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5 Things I wish Patients Understood About Their Nurse

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  1. We’re Okay with it All – I mean this literally. I have had many patients who profusely apologize for having to walk them to the bathroom, or give them medications for embarrassing symptoms, or because I have to clean up their accidental episode of incontinence. Patients should know their nurse does not mind doing what may be gross or embarrassing because it’s what we signed up for when becoming nurses. I always tell my patients, verbatim, to “not be silly and that’s what I’m here for.” We do these things to make sure they are safe, well and cared for. Personally, I feel like these every day doings are the epitome of nursing.
  2. We’re the Eyes, Ears and Voice – I feel like this is a norm of nursing that has been widely adopted and understood. Even patients have assumed a greater appreciation for their nurses but for those that haven’t, I wish they knew we’re so much more than medication givers and pooper scoopers. There’s more than what meets the eye when it comes to taking care of them. Most of it happens when we are outside of their room — we are the ones who vouch for them when we see something transpiring; we make sure they have food to eat long after the kitchen staff has left; we are the ones who usually end up giving a more understood & reassuring update to their family. I’ve found that at the end of the day, most patients are aware of who we are and ALL of what we do, and it’s always fulfilling when they realize that.
  3. We’re Constantly Putting Them First – This one goes in hand with number two, but there’s more to be said about the selfless heart we put into being a nurse. For example, many nurses are having other people watch and help raise their children so they can work multiple 12-hour shifts. Many nurses go without a lunch or a bathroom break in a timely manner due to all the tasking; and how about those nurses who end up clocking an extra hour because they made sure their patient had everything they needed before they went to go take care of their family. A lot of the time, we’re in the middle of lunch and have no choice but to go and help clean up a patient; we take away a lot of our well-deserved personal time for our patients, not only because we have to, but because it’s who we are. Our selfless skill is always reinforced when those patients who do understand these things make it known and are forever grateful to us (my most memorable keepsakes are letters from patients ☺︎).
  4. We’re Doing the Best We Can – At times, patients may seem like they have no patience themselves (pun intended). Classic situation being, they’re constantly on the call light every three minutes because you didn’t come back with Tylenol for their headache, which to them is the BIGGEST deal and in their world, it is. When patients are in the hospital, they are at their most vulnerable. I know textbook world makes it seem like everything gets done as soon as it’s needed, but that’s far from the reality of nursing. Depending on the floor & the patient acuity, tasks add up and even the simplest things take longer than we envision (I can’t tell you how many times a “simple” med pass has taken me almost an hour to do because my patient’s IV blew). As much as it’s frustrating to us they don’t see our extensive to-do list, it’s far more frustrating when it takes longer for us to return with their dire need. Every one of our patients has a right to be taken care of in a timely manner, so it should be a daily priority to reassure your patients that you’re truly doing the best you can to attend to their every need (within reason ☺︎).
  5. This is Far from the Easiest Job, but the Most Rewarding – Since most of you reading this haven’t experienced the aforementioned yet, know there are a gazillion more reasons in addition to the above which factor into why being a nurse is far from easy, so I’ll cut to the chase. We do and see gross things, we watch people take their last breath & families grieve, we use our every last breath to save their life, but the nurses who are in this profession for the right reasons don’t mind at all. For all the downs/stress/angst/etc, there is always more good. Although cliché, there is a mutual reciprocity in terms of touching someone’s life: our patients make just as much a difference in their nurse’s life as we do in theirs. In another life, I would choose being a nurse over and over again. For patients to know this about their nurse it should be exceptionally comforting.

