Josie Collins-Knapp
BISB recently welcomed a new addition to the staff, Nurse Caroline. She has worked in
other hospitals and is excited to work at a school environment for the first time. In this article, I spoke with her in which shared with her previous experience and advice for aspiring youths who are looking to go into a medical profession.
How many hospitals have you worked at?
I’ve worked at two. I’ve worked at Emerson Hospital, which is in Concord, MA. Then I
worked at Newton-Wellesley which is in Newton.
Which department did you work in?
At Emerson, I worked in the Med Search Float Pool, which is the ER, and all of the floors that aren't Labor and Delivery, or Surgery. At Newton-Wellesley, I worked on the Pediatric floor. One thing I liked was on the pediatric floor - we had a medical facility dog, so he would comfort kids getting IVs [for example]. Then, as a nurse, I worked on the Orthopedic floor.
How were the two hospitals different?
The two were a little different. They are both considered community hospitals, but Newton-Wellesley is actually one of the largest community hospitals. It was lot busier, and they do a lot more teaching - so there's a lot more nurses and doctors. It's a part of Mass General and Brigham, so it also had a lot more resources [as compared to Emerson].
Why did you decide to become a school nurse?
I decided to become a school nurse after I had recently graduated and started off at the Newton-Wellesley hospital on the Orthopedic floor. Working in the hospital, I realized there were some things I didn't like about it. It was a different environment and a little bit busier, with no set schedule. I really wanted to work with kids and I really wanted to find a school where I could have a different schedule so that I wouldn't have worked on as many holidays yet see smiling faces everyday.
What has your experience at BISB been like so far?
it's been really great, everyone who works here has really welcoming. All staff and students! One day, there was a bake sake and the parents were super friendly. So, it's been great, I've really enjoyed it so far.
How has being a school nurse been different than working in a hospital?
It's very different. Mostly, the setting - there's a lot more going on at the hospital, it's a lot busier. Also, there's a little bit more people you get to work with throughout the day: other nurses, doctors, social workers. Where as here, there's only one other nurse I work with. Of course, I talk to teachers and parents, but I'm doing a lot more on my own. However, I appreciate how I get to see students for a year, or even more, if they stay for a long time - so, I get to really know them! Versus, at the hospital, I only ever get to meet new people for two to three days and then, they're gone.
What is your advice for those wanting to go down a medical path?
If you're interested, but not 100% sure - don't be afraid to look into it and try it, because it's hard to know if you're going to like it without trying. I recommend looking into becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or a Medical Assistant (MA). Important classes for nursing school can include math and science, so keep working hard in those if you're trying to apply. Also, I would advise students to talk to those who work in the medical industry about what they like, or don't like about it as I found that really helpful for me when I was deciding whether or not I wanted to do it.
What advice do you have in staying safe in school?
To stay safe in school, I would say the little things can be really important in the long run. Wash your hands really well. Make sure to cover your mouth when you cough.
Thank you to Nurse Caroline for her time. Hopefully, this article allows for students, parents, and staff to be introduced to BISB's new nurse and to understand how to test the waters when applying for nursing school.
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