Jaclynn Ford RN, MSN

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What is your current position? How did you come to be in this position?

My current position is a staff RN at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehab. The facility is a combination of a long term care facility and a rehab. I found this position on the mass.gov website which posts all jobs in Massachusetts. The facility was very willing to hire and train new grads, which I found very appealing.

What are your roles and responsibilities?

My role is to administer medications to 21 patients/residents and perform any treatments (dressing changes, topical medications, colostomy/woundvac care, etc), and report any abnormal assessments to the patient’s doctor.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

The most fulfilling part of my job is when working with rehab patients. In the beginning you see how medically unstable/in poor health they are, but after a few weeks of working with nurses, PT, OT you get to see them build their strength and return to their previous baseline in which they are able to return home.

What are the challenges of your current position?

With 21 patients, the most challenging part of my position is time management. There will be days where everyone needs their nurse “urgently,” but you learn with experience how to prioritize what needs to be addressed first.

What influenced you to go into nursing? What influenced you to choose
this specialty?

I was always interested in the medical field and initially wanted to be a doctor. The aspect that changed my mind is the patient connection and relationship as a nurse you build with your patient, that a doctor does not get. I chose this specialty because of the Rehabilitation clinical. I loved the rehab setting in clinical, and getting to see the progress patients made I found one of the most fulfilling aspects of nursing.

What degrees or certifications would you recommend a nursing school
student interested in your specialty?

I would recommend getting a BSN for a degree because in the future if you would like to advance your degree, it takes less time if you initially have your BSN. I would highly recommend becoming IV certified. It is a very useful skill in any specialty no matter where you practice.

What would you say to someone who is considering going into nursing?

Nursing school is A LOT of hard work, but in the end it is worth it. And do it for the love of the job, not the money.

What should someone graduating with a nursing degree expect in the
next few years?

They should expect to learn something new every day. I can honestly say with every day going to work, I have learned something new. Whether it is a medication, disease process, or treatment I have learned something new every day.