Sydney Adelstein is a 2016 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

Coping with COVID

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With the ominous threat of COVID-19 looming over us, it’s hard to think about much else. Nurses are known for having Type A personalities- having detailed and regimented plans for each day. With the ever changing guidelines and protocols related to COVID, it’s hard to plan. This has led to a lot of feelings of frustration and helplessness in myself, and I suspect many others. During these unprecedented times, it’s important to reclaim your sense of control.
I’ve been able to grasp some control in these times through arbitration. While I can’t go hiking with my friends, I can Facetime them while at the park. While I can’t meet up with coworkers for a night out, I can meet them online and play games together. While I can’t throw my sister the baby shower I’d originally planned, I can organize a virtual baby shower. Our sacrifices now-the things we are giving up through physical distancing- will be so worth it in the end, as each time we choose to distance ourselves, we help flatten the infection curve.
Before COVID, I was having regular visits with my counselor to use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help combat my anxiety. I’ve found relief in practicing CBT because it allows me to “reframe” my perceptions that are often clouded by anxiety. Despite COVID, I am still able to meet online with my counselor. Employees at OSU also have access to the Employee Assistance Program as well as the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (S.T.A.R) team. Working from home, combined with inconsistent work hours has been a detriment to my sleep. I’ve actually found that OSU has free guided imagery online. I’m planning to use this before bed to help clear my mind of all the intrusive and stressful thoughts covid has released. Students at OSU have access to Counseling and Consultation Services, which is currently offering phone and Zoom appointments. These are all great options to help combat the stress we’re experiencing.
Lately, I’ve received countless emails and social media posts regarding “ways to beat” COVID-19. I try to remember that not everyone has taken an Evidence-Based Practice course and they may not be able to distinguish between someone’s opinions and observations and high quality evidence. Most recently, my Dad sent me an “article” that stated it was from a well-established and respected hospital system. As I read the document, it became apparent to me that there were no citations present, either in text or at the bottom. The document was also littered with grammatical errors. Had this been an actual study or official guideline, it would have been proof-read prior to publication and it would certainly have citations linked to high quality data. I determined this was another case of misinformation and encouraged my family to use official recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) for evidence-based recommendations.
Throughout these difficult times, it is imperative that we practice self care. If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or fearful, don’t be afraid to reach out. Chances are, someone else is feeling the same way. In times like these, we must band together. We might not agree with each other when it comes to politics or taste in music, but this is something we need to have a unified front on. We need to put our differences aside and come together for our patients, families, and communities. I leave you with a quote from the ever-wise J.K. Rowling, as expressed through Albus Dumbledore, “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

How Nurses Can Inspire Their Patients to Take Better Care of Themselves

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I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying that goes something like, “you have to take care of yourself first before you can take care of other people”. This goes for many things in life: nurses, our relationships, and even  caregivers for a family member. While this applies to nurses, it is just as important for our patient’s because the aforementioned situations likely apply to them too.

In my personal experiences as a nurse, I have watched myself develop a very thick skin and straightforward attitude with my patients. For example, I work in a cardiac step down unit where heart attacks and open-heart surgeries are a hot commodity. Recently I had a patient who wasn’t even in their 40s who came in with classic chest pain, heart attack symptoms and ended up having cardiac bypass surgery in order to save their life. In such a situation, this patient required understanding the extent of their condition, especially when they were asking to go outside for a cigarette; which can be hard for some nurses to allow, especially if they are new.

This is the perfect case scenario where I end up laying it out on the line to my patients about the type of care they need to be providing to themselves: letting them know how lucky they are to have been saved, and this requires a very firm standpoint in the patient-nurse relationship. In turn, it instills trust in you as their nurse, but also gives a higher degree of hope that patients will take care of themselves. In a lot of these situations, I use my own personal life experiences, especially if I think it will help get through to them. Relating to your patient’s initiates a very sound relationship with them. Sharing personal experiences to relay a message about good health can be effective.

My other life motto as a nurse is that we truly should practice what we preach. In order to do this as a nurse  ideally it requires us to take good care of ourselves, which in turn is putting yourself first. Even though our patients have the right and expectation for us to educate them on their conditions, the role may not be taken as seriously if the nurse does not appear to be practicing good health and wellness themselves. For example, if you’re educating your patient on living a healthy lifestyle – not smoking, exercising daily, eating healthy – but you aren’t applying this advice into your daily life, not only does it contradict the care you are providing, but patient’s might be less likely to change their own behaviors. Another example would be to share a fitness or nutrition journey. Discussing the challenges and accomplishments might inspire them to make a change for themselves.

