Annie Wiest e-mailed me and asked if I would tell the story of how my career evolved into the field of employee health. Holy cow; where do I begin?
Well, waaaaay back in the dark ages when I graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Worcester, MA (so long ago that the school is no longer around), I did not think “Oh, I want to be an employee health nurse”. In fact, I don’t think the specialty was even in existence. My first love in the profession was in a surgical intensive care unit. I loved the excitement, working with all the machines and tubing everywhere, and seeing the patients progress from bed, to chair to ambulating. What a great feeling!
From St. Vincent’s Hospital, I worked on a med/surg unit at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, MA, and eventually found my way to Vero Beach, FL, where I met Dr. James Cain, who awakened my passion for orthopedic nursing. What a wonderful mentor he was. I credit all my knowledge and experience to him.
After 10 years as a nurse manager at Indian River Memorial Hospital, I migrated back to my roots in New England, where I spent the next several years as a nurse manger, still in orthopedics, at both Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, RI and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Providence, RI. By now, the field of employee health had begun to emerge. I remember having to go to the Employee Health Department and thinking, I wonder what she does all day long, in this tiny office, all by herself. Wow, times have changed!
As luck would have it, I was involved in an RIF (reduction in force – i.e.; layoff). How devastating! I was very fortunate to be recruited by Southeast Georgia Health System. They kindly brought me to a nice warm climate. I stayed with my passion in orthopedics for a few more years and then moved on to the Education Department. I loved, loved, loved my education position and worked under Human Resources. Well, don’t you know, the employee health nurse also worked under the Human Resources Department, and I was the designated person (don’t know how this happened) to cover her when she was away. Oh my, how I dreaded this responsibility. I was in constant fear that someone would get stuck with a needle, and then what would I do?!
The fateful time and day, which will be recorded in infamy, came on Wednesday, March 7, 2001 at 8:01 am to be exact. (I remember it like it was yesterday.) It wasn’t a needlestick, but another RIF process that changed my future. How can this be, that I am again involved in another layoff? Historically, education is the first to be downsized and, as they say, where one door closes and other opens. The employee health nurse had handed in her resignation and was getting married and moving away. I was strongly urged to take her position. OMG! Now what do I do?! Those dreaded sharps injury images were dancing around in my head!
After sleepless nights and many, many tears thinking that I would never take care of patients again, I realized that I was not losing patients but in fact, was gaining patients – 2,300 to be exact! Well, 15 years later, I have found my second passion in nursing. This journey of mine has been a very rewarding experience, and I would not change it. Working in the specialty of occupational health, I have made many friends who have helped me and who I have helped along the way. The best part of my day is seeing all the employees, as they all know me and I know most, if not all, of them. They confide in me about issues they are facing both at work and at home, and I love assisting them in making decisions to help solve their problems.
I can truly say I would not be where I am today without AOHP. The camaraderie is beyond compare, and I have developed some life-long friendships. These friendships would not have been nourished if I had not taken the plunge and become active at both the chapter and national levels. I challenge each and every one of you to get involved with AOHP, step up to the plate and be heard. Let your passion show! You won’t be disappointed.
Cecelia Baroni Granahan, BS, RN, ONC, COHN-S