HEALTH CARE HERO: ‘I WAS CALLED TO BE A NURSE’
Name: Nicolle Langley
Hometown: Springfield
Job Title: Registered Nurse/ Charge Nurse
Where do you Work: Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center
Describe what your day is like/what you do: As a charge nurse, I help manage the daily flow of the unit. I am available to help staff with patient care and medication administration. I am a resource on the floor for the nursing staff. I assist and advise in critical situations. I listen and help resolve concerns from patients and families. I assign admissions and help to facilitate discharges. I make assignments for the incoming shift.
What inspired you to get into health care? I have always been a person who enjoys helping and caring for others. It was only natural for me to go into health care, where I could hopefully make a difference in people’s lives by helping them through a difficult time.
What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in health care? We had a patient who had a long length of stay and I had the privilege of caring for her multiple times during her stay. I was able to get to know her and her husband well. I also had the privilege of discharging the patient home. It is a great feeling to know that you did your best to help a patient get back home.
What do you want readers to know about your job right now? I appreciate all the things that people are doing to keep themselves and their families safe. We know that it is an uneasy time for you if you have a loved one currently at the hospital and you are unable to be with them. Please know that we are doing our best to care for them and get them back to you as quickly as we can. I do not feel that I deserve the title of hero, though I appreciate the thought. I was called to be a nurse and will do my job to the best of my ability, no matter the situation placed in front of me. I am fortunate to have a job that I enjoy.