Alison Thompson
RN/BSN, Rapid City OB/GYN
Tell me about yourself.
Iβm the mom of two boys: Brock is 14 and just started his freshman year of high school and Derek is 12. We like to spend time at Center Lake in Custer State Park, and both kids are into sports and other extracurricular activities.
Why did you choose a career in nursing?
My mother was a community health nurse all my life; she just retired last year but is still getting called in to help. Sheβs always been the hardest worker Iβve ever known and an awesome role model.
How long have you been a nurse?
Iβve been a nurse for 16 years. I started out as a βvolunteenβ my senior year and got a job as an admissions associate on the clerical and business end right out of high school, working with pre-op, preadmissions, and post-op. A big chunk of my early career was spent as an RN on the cardio-thoracic team in the OR. I completely switched gears and moved to OB/GYN even though I didnβt know anything about it other than the fact that Iβm a woman and I have kids. Iβve been there three years now and love it.
What is most rewarding about your job?
I enjoy hearing peoplesβ stories. Every patient is differentβthey all have unique needs, and I like to gear my nursing skills toward what they need. I love learning from seasoned nurses; some have taught me things that Iβve learned I donβt want to do, but most of them teach me how I can improve. I also love the diversity of nursing; thereβs a huge range of what you can do. If youβre feeling stuck in one area, there are so many opportunities to do different things.
What do you find most challenging?
Learning to give myself some slack and not bringing those really hard days home with me. Nursing is very rewarding and you do awesome things, but there are hard days, too. Remembering to take care of myself and learning to forgive myself is huge. Itβs important to have balance, and that can get skewed if you arenβt careful.
What skills make a nurse exceptional?
Thereβs no perfect nurse, but the best ones allow themselves to be humbled. Be teachable because itβs always changing. Be innovativeβtry to figure out what youβre going to do that will benefit your patients the most. Be consistent. Everybody has good and bad days, but when you walk in the door, leave home at home. Consistency lets patients know youβre there for them.
What advice would you give others thinking about becoming a nurse?
Always put the patient first. This wonβt always make you the most popular in the room; everybody has a boss, and a lot of them have to answer to insurance companies. You have to fight for them and be a patient advocate. They need someone to help them maneuver through the healthcare system. Go above and beyond for every patient and do more than whatβs expected.
If you hadnβt gone into nursing, what do you think youβd be doing?
I love gardening and cooking, so Iβd probably choose something in horticulture. My parents are in the tourism industry and I grew up with that, so Iβve always thought it would be great to have a little motel or something touristy.
WORDS: MARK PETRUSKA
PHOTOS: JESSE BROWN NELSON
