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Nurses Day is celebrated on 6th May, to appreciate and honor the contributions of nurses.
Jilu Chengat, Sheela Kaithamattam, Alice Kutticherry, James Kutticherry and Ajitha Villanassery(guest contributor) share their stories and some nuggets of wisdom drawn from their experiences in a profession which is more of a calling than anything else.
Jilu Chengat
Jilu Chengat
My name is Jilu Chengat and I have been a nurse for about 10 years. Currently I am not working but have worked on a pediatrics floor and an adult medical-surgical floor.
Nursing is a very rewarding profession. Nurses have the amazing opportunity of comforting a person during their most vulnerable moments. I decided to go to nursing school as a college student because I loved that the philosophy of nursing was holistic. Rather than just seeing a person as a medical problem to be solved, nurses take care of the patient’s body, mind and soul, or at least connect them to the people that can do that! Nursing is a very adapting field, whether that means various opportunities for career advancement outside of nursing or the flexibility that works around family life and responsibilities.
However, there are considerable challenges. We live in a world that is revolves around money. Many times, the patient is not seen as a person but in terms of how the hospital can be profitable. This has led to poor nursing-patient ratios and unsafe conditions. In many places, nurses are unable to care for the patient the way that they desire leaving them stressed and burned out. Yet, those who enter the field are resilient, hopeful and provide much needed comfort for those who suffer in various ways.
It’s amazing to see more and more young people considering nursing. For anyone going into nursing, I would encourage you to shadow or volunteer in a hospital so that you can see the unique contribution of a nurse to the medical system. Talk to new and experienced nurses and ask them to share their stories! The hands-on reality of nursing is not meant for everyone, but it is both an honorable and rewarding profession that allows you to be involved in the lives of your patients!
Sheela Kaithamattam
Sheela Kaithamattam
The month of May is a special one; with flowers in full bloom and the sun shining all day, we are reminded once again that spring is finally in the air. May is a month filled with celebrations, prayer, and days of recognition. As Catholics, we pay homage to our Blessed Mother Mary this month. We celebrate Mother’s Day on May 9th, and honor our Nurses during nurses week (May 6th-May 12th). May 12th is yet another significant day, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nightingale is recognised as the “lady with the lamp,” and is accredited with being the founder of modern nursing. Due to her immense contributions to the field of nursing, Nightingale’s birthday marks the end of nurses week, and International Nurses Day. Like I said, the Month of May is a special one. I am so grateful and so fortunate to be able to celebrate so many things this month, and I am sure all mothers and nurses everywhere feel the same. I wanted to take this opportunity to wish a Happy Nurses Week to all of the nurses in our wonderful community, and also wish every mother and grandmother a very happy Mother’s Day!
In honor of nurses week, SMCB times is celebrating the nurses of our community, and I was asked to contribute by sharing my story. My name is Sheela Kaithamattam, I am a mother of two college going children, and I have been a nurse for over 25 years! My career started after I graduated from Leelabai Thackersey College of Nursing Mumbai in 1988, at 21 years old.
I started working as a nurse in Mumbai and later worked in Saudi Arabia for almost 13 years. Working in different countries has given me the amazing opportunity to gain invaluable experience, learning from amazing people about the different departments like Cardiothoracic ICU, Coronary care unit, Medical and Surgical ICU, Rapid Response nurse, etc. These experiences helped me gain the confidence to continue my learning. I went back to school in 2012 to obtain a Masters Degree as an Adult and geriatric Nurse Practitioner from Regis College. Going back to school was a very daunting task, as it had been 24 years since I had last been a student. This time around, I was married, had 2 kids in middle school, and was working a full time job. I started slowly, taking 6 credits a semester just to get acquainted with being a student once again. Eventually, by the grace of God, I was able to take more classes and put more on my plate, completing 600 clinical hours and qualifying for graduation! And so, in 2014 I was able to complete my MSN, specializing as an Adult and gerontology Nurse Practitioner. And this is what I still do to this day. I specialize in Adult-Gerontology, which means I take care of patients from adolescence all the way to geriatric care. Currently I work with patients and their caregivers on managing chronic conditions, diseases, and other health conditions.
Being a nurse is and always has been one of the greatest and most rewarding experiences of my life. To be completely honest, I never thought I would even become a nurse, as the program in my home town of Mumbai was extremely selective. There was only one graduate school for nursing in Mumbai, where over 500 applicants from different states applied each year, and only 50 were chosen. The process of applying was long and grueling, and involved a full week of interviews on varying topics. Receiving admission into the program was one of the first highlights of my nursing career, it was the stepping stone that brought me to where I am now.
