KAYLEE SHANK - Operating Room Nurse, Baptist Medical Center
As a nurse, Kaylee’s mom would often take her to the hospital to pay visits to her patients—and these memories ultimately inspired Kaylee’s path. Today, she’s a registered nurse in the operating and emergency rooms at Baptist Medical Center—the same hospital where her mom worked, and the same hospital where she was born. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Kaylee is motivated to provide the same care she saw her mother express, and her desire to help her patients hasn’t wavered. In her words, “It challenged me in ways I never thought possible, but also taught me so many life lessons along the way.”
The Basics:
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Current city: Jacksonville, Florida
Alma mater: Valdosta State University
Degree: B.S., Nursing
Very first job: Lifeguard and Nanny
Hustle: Operating Room Nurse + Emergency Room Nurse (PRN), Baptist Medical Center
The Interests:
Favorite way to unplug?
Gardening! One thing I can thank COVID for was finally finding a hobby that truly allows me to relax and decompress. Studying the science behind how plants work and realizing there is no such thing as “green thumb,” just a lack of knowledge has been low key frustrating and very rewarding. There is just something about caring for a plant and watching your efforts blossom right before your eyes! I also love trying new seltzers—I started doing taste tests on my Instagram stories of different spiked seltzer brands and it’s been a hit! I have so much fun with it, and look forward to it every week! Also, just spending time with my husband. We got married in December, got a puppy in March, and went straight into quarantine. It’s been so nice getting to spend some quality time with him and our little family!
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
I work full time in the operating room, mainly in orthopedic surgery. I’m the patient’s advocate while they’re under anesthesia, which is hands-down the most important job I’ve had as a nurse. Coming from the emergency room, people would say things like “you’re going to be bored over there, they don’t do anything.” When a patient is anesthetized, they lose all control to make decisions, so it’s the nurse’s job to make sure the surgeon and scrub techs (etc.) are doing their jobs appropriately (i.e maintaining sterility, performing the indicated procedure, respecting each other and the patient, etc). I also circulate in the room during the procedure, get instruments or equipment that might be needed unexpectedly, document exactly what’s happening throughout the surgery, and communicate with the anesthesiologists and sales reps. Operating room nurses are pretty much the “voice” for that room while the surgery is taking place, since almost everyone is scrubbed in sterilely. The #1 question I get asked: “Is it like Grey’s Anatomy?” The job? Yes. The drama? Sometimes. The relationships? No.
Have you always been passionate about nursing? What led you to pursue work in the industry?
I knew since middle school that I was going to pursue nursing as a career. My mom was an oncology nurse, and growing up, she would take me to the hospital to visit with her patients who were getting their chemotherapy. It was amazing to see the impact and connection she made with total strangers. They trusted her with their life—literally. As I grew up, I realized I was an adrenaline junkie and loved a fast-paced lifestyle, so I knew oncology wasn’t going to be the route for me. I decided to go straight into the ER. After graduating from nursing school in Georgia, I moved to Florida and started working at Baptist Medical Center. It’s the same hospital my mom worked in, and where I was born! The ER was an intense first job straight out of school—it was sink or swim from day one, and a lot was expected from me. It challenged me in ways I never thought possible, but also taught me so many life lessons along the way. It shaped me into the nurse I am today, and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
How have your job and roles differed from what they looked like before the pandemic?
Oh boy, what hasn’t changed?! The Surgeon General canceling elective procedures was a huge surprise to us and in an instant, I was hustling for hours like so many other people around the world. You would think as a nurse during a pandemic, my job wouldn’t be in jeopardy (I know I sure did, especially with an ER background). Since the operating room was only running emergency cases, we floated around to many hospitals within our organization for COVID-19-related tasks. Assisting employees with their appropriate masks/PPE, working at the COVID testing site my hospital established, screening employees and visitors before they entered the hospital, etc. A large number of our patients had to delay their procedures throughout lockdown, so we are in the process of trying to accommodate those patients as well as new surgeries. The patients have to get pre-tested prior to surgery, so making sure that negative results are documented beforehand has been a little challenging, with results being delayed across the state. Because we wear masks all day inside the operating room, people think we’re used to it, but I’ve found it very challenging just like everyone else—especially in the humid Florida heat.
What are some notable experiences you’ve had on the job recently?
The hospital I work for utilized our local convention center as a COVID-19 testing site for citizens in the Jacksonville area, and I had to get fully gowned/masked and swab potentially infected patients day in and day out. Anyone who does that job and says they weren’t even the slightest bit scared would be lying—you’re putting yourself on the direct frontline of a scientifically unknown virus. That’s scary! It really just made the pandemic as a whole seem more surreal. You quickly realize our lives will probably never go back to the “normal” we once were accustomed to.
What are some ways that we can support those in your job/industry right now?
I just need to say that I’m so proud of the country as a whole for supporting the medical profession the way they have during this pandemic! We don’t get into this industry for the recognition or thanks, but it’s refreshing to finally be appreciated for the work we do every day, not just during a worldwide pandemic. The obvious requests are to stay home, social distance, and practice hand-hygiene as much as possible. Another way to support people in the nursing industry is by understanding that things are still changing daily, so when you come to hospital, try to be patient—it might not be as organized and timely as it usually would. There are a lot more steps that have been introduced into our day-to-day, and we’re trying to learn our way around this new normal as well.
How would you say being a woman has impacted your professional experience? What can we do to create more equal, uplifting (and well-paying!) spaces for women in your industry?
The nursing industry is pretty “women-driven,” but believe it or not, we still have to face the preconceived ideas that nurses are just task-oriented helpers and do as they’re told by physicians. Nurses have come a long way and are becoming more and more educated as the years go on. I know I constantly find myself trying hard to prove my worth so I can be seen as a colleague to my physicians and surgeons.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Everything happens for a reason—it’s cliche, but it’s true. Whether positive or negative, every decision makes you who you are today. Never be ashamed of where you came from, who you used to be, or where you want to go. Live your life unapologetically, and enjoy the ride!
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