interview essay 3

English 102-Z18N

Ms. Claytor

2 April 2019

Margaret Williams Interview

Margaret Williams is an RN for Concentra, she works at US Steel in Clairton, PA. Margaret has been in nursing for twenty-six years, half of this time was spent working in the hospital until about 2006, when she switched into an occupational setting. Margaret obtained her RN degree from CCAC south campus in 1993. Margaret was chosen as an interviewee because she can give a perspective into what nursing is like after twenty-six years, two children and different work settings. The interview with Margaret was conducted at her home.

Emma Brooks: What made you choose this profession?

Margaret Williams: I started out as a pharmacy technician working in a hospital, part of my job was doing rounds on nursing units. Over time I became more curious and interested when observing the nurses in action, until I decided to go back to school and become one myself.

E.B: Do you have any plans to further your education? If so, to what level?

M.W: Furthering my education has always been on my mind. Once I had kids, I didn’t feel like it was really an option because I was so busy being a mom. Now I think it’s a little to late for me to go back to school.

E.B: What is your weekly work schedule normally like? (how many hours/shifts)

M.W: I love my schedule. I work a 40-hour week, broken up into 2, 12-hour shifts and 1, 16-hour shift. I work night-tern, so I prefer to work less days with more hours on the days I do work.

E.B: What do your daily work tasks consist of?

M.W: Daily physicals, which include EKG’s, pulmonary function testing and other OSHA required testing. I also do triage exams and treatments for employees injured on the job, which happens a lot in the steel mills.

E.B: How many hours of overtime do you normally accumulate per pay period?

M.W: My overtime depends on many factors like staffing, call offs and all that. Some weeks I can get no overtime and some weeks I can get up to 20-hours of overtime.

E.B: What holidays do you typically work (if any)?

M.W: We are mandated to work one holiday during the summer and one during the winter. Since my kids are older now I sometimes volunteer to work more than two a year, it’s nice money.

E.B: What is your current yearly income?

M.W: I would say I make about 87 thousand a year as of now.

Margaret has been a nurse for over twenty years, which has given her a lot of experience. Margaret’s favorite thing about working as a nurse was “just being there to help people on a daily basis”, proving that having compassion for your patients doesn’t go away with time. She also went on to say that in her work setting “it is important for me to make sure all my patients physical and emotional issues are in check.” Margaret is someone who has cared for others her whole life in her work and, in her home. She never forgets what it is like to be a young scared nurse and uses everything she has learned in the past in order to benefit her today.

Margaret is an intriguing person because she has firm ideas about what it takes to be a great nurse. These were very important questions to hear the answers to because her answers provide a feel for what some other nurses are thinking, feeling and possibly expecting. Being a helpful co-worker is important. She expressed the importance of caring for every patient and her passion for caring for those in need.

Another thing that really hit home was hearing her speak on her future goals and aspirations in the field and with her education. Her ambition to return to school and aspiration to one day become a flight nurse were inspiring to me.

Lastly, it was great hearing her speak on her CCAC educational experience. It was great to hear her say that she felt more prepared than the bachelor’s degree students she has worked with. It was great that she felt as prepared as should could be and made it feel like it was a great culture for learning. Her opinions on her schooling suggests that a CCAC education is a good choice.

Margaret shows her love for caring for people. She showed a passion for her field and her future in it. There are challenges to being a new nurse. Her use of the word fear, referring to her experiences as a new nurse was striking. Margaret is an inspiring individual.