Playing competitive soccer taught Kelsey Green, B.S.N., R.N., PCCN, the importance of communication and teamwork. Those skills are key to Kelsey’s career as a nurse in the cardiac telemetry unit at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, where she helps heart patients navigate the many procedures they require and prepare them for life after discharge.
What did you want to be as a kid and how did you choose your career?
My whole family is in law enforcement. I knew I didn’t want to do that, but I still knew I wanted to help people. I didn’t have a specific experience that made me want to be a nurse. It’s just something I wanted to do, so I studied nursing in college and never looked back.
What do you like most about your job, and what’s the biggest challenge?
I love interacting with the patients and their families, learning about them and the different dynamics. The hardest part is the stress and trying not to bring my work home with me. I have a 2-year-old and one on the way.
What’s a typical day like?
We’re a very busy unit, so we usually have a lot of turnover. We do a lot of admissions and discharges; and we have a lot of patients going to different procedures all day. We’re sending them to the cath lab, to interventional radiology, and other places. We encourage early mobility and like our surgery patients to get three or four walks in per day. We provide education about their disease process and new medications that are prescribed. The ultimate goal is to make sure they understand everything they need to know to succeed after discharge.
How do you incorporate Consumer Focus into your work?
I try to individualize my care for every patient. Every person is different, and every person learns differently. I ask the best way they like to learn. Because I work with heart patients, I want to make sure they have all the information they need so they won’t end up getting readmitted.
What’s something about you that would surprise people?
I was a competitive soccer player in high school and college. I still hold the high school record in Oklahoma for most goals scored in a game – nine.
by Robin P. Loveman • Posted February 19, 2019
