Job: Clinical supervisor, Northside Hospital, blood and marrow transplant unit.
What I do: "Perform duties and responsibilities of a staff nurse when in staffing, which is usually 20 percent of my time at work. I serve as a resource person for clinical issues, such as policies, procedures, guidelines and emergencies. I am also responsible for making patient care assignments and coordinating admissions and discharges.
“I monitor time and attendance of my direct reports, and assure that regulatory compliance records are up to date [i.e. competencies, licensure]. Implement disciplinary action based on service and job performance expectations in accordance with NSH disciplinary process.
“I also serve as a liaison between staff and upper management, as well as families and other members of the interdisciplinary team. I participate in unit-performance improvement activities and oversee general environmental and operational issues.”
How I got into this: "In 1993, while working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, I was transferred to their BMT [bone marrow transplant] unit, due to inadequate staffing. It was intended to be a temporary switch, but after a short stint I realized that I enjoyed caring for this patient population. The rest is history."
Best part of the job: "The relationships that develop between me and my co-workers, patients and their families."
Most challenging part: "This area is constantly changing; new protocol and processes are constantly emerging. It can be very challenging trying to keep up and stay informed about them all."
What people don't know about my job: "Even though I work in oncology, the 'C' word [cancer] does not mean death and dying. I have great experiences and memories of patients and families getting a second chance at life and living. I have been able to define and recognize through these experiences the true meaning of life, love and living."
What keeps me going: "The satisfaction that I get from knowing that I made a difference, that I was there for someone that needed me. Whether it was the patients, family or my co-workers."
Salary: According to salary.com, the average salary of nurse supervisors is about $65,000, depending on experience and location.
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Compiled by John Brieske, Pulse managing editor. Got a health care job that you love? Please send email to jbrieske@ajc.com.