Nursing is such a unique profession. We are afforded the ability to enhance lives and encourage wellness. We witness miracles in life, and we witness miracles in death. We have the ability to have strong, emotional connections with co-workers who become family. We create lasting memories, some bittersweet, with our patients and our patient’s family members, and we are also afforded the opportunity to bless countless lives. That ability to affect someone’s life positively is unique to only a few professional individuals. On a daily basis, I have the opportunity to help others, to inspire to heal and promote wellness. It is an occupation that is more of a ministry, I feel. Nursing has given me the privilege and to take responsibility for caring for the sick, injured and dying, nursing has given me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by giving care to others, saving lives in their time of need. What can be more rewarding than that. Nursing is also a field where you are learning something new each and every day. You are constantly working with and meeting new people and every day is a learning experience in this profession. When you are caring for others, this is extremely important!
As with everything in life, while Nursing is extremely rewarding, there are many challenges that us nurses face on a daily basis. One of these challenges is being undervalued. There is a stereotype that nurses are not as useful as doctors, and as a result some patients and families undervalue the nurses who care for them day in and day out. It is tough to put in all the work and feel as if you are not appreciated at times. Another challenge of being a nurse is dealing with difficult patients. While most patients are easy going, there are patients that you come across as a nurse that can be hard to work with. In these situations, patience is key.
As a nurse practitioner, attempting to obtain a patient’s history can be difficult if they are older and have a poor memory. Working with patients who have dementia can be tricky as well, as they might tell you everything is fine even if that isn’t the whole truth. It is extremely important in these situations to have outstanding interview skills to get the patient to tell you exactly how they feel. Sometimes, conducting a simple physical can be difficult as well, as some patients with dementia may not want to be touched, and can become irritated very quickly. Developing plans for older patients who have multiple comorbidities is perhaps the greatest challenge of all. It requires you to take a holistic approach treating your patient. This means treating not just the symptom but the patient as a whole. There are so many things to consider when prescribing medications to patients, and grappling with it all can be unbelievably challenging at times. Finally, probably the most obvious challenge of being a nurse, is the stress that comes with the job. With great power comes great responsibility, and being in charge of someone’s life is a very big responsibility. When your patients aren’t doing well, or get more sick it's stressful, and a very hard pill to swallow when you lose a patient.
One challenge that came about recently, as you may have guessed, is the Coronavirus pandemic. The first phase of COVID-19 was a very tough time for all professions alike. From janitors to administrators, COVID-19 ruined so many lives. As a nurse, it was so sad to see so many of our patients say goodbye to this world. As a provider, this was an extremely tough time because all you want to do is help, and save lives. At the time however, our hands were tied, we knew little to nothing about this virus, and could only do so much to help our sick and dying patients.
Soon into phase 1, we started having shortages all through our staff, and there were times where I had to be an NP (Nurse Practitioner) in one moment, giving orders and writing prescriptions, and in the next moment, just be a friend to the dying patients, sit with them at their bedside, and feed them to make sure they were getting a meal in. Residents’ conditions were declining so rapidly, there was a point when all we could do was pray that when they go, God takes them peacefully and eases their pain. There is nothing more heartbreaking than sitting with a patient as they go, but I am glad I was able to be there with them and make sure they did not die alone.
The second phase of COVID-19 was very promising because by then we knew what we were dealing with, we knew what this disease was, and we had learned how to help our patients effectively. This was a rewarding time, to see patients go from being positive and dying to positive and surviving.
I am sure by now you can see where I am going with this - nursing is no easy task; it is so rewarding at times, but heartbreaking at others. Geriatric care is one of the most challenging areas you'll face as a nurse practitioner. Patients are getting older, more frail, and sicker. They need caring, committed providers to see them through the last stages of their lives. I am able to spend quality time with my patients, focusing on their physical, mental, and social problems in order to provide the highest quality of care possible. This is the most rewarding career I could have dreamed of. Nursing is a profession that constantly gives back to me. I am rewarded every single day, in so many ways. I love what I do, and I am so blessed to have a job that is so rewarding.
I’d like to finish by offering some advice to someone interested in becoming a nurse. Though it can be physically exhausting, and oftentimes a true test of your strength, nursing offers unique emotional fulfillment, unlike any other career path. In this profession, you’ll find that the benefits far outweigh any of the challenges. The happy tears will be just as valuable as the sad ones, and the impact you will have on your fellow human is simply immeasurable. And it’s true that when your heart is in it, it’s less ‘work’ and more of a “calling.”
