In The Field: This California based nurse offers fun self-care tips and why she likes urgent care
Los Angeles urgent care nurse, Debra MerzKieffer tells us why she likes being an urgent care nurse; even before it was the norm. Also, she offers great self-care tips and encourages seasoned nurses to make friends with new nurses.
Debra MerzKieffer, RN
Q: TRUE or FALSE “Nurses eat their young.”
A: False, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with new nurses although some think they are wiser.
Q: What is your specialty and where are you based?
A: Urgent care in Los Angeles.
Q: Any self-care or mental health tips for new nurses?
A: Regular manicure/pedicures, massages, exercising outdoors if possible, treat yourself to a shopping day and lunch. Drinks with coworkers after a tough day.
Q: How did you choose your specialty? What drew you to it?
A: Fresh out of LVN school with no clinic training, I started working in urgent care with an RN that was so much fun and taught me so much. I loved the variety of patient care in urgent care, and back then urgent care was not a common thing. After I got my RN license, I continued with urgent care, because the hospital was not attractive to me at all.