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Not everyone starts out in the right career. For Michelle Sparks, RPN, it took a few tries before she found her true passion at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre.
Holding jobs ranging from waitress to manager, Michelle spent years searching for a profession that combined her mechanical skill and her interest in people. It wasn’t until 1995, when she enrolled in a Practical Nursing program at Loyalist College and a subsequent Operating Room Nursing Certificate program at Humber College, that she found her calling. She got a job as a surgical nurse immediately following graduation and hasn’t looked back since.
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“I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and knowing what’s needed next,” says Michelle. “It’s something I learned from my parents, and I’ve carried that with me. The first time I walked into an operating room and saw all the equipment, I knew I’d found home.”
Michelle’s love of the technical side of nursing led her to one of the busiest orthopaedic facilities in Ontario. The Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre performs more than 2,200 total hip and knee replacements every year in just four operating rooms.
“Surgery is such a critical point in a patient’s life and health,” says Michelle. “The longer a patient is in surgery, the higher their risk of complications. That means everyone in the operating room has to be at the top of their game and contribute equally. It’s a great place for RPNs to showcase their skills and stay challenged.”
Michelle acknowledges that RPNs sometimes have to work hard to prove their value on the healthcare team. She encourages other RPNs to consider a specialized nursing role.
“In the operating room, physicians, registered nurses and registered practical nurses have to rely on each other. There’s a mutual respect. Knowing I play such an important part in helping people get better, that I make such a concrete contribution to their well-being and get to see the results, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Want to learn more about SEIU Local 1 Canada RPNs who are making a difference? Visit Nursing Week 2011. |