Answering the Call: How Today's Nurses are Staying Strong on the Frontline of Care

The work involved in nursing is not for everyone. Since the beginning of bedside care, only very special souls were the first to raise their hands, make the commitment and open their hearts in service of patient care. The curiosity and passion around the science of helping and healing is embodied by only a few.

Today, the tireless commitment of nurses to deliver patient care, while juggling the demands of modern healthcare operations, has been compounded by the seemingly endless need for help associated with COVID-19. Gratitude for their selfless service is being celebrated during this Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

To put kind faces and true stories behind the calling of becoming a nurse, and the hopeful vision for what nursing will be in the future, we are sharing the perspectives of the dedicated nurses on our clinical team at TeleTracking. This team works with clients to apply clinical knowledge and best practices with the goal of helping nurses have more time at the bedside, all while providing patients with a positive care experience. 

Thank you to all the nurses everywhere for answering the call.

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This story can be found in the 2020 Spring Issue of TeleTracking's Patient Flow Quarterly Magazine. Download the full issue.

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Why did you become a nurse?

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GREG MORAN | RN, BS, MBA | CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

My journey into healthcare started as an EMT with the local fire department. I learned quickly that I enjoyed helping others and working in a fast-paced environment that made a meaningful impact. I’m so grateful that I made the decision to become a nurse because I have a career that I am passionate about, and I know I am making a difference.

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MARIA ROMANO | RN, BS | CLINICAL ADVISOR

When I was a little girl riding in the back seat of my parent’s car, I would hold my breath as we drove past the local hospital, thinking about everything that was going on inside and just wanting to be a part of it. The desire never left me. I still remember the moment I walked in with my student nursing cap and uniform and knew in my heart that this was exactly where I needed to be and what I should be doing.

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BRANDI HOLLINS | RN, BSN, MBOE, CLINICAL | WORKFLOW CONSULTANT

While working to become a middle school science teacher, I gave birth to my second child. My birthing nurse was AMAZING! Her personality, expertise and knowledge provided my husband and me with the feeling of safety that we needed during those life-changing moments. I looked at my husband, and before our son was born, I said, “I’m going back to school to become a nurse!” I love what I do so much that my husband was inspired to become a nurse too!

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ANGELA LONG | DNP, MBA, FACHE, NEA-BC | ADVISORY CONSULTANT

I knew at an early age I wanted to be in healthcare and had a passion for people. I wanted to do something in my career that was challenging, interesting, and made a difference in people’s lives daily. The relationships that you build and having the opportunity to positively impact patients and the community is why I love being a nurse.

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CHRIS OWEN | RN ADV DIP NURSING, ANP, V300 PRESCRIBER MS | TRANSFORMATION MANAGER, UK

Nursing was always something I instinctively knew I would do. As a child, my grandparents owned a small nursing home, and I spent many weekends and holidays helping out. I understood very early on that I had a natural flare for caring for others and was keen to continue this into my adult life and career.

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DANA WILSON | RN, BSN | CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

My step-mom was an OR nurse and my dad a dentist. I was always drawn to science as far as curriculum, and felt nursing provided a much-needed role with an immediate way to contribute—my best friend and I both ended up as RNs at different colleges.

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MAGGIE FALGOUT RN, MHCA | MANAGER, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

When I started college, I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but quickly realized that wasn’t the right career for me. My family had always told me that they thought I would make a great nurse—I’m glad I listened.

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KARI MCLAUGHLIN | RN, BSN, CLINICAL | OPERATIONS ADVISOR

When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to go into nursing. There was just something about helping people that spoke to me.

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KATHY MENEFEE | DNP, MSN, BS | MANAGING CONSULTANT

I initially wanted to be a physical therapist, but I’m very impatient and learned that I could become an RN in two years versus the four for PT. I just wanted to start taking care of patients. Then, I was hooked! I went back to get my BSN, then my MSN, then my doctorate, so I guess you could say that I’ve become a very “patient” person after all.

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KELLY MCDONOUGH | DNP, RN, CENP | ADVISORY CONSULTANT

I chose a career in nursing because I wanted to be a part of creating a competent and caring patient experience. Throughout my career I have enjoyed challenging people to become part of a process that promises to improve how patient care is delivered.

