Interview Questions for Addison Aldridge

1. Why did you choose nursing as a career?

After graduating high school, I was not sure what I wanted to do. I developed a rapport
with a counselor at school and had spoken to him about these concerns. He advised me
that he had a friend that worked at the hospital. An interview was set up and the next thing
I knew, I had a job working as a phlebotomist. I worked in this role a year full time. I
realized that there was not room for advancement in this role.
During my time in the inpatient units, I had developed relationships with the nurses.
Some more than others. I made the decision to go back to nursing school. There was a
school of nursing associated with the hospital, so it seemed like a good move to make. I
enrolled at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital School of Nursing full time while I continued to
work full time in the lab as a phlebotomist.
I never felt that nursing was a calling for me. However, after being in nursing for 26
years, I have had the opportunity to touch many people. Some have been patients, family
members, and even coworkers.

2​. ​Why are/were you interested in the ICU and what reasons lead you to
choose the ICU rather than, say the ER?
In my role as a phlebotomist, I was able to go everywhere throughout the house. I went
to labor and delivery one time and saw a baby being born. As I mentioned earlier, I had
developed relationships with some of the staff – ICU just caught my attention. I interviewed
there and was offered a job that same day. And I have been there ever since.

3. Where did you go to college for nursing?

A. What were some of your other choices?
B. Why did you choose as you did?
Associate Degree in Nursing and Diploma in Nursing – Cabarrus Memorial School of Nursing
This school was associated with the hospital, so it seemed logical to apply and go there. I was
already familiar with the facility, staff, processes, etc. The first year I lived at the dorm. It was a
good experience and there was not added cost.

Baccalaureate in Nursing – Gardner-Webb University – GOAL program

By the time I decided to go back to nursing school again, I was married and working full time. I
needed a program that supported a working adult learner. This program was geared toward
exactly that. Gen ed classes were two nights a week and the nursing classes were held during
the day – two days a week, so I could make my work schedule around those days. Another
feature that drew me to this program was that they did not require a foreign language and they
didn’t employee a lot of foreign instructors – none in the nursing program that I encountered. I
wanted to make sure that I could understand what the professor was saying.

Master of Science in Nursing with a Nursing Administration concentration – Gardner-Webb

University
It seemed logical to return to GWU since I was familiar with them and they had all my BSN
information. I anticipated going back through the GOAL program again. The GOAL program
didn’t even exist anymore. Classes had transitioned to an online format. It took me some time
to get adjusted to this – I am not the best at technology sometimes. But, eventually it turned
out to be okay. I especially liked that I could work from home at anytime of the day or night.
However, one aspect that was a challenge – you basically taught yourself. You could set up
skype meetings with the professor or make a phone call. You just didn’t have that face to face
interaction – I missed that.

4. What do you think is the best part about working as a nurse in the ICU?
Hmmmm. I think it would be the autonomy you have. We have 24/7 intensivist coverage.
Over time trusting relationships are developed. They trust your opinion and taking your
recommendations into the plan of care. Mind you, they don’t tolerate a lot of nonsense and
will bite at times.

5. What is the most challenging thing about nursing in the ICU?

Staffing. As you know, there is a nursing shortage – with the baby boomers retiring from the
profession and young folks are not drawn to nursing as they once were. It’s hard and they can
make more money in technology fields. Healthcare is also a business and those business folks
think that all patients are the same and you should be able to staff your unit the same all the
time. In critical care, the acuity changes throughout the shift. Assignments are changed to
accommodate the changing needs of the patients. All nurses are not the same either. Some
nurses just cannot handle a real sick patient – and as a charge nurse, you learn really quick who
can and who can't, and you factor that into your assignment making. There is a lot of decision
making that goes into staffing the unit each shift.

6. How long have you been working in the ICU?

In June of 2019 – I will have been a critical care nurse in the same unit for 27 years.

7. Have you thought about leaving? If so, why?

Everyday! No, just kidding. Nursing is not different than any other job. It’s hard, it’s draining, it
take a toll on you mentally, physically, and spiritually but you learn how to cope with it all.
There are some days you leave and think, I have to find something else to do – but you come
right back. And the beauty of nursing is there are so many different avenues a nurse can take.
You can change the type of nursing you do but never leave the profession.
Bedside nursing is rewarding when families thank you for taking care of their loved one, or they
send in a letter mentioning your care, or they nominate you for a Daisy Award. Nurses are
invited into some of the most intimate moments in life – at birth, when patient and families are
at their most vulnerable states during illness or tragic events, and at the moment when our life
on this earth is over. The doctors are there - in and out – but the nurse is there all the time.

8. What advice would you give a high school student considering nursing as a
career?
I would tell you to go and shadow different nursing roles that you are interested in. And for
more than just a couple hours. That gives you a very brief glimpse – but not enough. I would
recommend a few shifts – days and nights. When you shadow, you need to keep up with the
nurse. If you were shadowing with me and seemed disinterested and not going with me in the
rooms and jumping in when you see something needs to be done – I'm not chasing you around.
I don’t have time for that. Just like when we have students. We notice the ones who are top of
things and the ones that sit out at the desk. And when they apply – you remember those
things.
It would be beneficial for you to work as a nursing assistant - you can learn a lot in this role. It
makes you appreciate what they do – when you are a nurse.
Start your retirement funding as soon as you get a job – even if you think it is SO far away. You
will be glad that you did. And you might ask what to start with – at minimum whatever the
company you work for matches, otherwise your losing money.

9. Based on your experience, would you choose a different area of nursing if

you could? If so, why?
No, I don’t think I would change critical care. However, if I could go back, I would have been a
nurse practitioner in the critical care area, but the use of mid-level providers has only come in
vogue within the past five years. I could do that now but I would have to go back and get my
NP certificate and that takes two years and I’m 47 years old. I think I have missed that boat.
I’m looking toward how I can work less.
I have taken on another role on the unit. They call me Mama Mann. The younger nurses ask
me life related questions and I try to keep them straight.
I would recommend getting you advanced degrees early on in your career.