Sacramento Nurses Are Constantly Learning And Improving To Help Their Patients
When it comes to fields like healthcare and nursing, there is nothing more important than staying educated. Amy Wallen, RN, is the clinical nurse manager for Wellbound of Sacramento because she earned a Masters in Business Administration and Nursing and became a Certified Nephrology Nurse.
What is your background?
"I worked in dialysis for seven years, half of which I was doing in-center hemodialysis and the other half was spent training patients to do dialysis at home. For the last two years, I have managed my current home dialysis clinic, and the two years prior to that I managed an in-center in Texas."
What is your advice to someone considering working in your field?
"In my experience, you either love it or you really don't. My advice to anyone who is interested in dialysis is to find out why you do the things you do, and really understand the significance."
What is the usefulness of re-educating a seasoned workforce?
"Well, as I said before, it is important to know why you are doing something. For a lot of the 'seasoned' nurses, they may have gotten into a routine and may not be seeking out the knowledge they should. It is important, no matter what stage of your career you are in, to keep yourself apprised of developments in your field."
How has a degree helped you succeed in your field?
"My degrees have opened doors, but they don't teach you about dialysis in nursing school. My degree allowed me to be in my current and former managerial position at a young age. I became a nurse manager when I was 25. I am 31 now, and feel like I have a lot of good experience for my age."
How important have your degrees been for you?
"VERY important. It is not the degree, it is the knowledge. I don't think I will ever stop going to school, I like it. I know I will never stop wanting to wake up and learn each day."
Megan Bowyer is a freelance writer in search of the best food and drinks that Sacramento has to offer. You can find her at any number of dive bars or trendy restaurants; just look for the short blonde feeding the jukebox. Her work can be found at "Examiner.com"