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LISA GRANT RN, BSHA, MHA, SENIOR WORKFLOW CONSULTANT

My older sister was already a nurse. Hearing her talk about the ways she helped her patients and seeing them get better made me want to do the same.

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LORI CODY | RN, BSN, MHA, SENIOR | WORKFLOW CONSULTANT

I decided to become a nurse while I was in high school. I could tell you it was because I wanted to help people. But really, I wanted to be a nurse like my sister and aunt.

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LORI MARTIN | RN | CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

I wanted to be a doctor, but my SAT scores were not high enough, and I loved science. During high school, I was a candy striper at my local hospital and that same hospital had a nursing school. I immediately gravitated to the fast-paced areas, like the ED and the ICU. If I had to make the decision again, I would do it all the same.

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MARK HOLOSKA | BSN | DIRECTOR, HEALTH SYSTEMS

Growing up, I seemed to always be the one to jump in to help if someone got hurt, but I never thought it would lead to a career in nursing. I was majoring in biology and a friend in the nursing program convinced me to talk to one of the professors who sparked my interest in perioperative nursing. I watched a few total joint replacements and loved it!

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REBECCA WENZEL | BSN | WORKFLOW CONSULTANT

My first job as a nurse was in the ER while working part-time as a flight nurse. I expanded my nursing experience working in med/surg, ICU, pediatric brain tumor step-down unit, and senior care units before landing in a transfer center, which was my best decision ever.

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ROBERT GRAYHEK | BSN, RN, MBA | ADVISORY CONSULTANT

I served in the Army as a medic and had the privilege of working in an emergency department in Augsburg, Germany. While on duty, I had the opportunity to work with several nurses and soon recognized that serving people as a nurse is something I would enjoy.

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TONI DEMKO | RN, PCM | CLINICAL APPLICATION CONSULTANT

After eight years in the military, I wanted to do something that would be both meaningful and enjoyable. I shadowed a mother of a friend of mine who was a nurse. As I spent the day with her, I knew this is what I wanted to do. Taking care of people felt right. Once I started down that path, I have yet to work one day. Nursing is simply not a job to me; it is who I am.

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DEBORAH HALL | EXECUTIVE MSN, CNML, RN | SENIOR WORKFLOW CONSULTANT

Nursing is a trusted and respected position and no matter where you work or what type of nursing you do, it all contributes to making a difference, so nursing was perfect for me. It’s one of very few professions that allows the chance to take part in life’s most significant and emotional events. Whether at the bedside or in the boardroom, I knew it was a chance for me to make a difference.

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REBECCA RANSON | RN, BSN | SENIOR PRODUCT SPECIALIST, CLINICAL OPERATIONS

From a young age, I was drawn to healthcare. After my mother suffered a brain aneurysm and endured a long hospitalization, rehabilitation and ultimately complete recovery, I knew exactly what my path would be. I couldn’t think of anything more rewarding and to this day I consider my decision to become a nurse one of the best I have ever made.

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LUANNE ZESZUTEK | RN, BSN | INTERFACE ANALYST

My aunt was a nurse and was one of the strongest people I have ever met. Her stories of the profession were so interesting. I too wanted to make a difference and was up to the challenge.

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GRETCHEN DEANGELLO | RN, BSN | SOLUTION DESIGN BUSINESS ANALYST

When I was 12, my brother severely cut his hand and required a trip to the ED for stitches. My parents panicked and I was the only one that remained calm and took care of him until we got to the hospital. When the physician was stitching him up, he looked over at me and told me what a great job I did and that I would make a great nurse someday. I was so proud of myself in that moment and that is when I knew that nursing was my path.

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TERI RIDGE | RN | CLINICAL ADVISOR

When I was 16 years old, my mom helped me find my very first job at the hospital where she worked as an assistant in the medical library. Never did I imagine that it would become the foundation of why I wanted to become a nurse. After learning about what nurses did and seeing it firsthand, I just knew that becoming a nurse is what I wanted to do, and I never looked back.

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Part Two Coming Soon