Nursing is a passion and a profession

Nursing is a unique field that allows you to enjoy the reward of serving people while growing professionally and personally. It brings obstacles and opportunities that continually challenge you to be the best you can be.

A nurse’s perspective

“My nursing experiences at OSF Saint Anthony’s have been a blessing” said Karen Boyd, a nurse at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center. “Every department or discipline I have worked in has been a learning experience.”

Karen has firsthand experience helping patients in different disciplines. She has treated both acute and chronic patients and learned how to adopt and serve her patients’ unique needs. Recently, Karen experienced a new aspect of care she had not seen before.

“I now work in the Oncology Department, which has two areas of discipline – radiation oncology and medical oncology,” Karen said. “I see patients when they have concerns about a side effect of their treatment and talk to family members who are concerned about a loved one at home. I listen to patients’ fears, cry with them and even pray with them. I am truly inspired by them. Although I attend to the needs of many, I am the one who is blessed.

“Whether I’m working on insurance processing or scheduling opportunities, seeing a patient in the office for a consult, or talking with a patient after a radiation treatment to see how things are going, every day is different. There is no ‘typical’ day for me.”

According to Karen, working in different departments helps a nurse become a better caregiver, and a better person.

“Even after all these years, working with this caring team of Mission Partners in radiation has taught me new approaches to treatment,” Karen said. “Prior to this assignment, I knew very little about radiation oncology or oncology treatment in general. But my nursing career has been like that – revitalizing me with each new learning experience.”

What lies ahead

If you have a passion for helping others and love to learn like Karen, nursing might be the career for you. According to national data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for registered nurses is expected to increase 16 percent by 2024, which is faster than the national average for all other occupations.

The OSF HealthCare culture encourages growth and supports educational endeavors. Not only does OSF HealthCare provide financial support in the classroom, it offers superior on-the-job education. On-site training occurs at medical center locations and the state-of-the-art Jump Simulation & Education Center in Peoria, Illinois.

Karen’s advice, “I often tell the nursing students I work with that although they will be graduating soon, the learning will never and should never stop.”

OSF HealthCare values nurses and their passion to serve those in need. When you work at OSF HealthCare, we work with you to achieve your goals.

To learn more about a nursing career at OSF HealthCare, visit osfcareers.org/nursing.

Last Updated: April 26, 2018

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About Author: David Pruitt

David Pruitt is a writer for the Marketing & Communications division of OSF HealthCare. He has a bachelor’s of journalism from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and worked as a reporter before joining OSF HealthCare in 2014.

An avid golfer and fisherman, David was born and raised Alton, Illinois, which is where he currently resides with his son, James.

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Categories: Working at OSF