The Interview with the Nurse

The Interview with the Nurse

My name is Harjit, and I will be interviewing Miss Olainka, who is a Registered Nurse (RN). This interview is aimed to ask a question regarding her career and her professional life. The interview was conducted on March 19th, 2013 at 3:00 pm. I scheduled the interview one day before. It was an empty room at the house of RN. I used a tape recorder/ audio to record the interview. As she requested, no video camera was used. In addition, the submission method is typed word transcript of the entire interview.

The interview

Greeting

Me: Good Afternoon Miss Olainka. How are you today?

Olainka: I am good Harjit, thank you. How is everything at your end?

Me: Things are fine with your prayers.

Question

Me: As I have informed you about this interview, I'll focus on you and your nursing profession, how about we start by you telling us something about yourself?

Olainka: My name is Akinlou Olainka, from Nigeria. I am a black African-American woman working as a RN in DC hospital.

Primary Question 1

Me: Miss Olainka, when you first came to US, did you wish to continue your studies here? And most importantly, why you preferred to stay here to practice the profession?

Olainka: I came to USA in 1997, when I was an associate nurse. I completed my Masters in Nurse practitioner from Washington, D.C. I found US to be a far bigger state than Nigeria, so I decided to stay here for my practice, to obtain more practical experience. Even at the time of swine flu, I decided to stay here and serve.

Follow-Up Questions

Me: So far do you regret your decision?

Olainka: No, not at all. US has considerably polished me as a nurse in my profession.

Me: So far, how was your experience in the nursing practice?

Olainka: My experience has been great. Over the last 16 years, I have witnessed so many changes that took place.

Primary Question 2

You mentioned the outbreak of swine flu, when did this outbreak occur? Did u find any difference of the treatment given by the nurses at those times, and now? How were patients treated in hospitals, and what duties were given to you, as a nurse?

The outbreak of pandemic swine flu occurred in 2009. At that time, outbreak was termed as pandemic, travelling from Mexico. The awareness was limited, and so were the resources. The nurse's shortage was at its peak.

The profession back then was slightly different from now. The major change is due to technology and leadership in the modern era. Before, we had to handle the burden of two or more nurses at a time. The individual patient-care therapy was not implemented. The nurses were forced by healthcare agencies, to get the vaccines of the swine flu, but we denied because we knew its effectiveness was not yet evaluates (www.uStoday.com). In contrast, large number of patients occupied the critical care and emergencies. Importantly, the fatality was high due to the lack of awareness ...