Her Story
About Catherine
I've been a nurse since 1990, and my journey to nursing was quite unique. I was originally a high school teacher in Jamaica, where my first choice of career was actually nursing, but I just could not pass math - I needed math to get into nursing school. So I went to my second choice, which was teaching. When I migrated to New York and went to some different schools for interviews, I did not like what I saw with the students and the discipline. I said, you know what, I'm gonna try nursing school. So that's why I went back to my first love, which was nursing. I started out in New York as a diploma nurse, then I went for my bachelor's, then I went for my master's, then I went for my doctorate from Walden University, graduating in 2018. I did it in sections because by that time I had my family, so I could work as I went along. I was also a nursing instructor at a university for about 10 to 12 years, and then during COVID, because most of the schools weren't as active, I gave that up, but I'm thinking of going back. Right now, I'm a nursing supervisor, and my typical day I would say is stress-free - I don't know if that's such a word in nursing, but it is for me. It's stress-free and very warm and welcoming. I like hearing different viewpoints and getting different calls from different departments. Sometimes some are happy, sometimes they are not, but I just love what I do, being a nursing supervisor, supervising the whole hospital. I have learned how to deal with handling stress and the work environment. Being an educator, I have this open-door policy where I'm so educated that I'm a go-to person. Anyone could come to me with endless questions, and I'm there to provide as much feedback as possible.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Catherine
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be yourself, and be caring and empathetic, because that's what nursing involves - being selfless, and being empathetic and caring. If you have those qualities, then you'll be an excellence in greatness. When it comes to education, I would recommend the diploma nurses or the bachelor nurses, the BSN nurses, because they learn more and there's more clinical facet to it. The accelerated programs don't really teach them too much because everything is too much of a fast pace. I would say go for your BSN nurses, because it's more in-depth and it allows you to learn more and gain more experience.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the challenges now, especially with these young nurses coming into the profession, is that a lot of them are focused more on the financial reward that they will get out of nursing, instead of being there for the right reason, which is caring and taking care of the patients, unfortunately. Most of these younger generations are there just for the financial gain.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
One of my most important values is being an educator with an open-door policy where I'm a go-to person. Anyone could come to me with endless questions, and I'm there to provide as much feedback as possible. I believe in being caring and empathetic, because that's what nursing involves - being selfless, empathetic and caring. I also value ensuring patient and family satisfaction and making sure there's smooth running collaboration throughout the whole hospital. I have learned how to deal with handling stress and the work environment, and I approach my work in a way that is stress-free, warm and welcoming. I like hearing different viewpoints and getting different calls from different departments.
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