Frann, RN

What made you want to become a nurse?

I fought the idea of being a nurse for so long, but when I was pregnant in the hospital and about to deliver my first child, I couldn’t avoid it anymore. I was in Labor and Delivery, waiting to be induced, and was walking the halls when I heard another mother screaming her head off in the middle of a contraction. I stayed with her for a bit, trying to be helpful by saying things like, “We can do this, we can get through this – It’s not going to be that hard.” A Jamaican nurse observing the interaction came over and said I should seriously consider nursing as a profession. She seemed so sure of herself and me, which was really encouraging, especially coming from a stranger, so I went for it.

I’m from the Caribbean, and back home, the nurses can be tough, which turned me off to the field for a while, but nursing is such an honorable profession to me, so I feel like that’s part of what I do now. I’ve reclaimed nursing for myself and try to uphold the honor of the profession so patients can have better experiences than the ones I saw back home.

For nurses, patient care can look different depending on the setting you’re in – What does patient care look like for you as a nurse at The Jewish Board?

I’m a talker! Nurses in mental health spend lots of time one-on-one with clients, and patient care can include making sure clients feel comfortable opening up and sharing how they feel, which involves being comfortable talking with them A LOT.

At The Jewish Board, we also do our usual duties like administering medications, but for the most part, patient care for me is being a proactive communicator and being willing to assist our clients in any way that I can. Whatever clients need, I’m there to help, whether it pertains to nursing or not.

What is your favorite part of being a nurse?

This might sound cheesy, but conversations with our older clients are the best, especially with older women. I love hearing about what’s going on for them and diving into their world outside of where we see them. Sometimes when you work in mental health, it can seem like you’re working with people at their lowest moments, but then you get to talk with them and learn about the rich lives they’ve lived, even with mental health needs. Those moments are really powerful for me.

Who inspires you and why?

The women in my life! My Grandmother, who is 91 years old, is an amazing support system for our family, alongside my mother, aunts, and mother-in-law. They’re all incredibly hard-working, loving, and supportive women. Those qualities are important to me.

What’s the last song you listened to?

Hello by Kes; it’s a really bright, fun Soca song that I love when I’m on the treadmill and in the zone.

You spend so much time caring for others; what’s one way you practice self-care and unwind?

I loved having long creative nails as a young person, but I stopped for years. I recently started going to get my nails done regularly again, and that time for me is precious because it’s time that’s just for me – I don’t have to be in mom-mode or be worried about who has to get picked up or dropped off somewhere; It’s just Frann time.

Do you have a message for your fellow nurses?

Make sure your heart is in it. If your heart is in it and you truly enjoy being a nurse, it makes what we do so much easier. We sometimes get blinded by the fact that nurses can make a good living, but we can also get really burned out. I work in PROS, where many clients have chronic illnesses and need lots of support, and it can be taxing, but when your heart is in it, it really makes the work easier.