Celebrating Nurses Month

May is Nurses Month and we at PointClickCare are honored to be able to work with so many incredible nurses not just as our customers, but also on our staff! As we continue to celebrate nurses this month, we wanted to provide our community with firsthand experiences from our own nurses and their sage advice for the future of nursing.

What advice do you have for future nurses?

“Nursing is about caring for the whole person, mind, body, and spirit. It is the little things that count more than anything. Sitting quietly with a family member as a resident takes their last breath, making sure you ask permission before you stand to give an injection to a resident who just had a stroke and can’t stand, taking the time to ask who they are and what is important to them. Learn to read the room.” Cyndi Levesque

“Never stop learning and be aware of the varied career opportunities throughout your career. You could find opportunities that may not have existed when you started your career. Your career should be your joy. Consider certification in any area you pursue.” Evonn Hopkins

“Opportunity doesn’t always knock. Sometimes it stands quietly by and waits for you to pay attention. Pay attention and take opportunities you find as well as those that find you. You learn such a small (but necessary) amount in nursing school. What nurses do and can do is a world of opportunities just waiting for someone to pay attention.” Jayne Warwick

“There is so much more to nursing than what you learn in school! Your education is just the starting point. I’ve spent several years as the Alumni Board Chair of my nursing college, and at every graduation I tell the students that they can apply their skills in many more industries than they think. I’ve worked with nurses who have developed apps to help with wound care, written medical terminology dictation applications, and designed robotic medication dispensing systems. That clinical background comes in handy!” Karen Camacho

What is your greatest skill as a nurse working at PointClickCare?

“My greatest skill is industry knowledge and the ability to identify as a consultant, end user, and a family member. Being able to totally align with the customer from a professional perspective, empathizing with their challenges and knowing the great impact this transition will make on the resident.” Cyndi Levesque

“Creating education for healthcare staff so they can keep learning and gain knowledge on how to meet the needs of their residents and meet required regulations.” Evonn Hopkins

“My greatest skill at PointClickCare is my ability to understand where our customers are and what they need. My experiences as a State Surveyor gives me the regulation knowledge; my experience as a customer who managed all things PointClickCare for hundreds of nurses gives me the knowledge of work flows and real life EHR usage. The ability to put those together and give the best advice to so many customers is the satisfying part of my job.” Jennifer Zdunic

“Quickly, easily understanding the challenges they face and their workflow. Until you’ve walked in the shoes of our users with call lights going off, a never-ending list of things to do, unstable patients and trying to call in more staff, you can’t fully have empathy for the challenges they face or the impact that we as Product Leaders can make in their lives by developing efficient tools, workflows, and processes for them.” Nicki Fetterman

“One of my greatest skills as a nurse here at PointClickCare is being able to bring my experience from past nursing jobs to the company to advocate for clinicians and patients alike. Using a clinical lens and past experiences as a bedside nurse adds value to the products we offer.” Jody Rain

What advice would you give to other nurses who are interested in exploring different industries?

“I would tell them is that there are many options available and if they are branching out, maybe try to branch out into long term care. Many people have preconceived notions about it, but long term care, and especially skilled nursing, requires a lot of skill and it is a fast paced environment. It’s not what you think it is and it’s not only about caring for seniors. It’s about getting the vulnerable back to a point where they can go home. Most importantly, no matter what you decide to do, remember to always keep learning.” Melissa Jackson

“Nursing is multi-faceted and while culturally nurses are regarded as bedside care providers, we have the opportunity to use our training and knowledge to make a greater impact in many different avenues and platforms. Electronic platforms were never on my radar when growing up in my career. However, I have found that this avenue has allowed me to make a much greater impact on a much larger cohort, changing our industry one implementation at a time, directly impacting the residents and their quality of life.” Cyndi Levesque

“Don’t be afraid to try something new. Follow your passion. Nursing is a multi-varied profession.” Evonn Hopkins

“If it is where your passion leads you then do it! Follow your path wherever your passion leads you. When I graduated from nursing school 24 years ago, I had no idea where my career would take me. I am so grateful that I didn’t lock myself into whatever notion I had of a career path then. As I continued through my nursing career there have been lots of twists and turns, some led to new opportunities, others felt like let downs at the time but collectively they eventually led me to PointClickCare, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Impacting people’s lives for the better is why I became a nurse and I feel the work we do here allows me to do that on a much larger scale so the way I see it, it’s a win-win.” Erin Race

“Being able to explore other industries as a Nurse is the biggest advantage of becoming a nurse. We are not restricted to just being a bedside caregiver. There is no limit in what we can do, where we can go. Talk to other nurses and find out where they work, what they do. Explore your options. Take chances. Every experience gives you more information about what you want or don’t want.” Jennifer Zdunic

“Your experience is valuable, and it may fit into an industry that you may never have imagined yourself in! Go with it, like me, it may be the best decision you ever make!” Jackie Nordhoff

Thank you all for your selfless work and sage words of wisdom for the future generations of nursing.