Healthcare Traveler - December 2008 - (Page 72)

Tales from the Road M E M O R A B L E E X P E R I EN CE S AT WO R K O R P L AY Keeping a promise Jean Randolph, RN, had her first experience with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in 1979, when her second son, Minor, was born prematurely. Julie Anne Eason H, RN, and daughter Jade house while on assignmen , at a local st t in Houston, eakTexas. J E AN R AN DOLP W hile Jean remembers being very impressed with the nurses, she says there wasn’t much of a family atmosphere in the NICU. “It was hard being a new mother and looking at my baby through the glass.” The nurses in the unit became her lifeline, her connection to her son, and she maintains close relationships with them to this day. “One night, I made a promise to God that if Minor survived, I would serve other mothers going through this terrible situation.” Today, Minor is a healthy, intelligent 29-year-old, and Jean is a 20-year veteran NICU nurse. Like looking in the mirror Jean is reminded of her younger self every day as she works with the newborns and their families. She routinely encounters teenaged mothers, older moms, multiple births, and special circumstances. Jean when someone says they want me, specifically.” Jean stays in touch with the families of her primaries, noting, “It touches your heart to get photos of kids who started out barely clinging to life, and now they’re 10 years old and healthy as can be.” Hitting the road While working numerous positions at a local Virginia hospital, Jean had the opportunity to meet some travel nurses. The idea of working in different parts of the country appealed to her, so she set a goal to start traveling after her youngest daughter, Jade, graduated from high school. Currently on her first assignment with Boca Raton, Florida-based Medical Connections, Jean is practicing in the NICU at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas in Houston. She loves it so much, she’s extended her contract three times. “I never knew there were hospitals devoted solely to the care of women. The NICU—with room for 90 babies—is much larger than the one at my staff job, where the largest unit had 50 beds.” “I now have the confidence to go anywhere—and I can’t imagine a more rewarding career.” —Jean Randolph, RN Like Christmas morning “I love the traveling life, even though I’ve only been to one city so far,” laughs Jean. “Getting to Houston was like Christmas morning—everything was so new and exciting. I’ve gotten to the point where I can turn off my GPS and just cruise around.” Traveling has helped Jean explore more than a new city. She’s strengthened her relationship with Jade, who postponed her first year of college to accompany her mom. “It’s been such a blessing having her with me. Hurricane Ike hit town the week before we were scheduled to leave. Watching Houston come back to life afterward was humbling. We’ve both become much more grateful for all the blessings in our lives.” Jean credits her recruiter for helping her feel completely at home in her new surroundings. “I now have the confidence to go anywhere—and I can’t imagine a more rewarding career.” HT Julie Anne Eason is a freelance writer based in China, Maine. explains that each case requires an individual touch. “The mothers are so overwhelmed with emotion, and they’re subjected to all sorts of mental and physical stressors. That’s why I take my job so seriously. I remember what it was like. It’s my responsibility as a nurse to make them feel comfortable, so we can all help the babies.” When a new mother finds a nurse with whom she connects, she can choose that person as the “primary” clinician to care for her infant during his stay. “When a family chooses you as the primary for their child, it’s such a special feeling. I’m so honored Copyright ©2008 Advanstar Communications Inc. All rights reserved. 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