Marisol Lopez works as a Nurse for Trinity Health at a Loyola Medicine hospital, where she has been employed since November 2023.
She completed her education at Morton College and has been in the field of medicine since 2022.
Here’s what she had to say about her job:
Q: What advice would you give to someone in high school who wants to follow the same path?
A: My advice for someone in high school who wants to follow the same path is to talk to their advisor and ask them what classes are most beneficial for a future nursing career. Some high schools offer elective classes that will be able to transfer credits for college classes. I also advise looking into any partnerships their high school has with a college or university and finding out if they offer certified nursing assistant (CNA) courses. Being a CNA is definitely a great way to get your toes wet into the nursing profession.
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of nursing school, and how did you overcome it?
A: For me, the most challenging aspect of nursing school was time management and stress management. Being in nursing school is a commitment and I was aware that I needed to manage my time for class hours, study hours, homework hours and personal life minutes. Some of my friends did not understand why I couldn’t hangout the same amount of time like before. Most of my time had to revolve around nursing school. Unfortunately, I had to stop talking to some of my friends because my mental health was not at its best and they weren’t taking my new career into consideration in a way that I needed. The way I overcame this was by starting healthy relationships with my nursing school peers. My nursing school friends became the people that I would share most of my time with and they understood me because they were also going through the same circumstances with school and personal life.
Q: What advice would you give someone who is just starting their nursing education?
A: My advice to someone who is just starting their nursing education is to not give up and believe in yourself. There’s going to be times when you feel like you don’t belong in this career or that maybe this is not what you’re meant to do, but that is normal. Nursing school is so challenging, especially if you don’t have the best support system. I advise you to communicate with your family and loved ones and explain to them what your nursing school is going to consist of and the support you will need. There will be times when you won’t get the best grade, and it’ll feel like the end of the world, but it is okay! Nursing school is not easy and there will be certain classes that are not going to be your strong best, but it is okay. It’s okay if your friends get better grades than you, as long as you are trying your best and passing your classes, you will get there. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and to ask for tutoring or extra help with schoolwork if needed.
Q: If someone wanted to do what you do, what would be their first step after high school?
A: If someone wanted to go into a nursing career, after high school their first step would be to visit the university or college they plan to attend and meet with an academic advisor or counselor. Advisors are very helpful, and you can get all your questions answered. They will guide you through your required courses and will tell you how many credits you need and what specific classes you need to take. As long as you explain what your goal is, they will make an academic plan for you.
Q: How long have you been working in this field, and how did you get started?
A: I’ve been working as a registered nurse for two years now. I began working at my job as a CNA in 2022, so it wasn’t so difficult to get a job as a nurse because my manager helped me get hired at the same unit as I was working as a CNA. All my information was already in the system so all I needed was minimal paperwork to get hired as a nurse. Being a CNA, previously being a nurse helped me so much to gain communication skills and knowledge of patient care in the hospital setting.
Q: How do you manage work-life balance, particularly in a demanding profession like nursing?
A: I think I manage work-life balance pretty good. I appreciate my job schedule since I work full time in a hospital setting, that means I work 3 shifts per week. 4 days out of the week I am off, which gives me plenty of time to enjoy my personal life. I also do a good job, leaving work at work and not bringing it with me to my home. Nonetheless there are some patient cases that have impacted me and that I still carry with me but it’s mostly learning experiences with good outcomes.
Q: What do you do to recharge and take care of yourself outside of your nursing job?
A: In order to recharge and take care of myself outside of my nursing job, I must have a self-care day at least once a week. This includes getting a massage to release tension stress, getting my hair done and nails to increase self-esteem, having a relaxing day outside in nature to improve mental health and/or exercising to improve physical health. These things have helped me stay mentally sane and stress relief.
Q: How do you stay motivated and avoid burnout in a profession known for its high levels of stress and emotional toll?
A: Being a nurse is stressful and emotionally exhausting. The way I stay motivated is by reminding myself that every little thing I do for a patient is being recompensed by their health outcomes. The unit I work in is neurological and stroke related unit, so most of my patients are either in recovery or they are critically ill. Seeing improvement in patient’s health is incredible, and seeing the improvement in their spirit and their emotional state is fulfilling. There is also a feeling of satisfaction when you advocate and intervene for patients that have a change in status or suddenly, they are severely unstable; the realization that I have saved a life is sometimes surreal.
Q: Where do you currently work, and what is your specific role there?
A: I currently work for Trinity Health at Loyola Medicine hospital. My role is a registered nurse at a neurological/stroke/medical surgical unit. Patients under my care usually have neurological issues like stroke, seizures, Alzheimer’s, dementia, altered mental status, Parkinson’s disease, meningitis, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, Bell’s palsy, along with other diseases and illnesses. My responsibilities are interdisciplinary care, creating care plans, patient assessment, patient monitoring, treatment, medication administration, inpatient procedures education, patient and family education and support, advocacy and discharge education.
Q: What kinds of hours or schedule do you usually keep?
A: I am a night shift nurse; I work three 12-hour shifts per week. Sometimes I work overtime which means I work 4 shifts a week.
