Patricia Khuu
Central Vancouver region's Patricia Khuu, Beata Zakrewska and Amanda Rollins
Celebrating Our Profession
What is your unit or specialty?
General Surgery & Vascular Surgery, Central Vancouver region
How long have you been nursing?
Eight years
Why did you become a nurse and when did you know that nursing was for you?
Nursing as a career was always in the back of my mind in high school. I was halfway through my science degree when I realized I was impatient and that science at a molecular level wasn't where my passion was. I wanted to see the results of my actions immediately. I wanted to see proof that I was contributing and making a difference in someone's life. After I completed my degree, I applied to nursing.
How would you describe the work you do in one word?
Fulfilling
How does COVID-19 make you feel?
It makes me sad. Sad for those that have lost loved ones and for those whose lives and livelihoods have been indirectly affected. Sad to see the fear. Sad to see the division it has created in society.
Name one thing on your nursing bucket list.
I want to find a role where I can continue to make visible, immediate differences in someone's day, but that doesn't involve night shifts.
Celebrating Each Other
Why do you want to acknowledge Amanda and Beata?
I have worked on my surgical floor for over eight years. As I have grown as a nurse, I have taken on more responsibilities and have been exposed to different leadership roles.
I believe the most important leadership role is our charge nurse, our patient care coordinator. It is also a role that is often unfortunately overlooked and under-appreciated. On my ward, Amanda and Beata share this challenging position and I believe they do it with the utmost integrity and passion for patient care.
I can't count how many meal-breaks they've skipped and how many shifts end with them staying late into the evening. They are at our side for our 12-hour shifts. They deal with complex patients and families, support a dynamic workforce of nurses and allied health staff, and must juggle the seemingly endless demand for surgical beds.
Amanda and Beata are yin and yang. They are very different in how they carry out their roles and how they cope. Amanda does her role with grace and a steady hand. Beata does it with a flair for drama and high energy. They both make me appreciate what we can accomplish as a team. When either of them is away, it is a struggle to find those who are willing to step into their shoes. I think that says it all.
We have had the luxury of taking these two women for granted and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for showing up every day with a smile on their face and a drive to achieving quality care no matter what the day throws at them.•