Lastly, this also means that we need to allow ourselves the proper self-care so that we can always be on our A-game at work.  Every year around the time of my birthday I take at least a whole week off so that I can just relax, get some personal things done, and have time to myself away from work. I can enjoy myself and not forget how much I love that! With that being said, don’t be afraid to be your patient’s savior, eat your fruits and vegetables, make time to exercise, and take time to yourself, especially if you need it – and don’t be afraid to need it! 🙂

Sydney Adelstein is a 2016 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

Preparing for the NCLEX

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As I reflect on my senior year of nursing school, there was a lot of angst and stress surrounding the NCLEX exam. I had been told that statistically those who take the exam close after graduation perform the best, so I scheduled my exam about a week after graduation.
It was the culmination of four years of undergraduate studies. I was required to purchase the ATI program for school, so that was my first step in studying.
There were only certain ATI tests we were required to complete for classes, but I took advantage of all of the exams offered, completing and reviewing each one at least once. This allowed me to identify areas of study that I needed to review more.
One of the most helpful things I did to prepare for the NCLEX was attend a Mark Klimek two-day review course. Several of my classmates split a hotel room in Springfield and attended the class together. The course was an excellent way to identify important elements from each course and commit them to memory. It also provided us with two review books, which we could study afterward.
Once I had completed the Mark Klimek NCLEX review and identified the areas I needed to improve on the most, I settled into a booth at Panera day after day and reviewed lessons, notes, and resources. The day before I took the exam, I did not study. I gave myself a full day of rest and relaxation in preparation. I made sure my mind and body were well nourished and rested before the exam.
I took the exam on a Friday, meaning I would have to wait the whole weekend before finding out my results. My exam shut off after 75 questions. I think that everyone that experiences this thinks they failed. I was devastated- I thought, “gee, it only took 75 questions to prove I’m stupid.” In retrospect, this was my test anxiety speaking. I ate my feelings when I got home, crushing an entire Dutch apple pie over the next day. As Monday arrived and I emerged out of my shame-filled cocoon, I received my results. I passed. I was an RN!
I learned a lot from the experience of preparing for and taking the NCLEX- not just not to eat a whole pie for three meals a day. Don’t do it. My test anxiety had been my nemesis for so long. Later into my nursing career, as I prepared for the CCRN certification exam, I was able to combat my anxiety. Sitting in the exam room, I was able to refocus myself. Just tell yourself, “I’ve put in years of study for this- I’ve done the time, I know what I’m doing.” These positive affirmations were crucial to my success in the CCRN examination.
In a little over a year, I’ll be preparing for the APRN boards exams. Will I be scared? Of course. Will I be prepared? You betcha. I’ll be well rested going into the exam, having given my brain rest after reviewing coursework. Will I eat an entire pie afterward? NO!
If I can leave you with anything, it’s that you’ve got this. You put in the time- just sit back, relax, and breath. You’ve got it!

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

Practicing Wellness During the Holidays

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It’s funny that I’m writing this topic on gift giving, as I just finished all my holiday shopping and boy do I have to say it was stressful, but I did it anyway. That’s the key to keeping your cool during the holiday season when multiple priorities end up on your plate; ideally the same type of prioritization we have to do at work. Since it can be pretty tricky to keep our cool when it comes to overindulging on holiday foods, I try to keep the same mind set and control that I do when it’s not holiday season.
Even though I enjoy spending the holidays with family and friends, I always tell myself that it really is just another day but by all means don’t skip out on that potluck at work :). I carry out my same regimen of working out before work (day shift and night shift) even on the holidays because I belong to a gym that is open on the holidays so I can hold myself accountable. Sticking to my normal every day routine, within reason, on my off days and holidays allows me to handle the stresses during this time of year a little bit easier in order to maintain my wellness.
As I may have mentioned in previous posts that our wellness – physical and mental – is of the utmost importance as nurses, allowing us to provide the best care to our patients, and I believe that goes to say for the holidays as well. Sometimes it is hard to not be entwined with family and swallow the fact we’re missing time with them. I find it helps to either keep my phone on Do Not Disturb or let my family know I will have very little time to talk, allowing my FOMO to lessen just a bit. It also helps that most work places allow us to work every other holiday so it makes up for missed time. Just remember that work comes first and keeping in mind that nice holiday pay you’re making, makes it a little less stressful when you finally have time to do your holiday shopping you may have missed out on the holiday before. 🙂

Sydney Adelstein is a 2016 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. 

The Hunt is On!

