1. What’s the hardest thing about being a nurse?
For me, the hardest thing about nursing is the physical side. Being on my feet for an entire 12-hour shift, working night shifts, and lifting patients takes a toll. I take weekly yoga classes and do CrossFit for stamina and endurance. The stronger I am physically, the better I can deal with whatever nursing throws my way.

2. Are you comfortable working with other doctors and nurses?
I find I work well under a variety of conditions and circumstances and I take pride in my flexibility. I really enjoy working in a team because I often find that different viewpoints can help me find solutions to a problem I might not think of on my own. I also enjoy self-motivating and I am equally comfortable working alone.

3. What are the different roles of a nurse?
According to me, a nurse plays different roles in her profession. The main role of a nurse is caregiver. Along with that, she can work as an advocate for the patients or as a mediator or counselor, or sometimes she can be an educator for junior nurses.

4. Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.
I strongly believe that I have good communication skills and I possess good leadership qualities. Moreover, I really listen to what a patient tells me, hence I feel my listening skill is the best. When it comes to my weakness, I think I am a little stressed, and some critical situations make me nervous. However, I am managing these limitations by practicing meditation and yoga. The good thing is that I see a lot of changes nowadays, and now I am more confident in handling any difficult situations.

5. How do you deal with someone who isn’t satisfied with your patient care?
There are instances where the patients are not happy with our care. Difficult patients have one thing in common: they are unhappy with some aspect of the service they’ve received at our facility. It’s our responsibility to address the complaint diplomatically and ensure it will not negatively affect the patient’s satisfaction. So, if it happens, I usually listen to them carefully, identify their problem, and empathize with them. Then, I’ll try to find a better solution. In case I am not able to do so, I’ll definitely get the support of my seniors or any doctors.

6. Do you think nurses should attend continuous nursing education?
Yes, I strongly believe that the continuous nursing education program helps nurses to update themselves with the current practices in the profession. Moreover, it is mandatory to have specific hours of continuous nursing education in order to renew nursing registration. Hence, continuous nursing education is extremely important for nurses.

7. What are the current trends in this profession?
Nursing is a dynamic profession, and changes happen on a daily basis. Nowadays, technology plays a vital role in my profession. For instance, paper records that we used in older days have been updated to electronic records. Besides, at present, we are following evidence-based practice, which means there is a scientific rationale for each and every procedure. Moreover, nowadays a nurse can function as a nurse practitioner, which is equivalent to the position of a physician.

8. If you get a chance to change one thing in this profession, what would that be?
Well, if I get an opportunity to change one thing in this profession, I would definitely change the attitude towards nursing because I strongly believe that nurses deserve more respect and recognition in society.

9. Describe some of the ethics which you are following in your profession.
Of course, nurses should maintain some ethics in their life, such as punctuality, honesty, and truthfulness. Moreover, it is highly important to maintain the confidentiality of the patient.

10. Tell me about a difficult situation you experienced in your profession.
Once, I had an Arabic patient who couldn’t speak English, and I was not able to speak in their language. It was really difficult for me to understand his concerns. However, I handled the situation by seeking the help of a translator.

11. Could you talk about the risk involved in nursing?
There are certain risks involved in nursing. There are chances of getting chronic back pain and radiation exposure, and we may also get needle-stick injuries. In addition to that, there are chances of getting infections like TB or HIV.

12. How do you manage your stress at work?
I manage my stress during work through proper planning. That is, I prioritize my patients based on their conditions. Therefore, I will be able to attend to all my patients on time with proper care.

13. How do you manage your time at work?
I usually manage my time through proper planning and prioritizing patients, and I can proudly say that I was never late in doing my responsibilities until now.

14. Tell me about your hometown.
My hometown is Idukki, Kerala. It is one of the main tourist destinations in Kerala. Moreover, it’s famous for its cultural heritage. My hometown is blessed with beautiful landscapes, greenery, and backwaters.

15. What are the necessary skills required for a nurse?
I believe that there are many essential skills required for a nurse, such as listening skills, communication skills, observation skills, and critical thinking skills.

16. Could you please tell me the most satisfying element in your profession?
The most satisfying element in my profession is the positive feedback from patients that I receive at the end of my care, I mean, when they recover from their illnesses. Moreover, the smile at the time of their discharge from the hospital.