Featured Professional for April, 2004
Shannon J. Clark
Company or Agency employed by: Palmetto
Health Richland Hospital
Current position: Registered Nurse, Assistant
Nurse Manager, Pediatric Intensive Care
Educational Preparation: Associate Degree in Nursing - Midlands Technical
College
What are the typical duties of someone in your
position? I am in charge of making sure the night
shift in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) runs
smoothly. Some of my duties include scheduling,
orientation, evaluations, and patient and family care.
I act as a liaison between physicians, nurses, and
ancillary departments. I teach Pediatric
Advanced Life Support (PALS) and participate on the
research council.
How did Midlands Technical College help prepare
you for your career field? The 18-month nursing course was very rigorous.
You knew that if you passed the course, you would make
a great nurse.
What things do you find rewarding about your
profession? We save the lives of children everyday
and when a child comes back to see us just to say,
"Hi," or "Thank you for taking care of me," I am
reminded of why I do what I do. I could go on
and on about the rewards of my job.
Are there aspects of your profession that you
find stressful? The death of a child is always
extremely stressful, however, child abuse (or
"non-accidental trauma" as we call it) in some ways is
much more stressful than death. Again, I could
go on and on about the stressors of my job.
What do you see as the most important personal
qualities someone considering going into your
profession should have? First and foremost you
have to love taking care of people. Patients and
their families can sense if they are being a "bother."
Secondly, you really have to want to be a nurse.
Even if you are not sure, try to explore ways of
finding out if nursing is right for you. If it's
not something that you really want to do, you will
have a difficult time being good at it.
What advice do you have for students at Midlands
Technical College who might be interested in entering
your profession? Whatever you decide to do, love
it. Nursing is a fascinating profession.
You will always be able to find a job and you will
never be bored.
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