Nursing will teach you compassion like no other job in the world. Helping heal others when they are at their most vulnerable state, will allow you to experience compassion for another human being like never before. Nurses are the toughest humans on the planet, as evidenced by the overcoming of extraordinary obstacles and challenges.
One of the best things about a career in nursing is that unlike some paths, you’re not limited in career growth. Not only do you have the ability to choose what type of facility you will work within (hospital, clinic, small practice, school, etc.), but you also have many opportunities to work within varying units, departments, and even nursing specialties. Having this option is always nice and helps to cultivate personal and professional growth. It also helps avoid burnout, which can infect other career fields. Additionally, nursing offers you the opportunity to advance and even obtain your doctorate degree, which can give you even more paths to grow in the field of nursing.
I always tell my kids, if you have the determination, the opportunities are endless, especially in this country where you can go back to school at any given moment and choose to pursue your passion. To those who are interested in becoming a nurse, do it. This role will change your life, as it has mine. There is nothing more rewarding, and I am grateful to God that I get to do what I love each and every day. Happy Nurses Week once again, to all of the strong, amazing, fearless nurses out there.
I always tell my kids, if you have the determination, the opportunities are endless, especially in this country where you can go back to school at any given moment and choose to pursue your passion. To those who are interested in becoming a nurse, do it. This role will change your life, as it has mine. There is nothing more rewarding, and I am grateful to God that I get to do what I love each and every day. Happy Nurses Week once again, to all of the strong, amazing, fearless nurses out there.
Alice Kutticherry
Alice Kutticherry
Capping Ceremony
As a young nurse
It was during my 1st year during my college days I went to visit my uncle who was admitted to the hospital with a heart attack. I saw how he was so well cared and loved for. The nurses there were so affectionate towards him. As a young nurse I was very inspired by the nurses who took care of him. I just made a decision to take this job with a hope that someday I will be a very compassionate care giver to my mother, father and kids .
During my nursing career with 45 years of experience I have felt this job to be so rewarding. I am so proud to have received 5 awards. My nursing journey began at the Jesuit center where I cared for priests. I was then at the VA hospital. I have held the hands of patients during the last moments of their lives while they did not have anyone to be there for them. I remember that at the end of my shift after I gave report to the next shift, my patients were just hoping to see me again.
It was a great pleasure to simply sit with my patients and have a cup of coffee with them or simply share my time simply listening to all that they had to say. I developed a very close interpersonal relationship with my patients I cared for.
When I came home and shared my experience with my husband, somehow I influenced him that he too was persuaded into taking nursing as a profession.
James Kutticherry
James Kutticherry
I am a man who has seen it all and done all kinds of jobs imaginable. When I came to America, I studied at MBU and earned my Masters in Educational Television. I taught at Emmanuel College. In 1978, the American education system underwent a drastic change and teachers were being laid off. I was very inspired by my beloved wife’s experiences and started as a nurses aide at Jesuit Center. My journey was not too easy, however I’m so proud to declare that I graduated as a registered nurse and pursued my career as a nurse for many years. It was very rewarding though it happened to be tough for me as a male nurse. At the age of 54, back then if I could take on something so tough with a lot of hard work and motivation then I’m sure that anybody can do it.
My inspiring words to the new generation is Live like as if today is the first day of the rest of your life. Begin your 1000 miles journey one step at a time and never give up on yourself.
My inspiring words to the new generation is Live like as if today is the first day of the rest of your life. Begin your 1000 miles journey one step at a time and never give up on yourself.
Ajitha Villanassery - Guest Contributor
Ajitha Villanassery - Guest Contributor
My name is Ajitha. I am a RN case manager. This is one of the many aspects of the nursing profession .The case manager plays a pivotal role in facilitating a safe discharge for patients by communicating with all members of the health care team, the patient and families. A safe discharge from the hospital is an important part of the healing process.
The rewards of my role are that the patients go home with the peace of mind that and all that they need to continue to heal, is arranged. The challenges of my role are to ensure that all the services are set up in time for patient’s discharge using the resources available. Anyone interested in becoming a case manager should understand that the nursing profession has many avenues for growth. Case managers can advocate for their patients and families, co-ordinate with members of the health care team and payors(like insurance companies)
Ultimately your service is rewarding as the patients are grateful and happy to be in the right path to recovery as a result of your actions.
Ultimately your service is rewarding as the patients are grateful and happy to be in the right path to recovery as a result of your actions.
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