‘I’ve always been proud to be a nurse’
Career nurses reflect on years of dedication, service
Christine Van Zoost started her career in nursing more than 50 years ago. Five decades of experience has given her unique insight into the profession.
“Nursing is caring,” says Van Zoost, a registered nurse at the Hants Community Hospital in Windsor, NS. “It's empathy. It's making people better and supporting them when they're at a very vulnerable time in their life,”
Van Zoost currently works in the day surgery and recovery unit, where she ensures the comfort of recovering patients and provides instruction for at-home care.
“I've worked the majority of my career in the operating room, so you can appreciate that, when someone's coming in for surgery, they're pretty nervous,” says Van Zoost.
“As their nurse, you’re the person that's there when they wake up, and you can make them comfortable and make them feel like you're there just for them. That's a great part of the job because it’s one-on-one.”
Over her long career, she has seen many changes to the profession, from differences in uniforms to gaining more responsibility when it comes to patient care.
“Initially, we sort of just took orders, carried out those orders, and supported the patients, but now we are very proactive in the decisionmaking around the patient's care,” explains Van Zoost.
Some parts of the profession have not changed. Nurses are still the ones at the bedside with the patients, working with them, listening to them, and making sure that each patient gets the best possible care, she says.
“What keeps me motivated is the people, the patients and the staff that make me feel good about what I’m doing,” says Van Zoost. “I really enjoy the teamwork, the social part of it and supporting people. I just love it.”
Like Van Zoost, Cheryl Barker has seen an ever-changing system that allowed for a more hands-on approach from nurses. Barker has been a nurse for around 50 years and has spent most of her career working in the emergency room.
“My passion and love for nursing is what keeps me working,” says Barker. “You have to love what you're doing, love the profession and have the desire to help other people.”
Barker wants to stay in the profession and support the next generation.
“I think about the younger ones that need the support of the more experienced, more seasoned people to sort of help them along because they’re just getting their feet under them during a difficult time,” says Barker.
The pandemic has provided many challenges to the health care system with staff shortages, overcrowded hospitals, and the limiting of support people for patients.
Barkers says it has been the support of her team and the relationships they have built over the years working together that have helped morale and kept them motivated throughout the last few years.
“We're a very small unit, and the girls we’re, you know, pretty close and supportive of each other,” says Barker.
Whether it is the birth of a child, providing somebody pain relief after surgery or just listening to the patient's needs and seeing them more comfortable, it’s all very rewarding, says Barker.
“I’ve always been proud to be a nurse.”