This article was authored by a local high school student as part of Lookout’s Journalism Scholarship Challenge.
“For anybody that does want to go into the medical field, it’s hard and I’m not going to say it’s an easy journey, you will go home crying at one point if not days in a row, but at the end it is going to be worth everything.” Nicole “Nic” Rojas, Director of Nursing at Central Coast Surgery Center recently shared her life story and her experiences in the nursing community.
Growing up, everyone always remembers going to their pediatrician’s office for their yearly checkup which consisted of sometimes awkward talks or the terrifying act of getting shots. Doctors and nurses will always be there for you no matter where you are in life. Even if we only see them once or twice a year, these doctors and nurses can shape our perspective on our own health care. This is where health care merges with our daily lives – one experience with that certain doctor can shape our lives forever.
Everyone has a certain story, a deciding factor of what led them to their profession. Nic Rojas grew up in sunny San Diego, surrounded by the ocean and warm weather. Growing up in a normal childhood, she would go to the doctor every year for her vaccinations and annual checkups. At around 7 years old, she went for her annual check where she presented a gift, a drawing, to the pediatrician. “I drew a picture of a nurse and wanted to give it to my pediatrician, she opened it up and then proceeded to close it,” Rojas said “She then asked why I drew this for her. Mind you, I’m 7 years old telling her that I drew it for her so she could put it up in her office. She hands it back to me saying she’s going to give it back to me. Immediately I ask her if she does not like it, meanwhile, my mom is saying how rude it is of her to do that. After she folded it up and handed it to me, she then said that’s what she wanted me to become.” Little did Rojas know at the time – that event would begin a series of choices that would eventually lead her to pursuing a career in nursing.
Later on in high school, while feeling lost and not knowing what to do, the drawing made its way back into Rojas’ life: “My mom kept it and said, ‘You know what you are supposed to be doing, right?’ As a teenager, I did not know what I wanted to do, and I remember my mom saying I think there is a reason she gave that back to you.” Even after all those years, nursing had found its way to her.
After finally getting settled in her nursing career, Rojas spoke about her experience in nursing. Finding a team that you can work with, a team that has no problems and flows smoothly, is one of the most important things. “It makes a difference when you have a staff that is extremely good at chemistry,” she said. “Knowing that I’m going to go to work with people that I can relate to family-wise, on a personal level also.” Having a place and being valued at work can make all the difference, especially in the recovery of patients. When a patient can see that everyone works well together and communicates, they can have that peace of mind.
“It’s the most gratifying job I can think of, ” Rojas explained about the feelings behind nursing. Even while some days are hard, she can get up every day knowing that she can have a good day at work. While nursing has its ups and downs, she spoke more about the community itself: “Challenges are going to happen all the time, in a perfect world every day is going to be perfect where nothing goes wrong. But something is always going to pop up and I think by having work challenges, that strives me to do even better.”
One issue Rojas spoke about was the respect for nurses diminishing every year: “We get a lot of patients that will openly say things that are inappropriate and very belligerent.” The minute patients walk through the door, nurses are there to help you and guide you. In her 21 years of being a nurse, she has seen a shift in patients’ attitudes. Especially since working in a surgery center, staff members don’t see the patients after and don’t see their full recovery, so when patients go out of their way to tell them they are appreciated, it means a lot. Even with issues in the nursing community, Rojas still feels like it’s truly what she’s meant to do: “You feel very accomplished like you have a purpose.”
When asked about her nursing career, you can truly see that some people are destined for this, “It’s cliche, but I believe I was born to do it, I love it, and I could not see myself doing anything else,” Rojas said. Having meaning in a job is one of the most important aspects in life. Feeling like you have a place in the world, to feel valuable: “There is something in you that I can see in other people … you would be great in health care. Being in such a shortage of nursing or just health care in general. I would love to see more people get into health care.”