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As I reflect on the early days of my nursing career, I remember the anxiety and indirection I felt stepping into the world of nursing. There were so many different specialties and directions I could go in. Prior to graduating, I already had several steps in place to assist with the job hunt.
Fall semester of my senior year in college, I decided to trade in my server apron for green scrubs. I wanted to expand as many skills as I could before graduating. While being a hostess/server/busser in a restaurant in my hometown was an excellent first job that gave me tons of multi-tasking and memory skills, I needed to dive into nursing. I applied for several jobs as a Skilled Nurse Assistant (SNA) within the Columbus area. Through the interview process, I got to shadow a lot and see which fields I liked and which ones I wasn’t particularly fond of.
It was during this job search that I discovered an excellent opportunity. There were Safety Coaches, who sat with patients to ensure their safety, and SNAs, who assisted with daily cares. This position was an “SNA/sitter”, a combination of the two. I was excited because clinicals and STNA certification had given me experience with daily activities and skills but being a sitter or Safety Coach would allow me a venue to utilize therapeutic communication and de-escalation skills. These were stills we didn’t get to use often in the busy clinical setting. I jumped on the opportunity.
I maintained this position throughout my senior year. Around March of my senior year in nursing school, I began applying for RN positions. I made a big list of areas that I liked from clinicals and areas I couldn’t see myself working. I knew I wanted to work inpatient so I could further improve my clinical skills. The age demographics I preferred were babies and adults. I absolutely loved my post-partum clinical- I could sit and rock babies all day! I worried that I might disservice myself by going into such a specialist area right after graduation. I decided to stick with adults. I then became aware of a new opportunity within my very own department. There was a pilot plan of sorts to introduce new grad nurses to the Critical Care Nursing Float Pool. If I had learned one thing about myself by then, it was that I learn best by diving head first. As I thought about it, I became more enthusiastic about it. There would be so many new skills to learn and master! I would be able to compile endless information in my mind about the new medications, diseases, and treatments. I applied.
I knew there would be a lot of applicants for the position, so I made sure I had two or three backup plans in place. I applied and interviewed for positions in the CVICU at Cleveland Clinic, the Critical Care Fellowship at Riverside, and many more.
On graduation day, I got the phone call that I had been accepted as one of the two first new grads in the Critical Care Float Pool. I accepted the offer and I’ve never turned back!
In summary, get experience. Find out what your passions are. Pursue your goals but have a backup plan. You got this!

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

5 Tips to Owning Your First Year as a Nurse

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  1. Buy a book that will keep you refreshed on your nursing skills and any questions that may come up in the midst of work. So you think you know everything (skills wise, per say) now that you’ve spent the last few years feet deep in books and clinical? That’s what I thought too. I’ve been a nurse for almost 4 years now and I still come across things that I haven’t done since nursing school (i.e. chest tubes) or things I’m still sticky about. When this happens while I’m at work, I write on a post-it note to look it up when I get off work and refresh myself. What are these books you speak of Sydney!?!?  I have one that I saved from studying for my NCLEX, which I’m sure every one of you reading this post have heard of, Saunder’s Comprehensive. I also bought a practice area specific book that I find even more helpful, Medical-Surgical Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! You can find in almost every type of nursing track.
  2. There’s an app for that!! Yes, yes. Nursing too. Piggybacking (no pun intended) off of my first piece of advice, there are many apps that coincide with and can enhance your clinical practice. Some of them being ones that will reinforce your skills with videos of specific tasks and more. One that I highly suggest is MediCode, and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like; this app reinforces your BLS/ACLS skills and mindset in a different way than manikin activity and textbook reading. Some other apps I recommend keeping handy are a nursing dictionary (I use Nursing Dictionary by Farlex) and subscribing to Medscape, which you may already have through school (I got mine from clinicals at OSU!). This app alerts you of evidence-based research and changes in care (I promise you EBP was required with purpose. It follows you everywhere 🙂 It also has a handy drugs, diseases, and diagnosis tool as well.
  3. Befriend every single person you work with. That is if you’re able to. This will make the awkwardness of walking into the break room at the start of your shift as a newbie more bearable. But for real, getting to know as many people as you can has many benefits – almost as many as your degree :). This includes everyone from your manager, fellow doctors/residents, all the way to nursing colleagues in other departments since you will likely be working with many disciplines. When you get a patient back from surgery and the PACU nurse is your weekly coffee buddy, you’ll likely get them returned in above average condition. I know people say work is work and pleasure is pleasure and that the two should remain separate, but for me work is my life, therefore I keep an open mind to as many friends as possible – makes work just a tad less stressed.
  4. Don’t fret if you have more than one preceptor. I found this to be one of the most helpful things as a new nurse. Despite starting a new job as an experienced nurse and having a brief orientation with nurses, I still enjoy having them all show me the ropes. It’s nice to pick up on multiple people’s tips and tricks, the way they do things and hone in on their suggestions and utilize all of it in order to find your own way that is efficient for you. We never stop learning as nurses.
  5. Get involved!!!! Whether you were or are in extracurricular activities or nursing councils in undergrad, the same justifications for doing so then pertain to now in your professional career. One of the easiest, no-hassle ways to do this is by joining a nursing association (ANA or specialty). Other options of doing so include joining a council at your hospital such as nursing council or shared governance where you can be at the forefront of change and culture on your floor. And yes, of course the bonus of these being resume boosters do pertain, especially if you are planning on going back to graduate school!

