Featured Professional April, '04 - Counseling Services


			Featured Professional for April, 2004
	Counseling Services Home General Information Academic Counseling & Change of Major Admissions Counseling Career Counseling Personal Counseling Disability Services Undecided Student Advisement Parents Contact a Counselor Workshops Featured Professional To Your Health Article Student Employment Services Email - Counseling@midlandstech.edu
			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.