Ursula Vazquez

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

Getting through nursing school. Specifically, I had a dosage calculation test, and I did not pass it twice. The rule in our program was that you get two chances or you are out... or so I thought. I received an email from the program director informing me that I did in fact have one last chance: take the test one-on-one with she as the proctor. Since this really was my last chance, I worked very hard to pass that test. I studied almost the whole dosage calculation book, with all the practice questions. I met up with my program director/proctor, who set me up in the conference room with a laptop on which I was to take my test. I got instant results which was a passing grade. I did not ace it, but I passed. Well, not long after that we had a break between terms. During that time, I spent much time studying dosage calculation. The next time we had a test, I did ace it. I got 100%.

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

I oversee CNA's who provide daily care to the residents (the patients) in a nursing home. While I am supervising, I provide medication and treatments. Treatments are anything from insulin injections, to complex dressing changes on wounds. Essentially, anything that only a licensed nurse can do. I am responsible for the residents' well-being, which means tending to them and assessing them if they appear to be ill, or when they are injured. I contact physicians and I process their orders. That is, they will write a prescription, and I am responsible for putting that into place by sending the script to the pharmacy, and transcribing the order into the patient's chart. I also must chart on residents. Charting involves making narrative notes on what I have done for the resident(s) that day. I do all of these under supervision of resident care managers and the director of nurses.

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

Nursing students must do what is called a preceptorship at the end of nursing school. It is basically an internship. We work one-on-one with a floor nurse (a nurse who provides direct bedside care), and shadow them. During this time, we are expected to essentially "play nurse" with their supervision. I got my first job through my preceptorship; I got a job where I precepted.

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

I became a CNA and worked for several months as such.

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

I always loved science, and I wanted to use science to help people. I explored options, but I always gravitated towards life science and medical science. Nursing was a great fit.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

The best advice came from one of my clinical instructors. She is an ICU nurse, and very smart and well-educated. At the end of a clinical round, when it was my turn to sit with her for review, she informed me she had no criticism, and asked me if I had any questions. I did. I said, "I feel scared all the time. I am scared when I get up, and when I drive to clinicals, and all through the day at clinicals I am scared." She smiled warmly and said, somewhat amused, "I felt sick every day I drove to work for a whole year because I was so scared." She told me that that eventually goes away, but there is always just a twinge of anxiety left. That anxiety is a good thing, it is what keeps nurses responsible and practicing safely. Personally, it only took six months to shake off what is commonly called, "The new nurse jitters." I tell every new nurse and nursing student that anecdote.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

You want to cry, and or scream. Nursing can be extremely stressful and frustrating. Sometimes, you just need to find a bathroom, or go out to your car, and have a good cry. Then wash your face, shake it off, and go back to work.