Sydney Adelstein is a 2016 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. 

Top 5 Benefits of Being a Nurse

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There is a reason why U.S News places Registered Nurse in its Top 20 Best Jobs- nursing is one of only three careers listed in the Top 20 that only requires a Bachelor’s degree, with the rest requiring Master’s or Doctorate degrees. How is it that a career that only requires a Bachelor’s degree can be so awesome? You’re about to find out!

1. Job Security

 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the demand for nurses in the US to increase by 26% by 2020 (Nursejournal.org, 2019). An estimated 10,000 Baby Boomers retire each year (Friedberg, 2019). This opens up vacancies in a lot of crucially important nursing positions. Additionally, as older members of these cohorts require skilled nursing care, they will need nurses to care for them. With the population of senior citizens predicted to increase by 75% between 2010 and 2030, the Geriatric nursing specialty is in high demand (Lanigan, 2018). 

2. Versatility

 One of my favorite perks of nursing is the versatility of your degree! There are so many specialties within nursing. Not only does this allow you to switch specialties when you get disinterested or burnt out, but it allows you to constantly evolve within your professional practice. If you find that bedside nursing is hard on your body, you can be impactful away from the bedside with nursing research or nursing informatics! You can even be a nurse from home by being a medical transcriber or a telehealth triage nurse. Another perk- travel nursing! Say you’re sick of the joys of Ohio weather- take an assignment somewhere where the wind doesn’t hurt your face. There are so many different things you can do with nursing! 

3. Community

The nursing community is quite huge- the community you find in nursing is so much more than the 250k + followers on the “Nurses with Cards” Facebook page. You’ll find so many nurse-founded and managed social media accounts sharing everything from recent evidence-based research to funny memes. Additionally, there are so many professional organizations you can join that will connect you with nurses who share the same passions as you do. I personally belong to American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), which connects me to thousands of critical care-loving nurses as well as hundreds of hours of continued education. When I speak of nursing community, I also speak of the great relationships you’ll be able to make with coworkers. In my position, I have the privilege of floating to each ICU and ED, making so many friendships along the way. The support system you’ll find in nursing is second to none, and it truly makes a difference on a difficult day. 

4. Compassionate Career– Nursing is truly one of the most compassionate careers. Each day you get to help people- you see patients at their worst and have the privilege to make each day a little less difficult for them. A gesture as small as hunting for a grape popsicle or making sure the T.V is set to play Jeopardy can make the greatest impact for your patient. As we show compassion in labor and delivery, watching newborn babies experience everything for the first time and helping nervous parents through each new step, we also show compassion in palliative nursing, helping patients reminisce on a life well lived while providing comfort. The ability to make a difference each and every day, no matter how small, is so rewarding. 

