by admin on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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Janet Norin, RN
Clinical Informatics Specialist
Trinity Bettendorf
Why did you choose this as your career? I wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. I started out as a candy striper with the Red Cross and loved it.
What are the challenges and rewards you experience in your work? In my role as staffing coordinator I have challenges everyday as I assist units with afternoon/evening staffing issues and also help bed control place patients in the most appropriate setting given their diagnosis. My reward is that the patient gets the best outcome, every day, every time with adequate staffing.
What are your plans for the future? Retirement, of course, but I am too young. Even though I already have more than 30 years in nursing, I will continue to work for several more years.
How has the hospital supported your career? Trinity has been very supportive monetarily and with flexible scheduling while I obtained my BSN through Trinity College of Nursing and when I received my OCN certification. I am proud to be a Trinity employee!
About Janet Norin
Education: Lutheran Hospital School for Nurses and bachelor of science degree in nursing from Trinity College of Nursing & Heath Sciences
Years with hospital: 32 years
Mary Jo Clark
ER/Trauma Coordinator
Floyd Valley Hospital, Le Mars
Why did you choose this as your career? When I was 14 years old I saw a segment on the news about the intensive care unit of a nursery and I just knew that was I wanted to do when I grew up.
What are the challenges and rewards you experience in your work? The challenges are meeting the varying needs of the patients from newborns to geriatrics. Some patients come in with no medical knowledge and some with too much, some have an uncomplicated complaint and some have you baffled, and some have no money or resources and some have unlimited yet you need to treat them all the same. The rewards are being able to help the patient, solving their problems or getting to a specialist who can. I work in ER so I like seeing the unusual like people nailing their hand to the board, kids putting rocks in their nose, etc.
What are your plans for the future? I see myself being in this position for a long time. I would like to get my master’s degree and information technology is something that interests me and I may explore that in the future.
How has the hospital supported your career? I started here as a new graduate on the floor and they encouraged me to move up to first a charge nurse then nursing supervisor and now this position. Along the way I got married and have three active children and they have really worked with me so that my schedule would not conflict with family demands for which I am very grateful.
More About Mary Jo Clark
Education: Bachelor of science in nursing from Morningside College
Years with hospital: 16 years
Lori Pietig
Radiologic Technologist
St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Carroll
Why did you choose this career? Radiology gave me the opportunity to combine two types of studies that I loved, science and art. A career in radiology allowed me to explore different avenues in the healthcare world combining anatomy, patient care and technology. This career allows me to work independently and still be part of a team, allowing room for advancement and endless learning opportunities.
What are the challenges and rewards you experience in your work? As a radiologic technologist it is my job to provide the best care possible in a professional manner. Working in the same community where I grew up can be challenging. This places me in situations to care for my family and friends if they become sick or injured. I am directly associated with their care which can be difficult to handle both professionally and emotionally. This same situation can also be very rewarding. A benefit as reported by some of those individuals is that by having me present the overall situation was more pleasant because of the personal comfort I was able to provide. I attempt to approach those situations as a friend who is knowledgeable about my chosen healthcare field. Assuring them that I am here to answer their questions and provide the best care possible.
What are your plans for the future? I look forward to working on my management skills and hope to someday find a position in management or administration within my facility.
How has your hospital supported your career? St. Anthony has been very supportive by offering educational opportunities and helping employees to advance in their chosen field of health care. The hospital has provided study materials and tuition assistance for my education. I have been lucky to be surrounded by management and administration that were willing to take their time to help me complete and excel in my masters program. Their leadership and guidance allowed me to understand different concepts of administration and complete my thesis project successfully.
