twelve-hour shift starting at 7:00 P When she arrives for the .M. evening, the first four hours of her shift are the busiest, one of her first priorities to visit and assess each patient before they go to bed. She also takes patients’ vital signs, weighs the babies, gives patients’ medicine and any care that is needed, bathe them if needed and gets them ready for bed. During the night, she continues to monitor the patient, takes vital signs, measures intake and outtake of the infants and works with the doctors. Spending time with and getting to know the patient is crucial. As Kinsley explains, “If you start to work with the child for a few days, and something’s changed, you know.” Kinsley said she not only takes care of the patient, but takes care of the whole family, getting them situated in the room and helping to comfort the parents. “Even though their child is sick, we take care of the whole family. Because when (the children) come in, they’re pretty sick, and I think the parents are pretty tired. They’re pretty tired and they need that comfort that someone’s going to take over.” The pediatric unit is made up of a small group of dedicated nurses. “There are six of us,” Kinsley explains, “it’s a real small unit, but we’re really lucky to have four pediatricians in our town that keep us busy.” She explained how they also see patients from other towns near Yankton as well. Though Kinsley’s two children are now in their twenties and have ventured out on their own, it worked well for Kinsley to work the night shift while raising her children. She described their regular schedule of having dinner together at home before she helped get them started on homework. She then headed off to work while her husband, who had regular daytime hours, cleaned up after supper with the children and took care of all the evening duties. Kinsley diligently worked while her family slept. She arrived home in the morning to see her husband and children before they started their day, and then she could rest. Her weeks rotated between double or triple twelve-hour days, so she used her extra days off for shopping or errands. She doesn’t feel like she missed out on anything while her kids were growing up. She even found time to assist as a fill-in nurse for the Yankton schools a couple days per month and volunteered her time to give vaccinations to students at the schools. She was also active with her daughter’s dance activities and her son’s cross country and track events. How did she raise a family while working the night shift for so many years? She credits being organized and flexible. “I’ve never seen nights as being an obstacle,” she explained. She would plan the week and fully utilize her days off. “I think it’s made my husband have a better relationship with our kids.” She explained that he had to take the lead while she was working or resting. Her children saw the teamwork their parents put into running the household. Kinsley lives by organization, as it’s a priority in her job as a nurse. She tries to schedule her duties for each patient when they are awake so not to disturb them. No shift has ever been the same for her and she explains that each task has a priority. Nursing has its challenges and being flexible is crucial to the constant changes in the medical field and in technology. Kinsley remembers early in her career when nurses charted simply with paper and pencil but have now transitioned to computer charting. Though she initially found that transition very scary, now it’s just a normal part of her work life. Most changes in technology have made nursing jobs much easier. She gave examples of how it’s much easier and faster for her to look up the patient’s history, IV pumps have been simplified and patients and their medication are scanned with a handheld scanner to assure they are getting the proper medicine. The advancements in technology don’t frighten her. “To me it’s reassuring,” she stated, explaining it’s a checks and balances system for the nurses. Kinsley didn’t always aspire to become a nurse. “I wasn’t the kid that grew up thinking ‘I wanted to be a nurse,’” she states. She smiled as she told of how her dad once told her at that he thought she would be a good nurse and for some reason that stuck with her. Her dad’s prediction was accurate. Her favorite part of being a nurse? Stated simply with a beaming smile, “It’s fun to see the families and see the sick child get better.” She talked about how it makes her feel vKINSLEY continued on page 17 Keeping Smiles Healthy & Young New Patients and Emergencies Welcome! 1101 Broadway Ste. 105, Morgen Square 605.665.2448 • www.scott-family-dentistry.com Experience Gentle, Personalized Dental Care For Your Entire Family! HERVOICEvMARCH/APRIL 2017v11