Page 3 - Spok Inside Track

A SPOK NURSE’S PERSPECTIVE

I became a Nurse Practitioner (NP) because I’m a klutz. I managed to end up in the ER
numerous times; 7 sets of stitches and 3 broken bones to date. These experiences led
me to my chosen profession – I wanted to be a “nice” ER doctor when I grew up. Fast
forward a few years I received Grey’s Anatomy as a birthday present and was
instantly hooked on the human body. Off I went to St. Olaf College as a pre-med major
until I found myself failing organic chemistry my sophomore year. After a mini-
existential crisis, I enrolled in the nursing program and never looked back.

Throughout my 20+ year career, I’ve had many wonderful opportunities to utilize my
nursing skills and I want to share several things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Once you’re a nurse, you’re always a nurse. A lot of people can leave their job at the office but not us. The
skills you use as a nurse are adaptable in everyday lives – critical thinking comes in handy when you’re trying
to solve who did it in Clue as much as it does when a patient presents with non-specific medical complaints.
2. I am never “just a nurse”. Nurses are the backbone of any health organization – we serve as the “eyes and
ears” of the patient but also their voice in a time when they are in a very vulnerable position. This power
should never be dismissed or ignored. When I hear any nurse say that line, I immediately correct them – “you
are the nurse”!
3. Nurses usually run in the opposite direction. In an emergency, nurses run towards the problem, not away.
This is evident in our current COVID-19 pandemic situation, but also in little ways. We stop at accidents,
respond to medical requests on airplanes and kiss the boo-boos of our children.
4. Nurses abhor change. It’s not that we hate change; it’s just that change is constant in our day-to-day
activities. We are required to learn new technology, respond to additional alarms and still provide high-
quality care to our ever-growing list of patients. Granted we know it is a high stress environment, but
consistency provides a sense of calm in the chaos of a shift.
5. We are all MacGyvers. We may hate change, but we love to invent. Being a MacGyver means creating
workarounds, inventing solutions on the fly to benefit the patient. We can get very artistic with tape and
tubes, and will adapt to new technology if, and only if, it is easy to use and solves an identified pain point.
6. Nursing is a profession, not an occupation. The road from occupation to profession is long, arduous and
comes with a cost. We have multiple levels of entry (LPN, 2 yr. RN, 4-year RN), various licenses and several
terminal degrees (MSN, DNP, PhD). With the increased visibility nursing received from COVID-19, my hope is
it will push us further down the path towards a recognized, vital profession in healthcare.

In conclusion, nursing has always been more than just my career. It’s a part of who I am, a definition of my
being. Without sounding incredibly corny, I think nursing chose me. It’s taken me around the world and allowed
me to bear witness to great happiness and sorrow. I’m excited to join Spok to help position our solutions for
success in the future of healthcare.

Personal info: I’m married, have 2 step-daughters (15 and 12), one dog and two
cats in Hudson, WI. I enjoy boating on the St. Croix, playing Euchre (card game),
reading People magazine and chit-chatting with friends and family.

Kiley Black, MSN, APRN, CNP
Director, Clinical Innovation