More about Lori Pietig:
Education: Master’s degree in health care administration from Bellevue University, bachelor of science degree in medical imaging/radiologic technology from Clarkson College
Years with hospital: 6
by admin on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Vicky Norrish
Quality Management and Infection Control Specialist
Skiff Medical Center, Newton
Why did you choose this as your career? I started out as a medical technologist working in the laboratory. I knew that I wanted to work in health care, but also knew that I wanted to be more behind the scenes, not hands-on. When working in the lab I developed a love of microbiology; I loved the challenge of trying to identify which bacteria were making a person ill. I then moved on to the challenge of working on the infection control and prevention side of health care. My next adventure was to move to the quality management and performance improvement part of health care.
What are the challenges and rewards you experience in your work? Challenges: Doing more with less, wearing many “hats,” achieving high quality while being fiscally responsible. Rewards: Every day is something different – a new challenge and experience – it is never boring.
What are your plans for the future? I am currently taking a risk management class and am looking forward to transitioning to the quality management and risk management side of health care. I am also taking a leadership class to help develop those qualities.
How has the hospital supported your career? Skiff Medical Center has allowed me to advance my career through internal promotions and they are always willing to provide me with the educational and training opportunities that are necessary to perform my job well.
More about Vicky:
Education: Bachelor of science degree from South Dakota State University, majoring in microbiology and medical lab technology
Years with hospital: 9
Stephanie Carlson, RN
Operating Room Nurse
Grundy County Memorial Hospital, Grundy Center
Why did you choose this as your career? I don’t think I chose this career. Rather, God had a hand in my life and led me to it. You see, initially I worked for Farm Credit Services of America as a financial specialist using my agricultural business degree. I enjoyed my work there, but felt like I wasn’t helping people in a way that was satisfying to me. So, I started taking classes at night to keep my mind busy. One of the first classes I took was organic chemistry. It was one of the best classes I’ve ever had! Organic chemistry led into more nursing related courses, being a baby rocker in a neonatal intensive care unit, working at a mail-order pharmacy and transitioning into nursing school. Bit by bit, my experiences and professional contacts migrated away from agriculture and turned toward health care. During the summer term of nursing school, I took an elective peri-operative class. A surgery nurse manager during that time noticed my interest in surgery, contacted my clinical instructor and approached me about working as a scrub tech. I was blessed to be offered a job at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo as a scrub tech while still in nursing school and learned on the job. After graduating and passing nursing boards, I was kept on staff as a scrub tech and circulating nurse. I enjoyed the variety of experiences available to me in filling either role. When my husband and I started having babies, I was able to transfer to work closer to home at Grundy County Memorial Hospital (GCMH) and remain within Iowa Health System. Looking back on it, God’s perfect plan for my nursing career has been unfolding right before my eyes! Wow.
What are the challenges and rewards you experience in your work?: It’s important to know that Grundy County Memorial Hospital is a small hospital located near to several larger facilities. I think a challenge related to these two main factors is: Potential customers have the perception that more complex surgeries can not be done at this facility. That is not necessarily true! On the flip side, a huge reward that all nurses at this facility experience is that we are encouraged to be very autonomous. For example, I have the freedom to be a circulating nurse, scrub nurse, assistant, purchaser and a part of the billing department all in one day. If there is help needed elsewhere in the hospital, I am allowed to help in those departments as well. Another perk is that GCMH has a fantastic surgical staff. The nurses and physicians I get to work with are smart, intuitive, patient and caring. I like to consider them my friends. I would trust myself to their care any day.
What are your plans for the future?: I want to study and take the Certified Nurse in the Operating Room, or CNOR, exam. Other than that, I see my days being spent serving customers at GCMH.
How has the hospital supported your career?: Grundy County Memorial Hospital has developed and implemented a career and clinical ladder for auxiliary and nursing staff within the last two years. The ladder is designed to monetarily reward associates based on the amount and complexity of process improvement projects, volunteerism and continuing education seminars performed. I have enjoyed applying to this ladder and feel it exemplifies GCMH’s commitment to career support and development.
About Stephanie Carlson
Education: Iowa State University, Ames, bachelor of science in agricultural business
Allen College of Nursing, Waterloo, bachelor of science in nursing
Years with hospital: 2.5 years