5. Career Advancement/Lifelong Learning 

Another wonderful perk of nursing is the access you have to education. Within each specialty, there are tons of skills and competencies you’ll pick up along the way. For example, within ICU nursing, I’ve learned the following skills: Cortrak Nasoenteric feeding tube insertion and bridling, CRRT (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy), Ultrasound-Guided IV placement, NIHSS (Stroke certification), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), and so much more! I was also able to achieve my CCRN certification for critical care nursing. My initial thought when presented with all of this education was “man, that’s going to be expensive”, but we actually get paid education hours to complete training and OSUNO reimbursed me for my CCRN exam cost. In addition to the education you can pursue at work, you can also pursue advanced degrees within nursing. Many health organizations will provide tuition assistance, making career development achievable for employees. With Nurse Anesthetist and Nurse Practitioner showing up on almost every list of “top jobs”, tuition assistance is a priceless perk! 

Nursing has been a wonderful experience for me. As someone very much committed to professional development,  lifelong education, and spreading smiles, nursing has been an outlet for all of my passions and a doorway to countless opportunities. 

References

Friedberg, B. A. (2019, August 12). Are We in a Baby Boomer Retirement Crisis? Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/032216/are-we-baby-boomer-retirement-crisis.asp

Lanigan, K. (2018, January 3). 10 Fastest Growing Nursing Careers in 2018. Retrieved from https://www.nursingjobs.com/news-resources/10-fastest-growing-nursing-careers-in-2018/

Writers, S. (2019, August 26). 5 Booming Nursing Specialities Where the Demand is High – 2019 NurseJournal.org. Retrieved from https://nursejournal.org/articles/5-booming-nursing-specialities-where-the-demand-is-high/

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. 

Meet Sydney Adelstein!

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Hi again!

My name is Sydney Adelstein for those of you who do not know me. I graduated from the College of Nursing in 2016 and I am from Cleveland, Ohio… yes I moved back home because I truly whole heartedly believe that home is where the heart is – after all, while I was studying for my NCLEX the Cavs broke the drought, so it was (and still is) a fun place to be 🙂.

I currently am in my 3rd year of being a nurse. I recently transitioned as a Step Down nurse at University Hospitals, which is the same health system I have been working at for the last 2 years. I have a vast array of backwards nursing experience.  I started out in Emergency, and then went to Med/Surg-Tele, and here I am now in Step Down, more so cardiac.

To this day, I still tell people that the push from my parents is what made me want to become a nurse. I switched my major 3 times until they persuaded me to change it to Pre-Nursing the day before OSU orientation, and boy am I glad I did! Nursing is my passion, so I thank my parents for every little push.

I always knew that I did not want to be sitting at a cubicle for the rest of my life (mad props to those that do and love it). I knew I was always going to be in health care one way or another as I watched my major switch between pharmacy, athletic training, and physical therapy. I have to say I was completely blindsided to the fact that nursing was my calling because I didn’t realize how much it was for me until I started working, especially in my second year of being a nurse. Over the years, my passion keeps growing every day. They really do mean it when they say your parents know you best 🙂.

It’s hard to say what the best advice I’ve ever gotten is. If I had to pick something, it would be that life truly is too short to be unhappy and not do what you love, and that you should go for every opportunity available to you. Take chances and don’t stop taking them until you’re satisfied and achieved all you can. Hence why I’ve switched positions three times in my three years of being a nurse and am over halfway done with my Master’s degree. Life is too short to not be happy!

I suck when it comes to delving out fun facts, I find them truly hard to think of but I did just go to Jamaica and stayed at an all-inclusive resort. I am proud to admit I did not go swimming in the pools once. Although I did not hesitate to go zip-lining, ATVing and horseback riding. Can you say bucket list??!?!?!!???

Sydney Adelstein is a 2016 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. 

Meet Kate Best!

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Hi there!

My name is Kate Best. I graduated from The Ohio State University College of Nursing in 2015 and have been working in the ICU Float Pool ever since! I grew up in a small city East of Cleveland called Chardon- I came to Columbus for school and never left! When I was 14, my sister was struck by a car and life-lighted to a Level 1 Trauma Center in Cleveland. She was diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury. Watching the nurses’ positive impact and compassion along her road to recovery (she’s doing great!) inspired me to pursue a career in nursing. I’ve received a lot of great advice over the years, but the best has come from Dean Bern- practice wellness! My job gets SUPER stressful at times, so I balance out the stress with amazing hiking trips, daring climbing adventures, and relaxing camping trips… and cats.

Fun fact: I recently made a cat calendar featuring my cats and I!

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.