Bringing Joy to Teamwork

One nurse stokes her passion for nursing via atraumatic care for kids and serving community abroad

Welcome to Nurse Ascent, a twice-weekly newsletter created by nurses for nurses. This week, one nurse shares how she stokes her passion for nursing in the pediatric ED by volunteering abroad and focusing on atraumatic care on shift. We also look into a new flu mutation, baby formula recall, and more.

But first, a note for those unexpected lessons learned on the job...

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Nurse Spotlight: Pamela Olsen RN, BSN

What I do for work

I am a nurse in a pediatric emergency department at a nonprofit hospital in New Jersey. In this role, I care for patients from newborns to 20-year-olds. Children’s growth and development influence the emergencies they present with, resulting in a wide range of chief complaints and a corresponding breadth of nursing skills. Most patients are able to be discharged home at the completion of their visit, but some will need to be admitted or transferred to a higher-acuity or specialty unit.

How I got here

After graduating from an accelerated nursing program in South Florida, I started out as a Float Intensive Care Unit nurse in New York. I loved the mental exercise of ICU nursing, but I yearned for consistent coworkers with whom I could build rapport. When I switched to the pediatric emergency department, I found a home away from home. It’s a place where my coworkers joyfully work as a team. Currently, I am enjoying the focus on atraumatic care in the form of stuffed animals, popsicles, and stickers!

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More on Pamela

A day in my life

When I arrive for the night shift, the department tends to be slammed, as this is the busiest time period. Initially, I balance receiving hand-offs from the day shift nurses with triaging any patients in the waiting room. My department is somewhat unique in that all the nurses take turns triaging incoming patients rather than having one designated triage RN. Meanwhile, the EMS teams who roll into the department throughout the shift usually require immediate attention. Many tasks in the pediatric ED need more than one nurse due to children’s high activity levels and limited understanding of their medical problems. This environment builds amiable relationships between my coworkers and me.

My self-care routine

When I clock out, I intentionally empty my pockets and take off all equipment such as watches and badges while visualizing the negative energy being removed with each item. Before I go to sleep, I lie down and listen to a body-scan guided meditation. On my days off, I like to go to hot yoga classes or spend time in nature surfing. I also recently served as a Nurse Delegate in Brazil and came back revitalized by the cultural exchange and the engaging conversations with more experienced colleagues, which has helped stoke my passion for nursing.

Share your story & be entered to win

As part of our effort to spotlight nurses, we’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue of Nurse Ascent! Share your story by filling out our quick interview form, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card.

Headlines in Healthcare

A new mutation of the flu

Today.com reported that new mutated strain of the influenza virus is surging worldwide and causing severe outbreaks in the US. The mutated H3N2 strain, called “subclade K,” has spread rapidly and already gained dominance in several countries in the Northern hemisphere. Experts share that although this year's vaccine will not be a perfect match against the mutation to the H3N2 virus, it will still offer protection throughout flu season.

Update on infant botulism formula recall

CDC Reported that Since ByHeart Inc. recalled all infant formula products last month, six new cases and two new states (Massachusetts and Wisconsin) have been added to an investigation into the situation. All six infants were hospitalized and treated, bringing the total to 37 infants with suspected or confirmed infant botulism from 17 states.

Full service grocery store in the library

Inside the first floor of the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore lies one of the country’s first 100% free and full-service grocery stores, all operated inside a public library. Good Good Good reported that each Wednesday from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and Friday 2 p.m.–5 p.m., customers are welcomed to grab whatever they can fit inside a bag for free. The market is about 90% volunteer-run with a simple vision: “everyone eats.”

An image of author Katie Scoggins is pictured.

Meet the author:
Katie Scoggins
(RN, BSN & Health Writer)

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