Pre-Interview Reflection

I chose to interview a nurse who I am very close to; she is like a sister to me. Her name is Ashley, and I have known her my whole life. Our moms are best friends, and we grew up like family. Ashley graduated from Husson University in 2017 and she was immediately offered a position in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. I remember going to her pinning ceremony and feeling so proud to be a part of her life. She worked tirelessly in school, was inducted into an honor society, and got her dream job. I aspire to be a nurse as incredible as her.

I identify Ashley as a leader in many different aspects. She is outgoing, personable, and always willing to help others. I have heard her stories of times in clinical and then when she was practicing as a registered nurse. Her colleagues admire her, and she has been told by management that she is blooming into an exceptional nurse. Even outside of the hospital, Ashley was a leader on her sports teams during high school. I remember going to watch her play and hearing people talk about her talent. Ashley is also an incredible mom, who is the best example for her three-year-old daughter.

Ashley has recently started working shifts as a charge nurse and this week she moved to day shifts! I was lucky enough to live with Ashley during my preceptorship at NLEMMC and I got to hear all about what she was doing in the NICU. She explained how some charge nurses didn’t round the unit and check on the other nurses. However, she was always checking on her coworkers and helping in any way she could. Many people went to her and said they loved when she was charge, because they knew they could trust her. That is the kind of leader I want to work with. It is also the type of leader I aspire to be! Ashley is a great example of someone with formal and informal leadership roles. She gets to be the charge nurse sometimes, but even before she had that role, people on the unit respected and trusted her. Although she is still a relatively new nurse, she is one of the most experienced on the unit and people look up to her and go to her with their needs.

I’m most excited to hear stories about what she is doing in the NICU and learn more about how she leads her unit. I want to hear more about how she applied and got her dream job, especially since my aspirations are so similar. I am eager to talk with Ashley and listen to whatever stories she has to share!