When did you start working at UTMB?
February 2021
Why did you decide to go into burn care?
I was actually a capstone nursing student on the burn unit—meaning I did my final 12 clinicals with one nurse on this unit. I loved burn care and how different it was from any other form of nursing that I had experienced in school. I loved it so much that I decided to interview for an available RN position, and I got the job. I've been here ever since!
What characteristics do you feel are important for someone in your role?
I believe that you have to be compassionate (as with any form of nursing). Once the skin is injured/burned, the patients are actually seeing the skin for what it is—an organ. It can impact them in many ways, and we as their nurses must be compassionate toward their feelings. Burn patients are often also impacted from their injury outside of the hospital as well. Sometimes, they can lose their house, a loved one, etc. A lot of grief can come from their incident, and we must remain empathetic toward them and their situation.
I think you also need to be patient but stern. On the burn unit, our patients experience a ton of pain. Because of the pain they face, physical activity and even basic activities like brushing their teeth or getting up to go to the restroom can be very challenging for them. As a patient, they don't want to do these things even if they know that they need to.
We as nurses should be patient with them in completing these things but also very stern about them needing to complete them to the best of their ability at the time. Our goal is to get them back to doing what they were doing before they arrived at the hospital. Like OT/PT says all the time, "If you don't use it, you'll lose it.”
What is the best thing about your job?
I believe the versatility of our patient care is probably one of the best things about our job. Our unit is special in that we can take care of medical surgical patients, step-down patients, intensive care patients and one-to-one intensive care patients. Also, a lot of times we can have our patients for a while. One of the greatest things is getting to see them heal through time. We have an outpatient burn clinic, which is where our patients follow up after their discharge. It is so fun getting to see patients again when they come and visit the unit.
What is the most challenging thing about your job?
The intensity of big burns upon arrival is very challenging. Burns are very multifactorial, and it can be pretty intense during the patient’s first 24 hours on the unit. However, we have a pretty small and close-knit team. During these times, I always know that I am never alone and that there is a team of nurses always there to help.
What is your favorite quote?
"Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself"—Matthew 22:39
What are three words that describe you?
Outgoing. Reliable. Kind
Describe your life outside of work.
I'm a first-time mom, so pretty much being a mom is what I do every day now. It's challenging, but it is the best job in the world.
What is your favorite:
Book: I don't like to read 🙂
Color: Purple
Movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home
Food: Steak and mashed potatoes
Song: Champagne Problems
What is the coolest thing (or a fun fact) about you?
I had my first baby in November of 2023!
What is a dream that you want to make come true one day?
I'd like to go back to school one day and maybe get my MSN. I would love to be a clinical instructor.
When have you felt the proudest?
In October of 2018 I was baptized in Christ, and it changed my life for the better. It was one of the best days of my life, and I felt so proud and honored to have my friends and family there so that I could publicly symbolize my belief in Christ, Jesus.
What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on?
My honeymoon! My husband and I went to Cabos San Lucas, and we stayed at a five-star, all-inclusive beach resort. The food was absolutely amazing and so was the beach!
What has been your most meaningful accomplishment so far?
Graduating nursing school was probably one of the most meaningful moments of my life. Nursing school was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and walking across that stage really showed me that I can accomplish difficult things.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
My family.
If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?
Venice, Italy.
If you could pick any superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation would be my superpower. I love to travel to new places, but I hate airplanes, so teleporting would be pretty cool. I also do not like traffic, so avoiding that would be a game changer.