year. I thought about going nurse practitioner but I dont know if I wants to do it anymore. They
dont get the patient interaction nurses do and spend a lot of time charting and consulting with
doctors and other mid-levels (physician assistants or nurse practitioners). I would like to work in
the ER and work on some hard cases, but Im not sure where Ill get the experience needed to get
the job.

Q: How do you set your priorities in your work?

A: I have great time management skills, so that helps. Honestly, the priorities for the day are set
by the patients and their pain level. Patients with a lot of pain are a huge priority, but pills need to
be on time, so I have to look at MAR (medication administration record) and see whose acute vs
chronic and how I can make it work for everyone.

Q: How do you keep from feeling stressed and/or overwhelmed?

A: We have a huge team; we are like a big family. There are resource nurses that will provide
breaks if you call for help or need a breather for a few minutes. Each nurse is assigned only a
few patients at a time, so that is helpful. There is always someone there to help, youre never
alone on the floor. Usually on our lunch break, all the nurses who can will walk to Starbucks
together to get coffee. Its nice because when you get stressed, you just call for help and its
there.
Q: Who are your career role models, if any, and why?
Theres a couple nurses on the floor that have been in the same unit for 10+ years, I look up to
them because they have so much knowledge and experience. They really know what theyre
doing and never make me feel stupid for asking questions.

Q: Have you done any volunteer work? If so, what was it like and where did you volunteer?
A: Ive volunteered in the burn unit by reading to them, Ive run a 5k to help fund the burn camp
the hospital holds, Ive participated in clothing drives, the candy cane corner, and at road home
homeless shelter. I really enjoy volunteering; I dont get to as much as Id like to but I try to at
least once every couple months.

Q: How do you handle a request you disagree with?

If its a patients parents, I try hear them out but if I disagree I just go to manager. If its other
nurses, Ill try to work it out with them myself if its small, but if its big deal Ill just go to the
manager, thats what they want us to do anyways to avoid conflict on the floor.

Q: How do you motivate your patients?

Ill encourage board games or video games, interactive activities, and utilize parents to help kids
get motivated. Sometimes I have to be honest with them about things that could happen if they
are sedentary and scare them a little bit; sometimes Ill bribe them with milkshakes or toys.

Q: What advice can you give me to help me be the best nurse possible in the future?
A: Always have an open mind, dont be afraid to jump into a situation, dont sit back and ponder,
just do it. If you dont try, youll never know. Apply yourself and dont give yourself time to
think about it, just do it. I gained a lot of experience by just doing things. Utilize your resources,
and dont stop going to school because youll never go back.
 V. Conclusion
This interview has further solidified my decision to go to nursing school. Hayley has inspired
me even more to become the best nurse I can possibly be just by hearing the way she speaks
about her job. I feel this interview project was beneficial for me to understand more about what
nurses in hospitals do and the many routes that are possible to take as a registered nurse. I am
very excited to continue with my education in pre-nursing and hopefully be accepted to the
nursing program at Salt Lake Community College or the University of Utah next year.
Works Cited:

"29-1141 Registered Nurses." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.