Maria Wants to Be a Burn Nurse

Nurse Beth, MSN · Jan 7, 2019

Maria had suffered serious full-body burns in a horrific accident as a young child. For years, she was in and out of hospitals having surgery after surgery. Her childhood was marked by having surgery or recovering from surgery or waiting to have the next surgery. Birthdays were spent in ICU and pediatric units. Whirlpools and skin grafts and painful debridements are some of her most vivid memories.

One of Maria's earliest memories is looking up at her nurses who laboured over her dressing changes. She decided at the age of five she would be a Burn Nurse someday and help others.

Finally, right after her thirteenth birthday, Maria had her last surgery. There would be no more surgeries, no more treatments. Her scars were undeniably improved, but still highly visible. As a teen ager she experimented with make up and heavy concealer type products to cover the damaged tissue on her face and arms. But she found that she could never quite achieve the smooth look of the happy, smiling models in the advertisement pictures.

Maria studied hard, driving several miles from her rural small town to a large community college that offered a well-renowned nursing program. First she had to complete her pre-requisites, including the dreaded organic chemistry course, which she had heard from other students was so hard. It was. She took her TEAs test, and applied to the nursing program.

The day she was accepted she cried from pent-up relief and joy and just all-around overwhelming emotion. In nursing school, she had clinical rotations in every area- maternity, Med Surg, cardiac, ICU...but she never wavered from the resolve she had made to herself as a young girl. "Burn. I want to be a Burn nurse. I will be a Burn nurse."

The day finally came where she graduated and passed her NCLEX at first try. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, and even though the graduation ceremony was scheduled at seven thirty am, more than thirty of her family members showed up to watch her walk across the outdoor platform.

Now Maria had to find a job. Maria lives in an area that is very competitive for new grads. The chances of her getting a job were low, and lower still of getting a job in a Burn Unit.

Burn Units typically do not accept new grads because a burn unit nurse needs a broad nursing background before learning this speciality. For example, it would be typical for a Burn unit to hire a Med Surg RN and train them, or an ICU nurse. Often burn patients are ICU level acuity. The Burn nurse must also have knowledge of pediatrics, as many burns involve young children as a result of home accidents.

At the same time, industrial and recreational related burn accidents affect grown ups, such as oil field accidents or burns incurred while barbecuing.

Maria landed an interview at a hospital that had an inpatient Burn Unit. The panel interview included one of the ICU managers, and the ICU Staff Development Educator.

Maria did poorly on her interview. She was extremely nervous, and seemed to have little confidence. On question after question, she gave less than ideal answers. Her voice trailed off softly and her chin quivered. She froze. The ICU educator, Ashley, was inwardly pulling for her, because she saw something special through the nervousness. Every time Maria botched a question, Ashley's heart would sink. "Maria!" she thought. "You have to do better than this if you want the job!"

But then Maria perked up and spoke about how all her life all she ever wanted was to be was a Burn nurse. She wanted more than anything to help the three year old with devastating, painful burns, who did not yet even comprehend what was happening. To show them that she knew. That she knew what they were going through and that she would walk alongside of them.

As Maria spoke, her face, scarred on the outside, lit up from within. She literally glowed, and for a few moment, she was not the nervous, much-afraid new grad. She was beautiful. But then the interview closed, and she shrunk back into her protective shell.

"We'll be in touch" said Jeannie, the ICU manager.

Jeannie and Ashley met immediately afterwards, both upset.

Jeannie, " You know she is not Burn material. She'd drown!...but I want her! Did you see her face?"

Ashley, " I know!! We can't let her get away. She said this is her life dream. Just think how she could help our burn patients."

Jeannie, "But we can't hire her straight to Burn....hey, wait....What if we did some kind of individual orientation plan for her? Like, what if she did two twelves a week in burn, and one twelve shift in MedSurg?"

Ashley, "For ten weeks?! Then the next six weeks, she spends one day a week in ICU? I love it, Jeannie!! Why not?"

Ashley and Jeannie "Squeeeeeeeee!"

Later that day, Jeannie called Maria and told her she was on speaker phone with Ashley also in the room.

Jeannie "Maria, we'd like to offer you a full time position in our Burn Unit."

Silence. Jeannie looked worriedly at Ashley.

Then they heard a sob through the speaker "This is the best day of my life! Thank you. Thank you so much"

That's the story of how three people made a difference. Maria will touch many, many lives in her nursing practice. She will shake her nervousness and go on to be an accomplished, confident professional. I'm sure this story will have a sequel.

Stay tuned.

Until next time friend,

Nurse Beth

Maria Wants to Be a Burn Nurse

About Nurse Beth, MSN

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