Her Story
About Lorraine
I come into work early at the hospital where I work as a certified central service technician. My day involves making sure that things are organized and in order, that we have supplies, that our equipment is working, and that we have the instruments that are needed for the procedures for the day. I transitioned into healthcare from being an independent contractor as a housekeeper using the app TaskRabbit. As a single mom with three children and a domestic violence survivor, I needed consistent income and wanted to find something where I had a skill and was good at. For me, that was housekeeping and cleaning. Upon doing research, I found that in healthcare, there is a department that was just housekeeping, but something where I could make a better impact, a more positive impact directly for patient care without touching a patient. That led me to obtain my central service technician certification, which allows me to clean and repair instruments for surgery. In just 13 months in this industry, I became an account supervisor, which was earlier than most people have ever had in the company I'm with. My work ethic spoke louder than the credentials that I didn't have.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lorraine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to watching the leaders around me be great in their position. I watched the higher-ups, I watched my boss's boss move the way they move, and I observed and took note of that. Even though I almost counted myself out and didn't think I had the qualifications or the required requirements to become an account supervisor, my work ethic spoke louder than the credentials that I didn't have. I learned that if you work hard enough, even for those who you think is not watching, there's always someone watching.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to do the right thing even when no one is watching. This principle has guided me throughout my career and helped me advance quickly in my industry.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's never too late, and even when you think that you do not qualify, if you work hard enough, even for those who you think is not watching, there's always someone watching. Just do the right thing, keep striving, and always try to do your best at what you do. And don't count yourself out. I almost counted myself out and didn't think I had the qualifications to become an account supervisor, but my work ethic spoke louder than the credentials I didn't have.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges I face now in this industry are trying to organize tasks, prioritize tasks, and memorize the types of procedures so that I can understand the instruments that are needed for the procedures to prepare for these cases in healthcare. As for opportunities, there's room for growth in the healthcare industry. The field offers significant potential for advancement and professional development.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say integrity. Integrity is most important to me both outside and inside of work, especially in patient care and just within my character outside of work. Integrity guides everything I do, whether I'm at the hospital or in my personal life.
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