Nurse Spotlight - Jan Dickert
Nurse Spotlight
Q: How did you become interested in nursing?
A: My only sibling was developmentally disabled and I had an innate sense of wanting to be a caregiver. I also have a high level of empathy. After my high school graduation, I became a nurse’s aid at Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee to see if my desire really was the pathway to a nursing career and that job convinced me it was. I have proudly been in the nursing profession since 1972.
Q: How many years have you been on the VaxPro nursing team?
A: I believe I was the first nurse hired in 2006 following a discussion with Steve Nye, Co-founder. VaxPro was still in the early stages of its start-up.
Q: What do you enjoy about the flu shot, TB testing and Biometric Screening clinics that VaxPro provides?
A: I enjoy the interaction with many different people along with the diversity of the businesses and the wellness initiatives that VaxPro is involved with.
Q: How do you deal with a nervous patient at one of the clinics?
A: I let the patient lead me. An anxious patient will usually tell you about their fears and concerns the moment that they first meet you. I explain the procedure and process to them in a language that they will understand and ask them for any input or questions they might have; thereby allowing me to make them more comfortable. Often using a soft tone of voice can be calming and beneficial when addressing the patient’s needs. I let them tell me when they are ready to proceed, because I believe it offers the person a feeling of having some control over the situation.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of being a nurse?
A: There are so many components to that question but I think for myself, primarily it is the genuine smile and thank you I receive from a patient. I like to hope that I end each encounter with them on a positive note, and that in some small way I might have made a difference in their life. Caring is the essence of nursing.