While opening the large steel doors of the Intensive Care Unit, Amber Connell, a 24-year-old registered nurse, takes a deep breath and unwraps the stethoscope from around her neck, after working for a long 12 hours. “I’m constantly on my toes all the time and I always have to have my game face on,” says Connell, as it’s her job to be prepared for any issues that her critically ill patients might be facing that day.
The idea of becoming a nurse was not always her first choice, as Connell initially aspired to be a teacher. Throughout high school, she volunteered at local children’s centers and worked with children who have special needs. Connell says that after spending time with them and helping them with their medical needs, it ignited her desire to pursue nursing, as she says with pride, “I really made the right choice.”
However, the road to achieving her new found dream definitely came with some substantial ups and downs. After getting accepted to the nursing program at Western University, Connell packed up her things and moved from Brantford to London, ON. “It was a huge shock of living away for the first time; there was a higher level of academics and it was difficult for me to adjust,” says Connell, highlighting her first hurdle of university.
Not only was the pressure of university expectations weighing down on Connell’s aspirations, but during her first year at Western, her grandmother whom she was close with became very ill and ended up passing away. “There were moments where I thought I couldn’t finish school,” says Connell, as everything drastically changed at once. While battling feelings of grief and sadness, Connell pushed herself to not only improve her academics but also to become a stronger individual.
After a hard first year, Connell was determined to make Western her home away from home and decided to contribute her musical abilities to the university marching band by playing the bass clarinet. “It was a great networking opportunity for me, as I got to know people with the same interests as me,” clarifies Connell.
But, Connell’s main goal was to finish her university degree and feel confident in becoming a nurse when she graduated. “I didn’t want to step into the real world and not feel prepared,” says Connell. So, she focused on learning as much as she could and made peace with herself that asking questions was okay.
Currently, Connell is one of the youngest registered nurses in the Intensive Care Unit at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington, ON and continues to find learning opportunities to broaden her scope of knowledge. Despite her age, Connell is no stranger to the fast-paced and pressure-filled environment of the ICU, as her graduate placement was in the critical care facility at Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe, ON.
Working in both the emergency and the intensive care units throughout the beginning of her career pushed Connell to stay very organized and master her time management skills. Connell explains that she has a better handle on her day when she manages her time well: “I am able to provide better care to my patients and be able to recognize when one patient’s needs come over another.”
Even though Connell is experienced in critical care work, she says that it can sometimes feel like too much to handle: “There are moments that are overwhelming, and I am never really going to escape those.”
Kate Moffatt, who is one of Connell’s fellow co-workers, also agrees that the intensive care unit can sometimes feel overwhelming. Moffatt reflects that her biggest challenge is to remember to be patient with the families: “I have to remember the families coming in are just as stressed as I am and that I need to listen to their needs despite the tasks I may be doing.”
Connell and her fellow nurses constantly deal with patients who are suffering from serious illnesses and she says that it can be emotionally draining as a young adult. “Working in a critical care unit, the outcomes are not always good, and patients do die on my shift unexpectedly.”
It’s an emotional experience every time she loses one of her patients, as it’s difficult to cope with even after she leaves work for the day. Connell explains that she creates personal relationships with her patients and their families, as she is the one guiding them during their difficult time. “Looking forward into the future, I always see it (the death of a patient) as being a big challenge,” for no one, not even a nurse, can really prepare themselves to witness death on a constant basis.
Clearing her throat, Connell exclaims that even though her job doesn’t always bring her the best outcomes, being active helps her cope with whatever her workday brings: “I love being active and finding things to do that are mindless like rollerblading, bike riding, and swimming.”
Another way Connell channels her energy outside of work is volunteering with the Sunshine Foundation, an organization that takes children who have special needs to Walt Disney World for the day. “It really is a fun and magical trip for everyone that comes,” says Connell.
Not only does taking time for herself give Connell the opportunity to recharge from those long days in the ICU, she also has a great relationship with her co-workers at the hospital. When those hard days do come, Connell reassures, “I have a great support system in my unit. We all shed tears and laugh together; it’s a huge help.”
Teamwork in a critical care setting is an important element in providing the best care to patients, as everyone no matter their job title must be in tune with each other. Connell says that she works with a strong group of passionate people who are all there for the same reasons: to focus on growing their expertise to help those who are in need.
The dedication and love Connell has for her career are evident as she is genuinely interested in improving her skills to nurse her patients back to health. Although the intensive care unit can be perceived as a chaotic environment, full of unexpected twists and turns, Connell can’t imagine doing anything else. “I love what I do and I want to continue pursuing my career so I can keep doing what I love.”