GETTING TO KNOW A BHC NURSE
Miranda Daniels, BSN, RN Emergency Department
I
have been a registered nurse for 16 years. I am married and a mother of two girls, ages 13 and 9. My thirteenyear-old is changing my life outlook right now!
Why did you get into the health care field? I genuinely loved taking care of people and knew eventually I would choose a career in it. I started working in health care when I was 16. I worked laundry and housekeeping at a nursing home in Fayette, Mo., then later got my CNA prior to graduating high school. I played basketball for Central Methodist College and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and worked in a sports medicine clinic for a couple years. One of our patients was a nursing instructor who reignited my dream to be a nurse. I graduated from the MU Sinclair School of Nursing’s first BSN accelerated program in 2004. What interested you in your particular specialty? In 2004, I was hired as a new graduate nurse in Boone Hospital’s Medical ICU and continued to work in the ICU setting over the next six years. As a flex nurse, I floated to the emergency department and fell in love with emergency nursing. The fast pace, vast acuity, and broader patient population stole my heart. In the ED, you are an open door to the community, and you have to be prepared for anything and everything. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? The most rewarding aspect of my job is learning from my patients. Because of this I appreciate every little thing in life. Every day I get to be part of a team of exceptional nurses, physicians, patient care techs, and a secretary who I can bounce ideas off of. I know I’m never alone in my job – we’re always teaching others and being taught. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? The most challenging aspect of working in the emergency department is when there are more patients than there are people to care for them. Deciding who gets medical treatment first can be overwhelming, but I realized that the quicker I make my assessments, the quicker everyone can receive the care they need. The ED is no place for hemming and hawing. What has changed in your field since you started practicing? The biggest change in emergency nursing over the past 10 years has been the growing number of patients seeking care and evaluation in the ED. Fewer patients are admitted from
doctors’ offices or outpatient settings. There is also more intensive management of patients in the ED and a longer length of stay in the department before patients are accepted for admission. What do you see changing in the next 5 to 10 years? Regardless of how health care evolves, people who work in emergency care must never forget their reason for being there – to provide lifesaving care to anyone who needs it at any time. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I enjoy being outdoors, watching my girls play basketball, doing Crossfit and working in the garden. What advice would you give to someone looking to become a nurse? Check your ego at the front door. Working with people who are responsive to educating one another is key to becoming the best nurse possible. We all need each other to provide excellent care to our patients and families.
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