Chris Williams, RN
Intensive Care Unit

"The field is wide open. It’s a great opportunity to do lots of different things."

"I had always been interested in biology and the sciences. I like the blood and the guts. I was curious about all the systems and physiology and anatomy. So I knew I was kind of going towards nursing, but probably not medical school. I gave some thought to being a medical technician, but I really wanted to work around people.

I had a few relatives who were nurses and they told me what nursing was about. They said it was flexible, had great hours, and you get to work around lots of people. I looked into it and got into a pre-nursing program and eventually got into nursing. And here I am today.

It’s very flexible. You can work part-time or full-time. You can work in so many different areas. There’s everything from OB to a doctor’s office, to intensive care, to being a flight nurse on a trauma helicopter. You can do administration work, you can do research. The field is wide open. It’s a great opportunity to do lots of different things.

You have to be compassionate. You are taking care of people who are sick. You see a lot of sad things. You see a lot of death. But you see a lot of happy things, too. A lot of times people do get better and do leave the hospital, and sometimes they come back and see you, which is great.

A lot about nursing depends on what your goals are in life. But a lot of it depends on your drive, your personality, what kinds of things you want to get out of life.

In critical care you really have to be prepared for anything to happen. Things can happen fast.

When I first started working as a tech here at St. John’s, I started working in ICU. You really get to know everyone well. We have a lot of fun. There’s a lot of emotional times, a lot of fun times, a lot of really sad times.

Things happen so fast and you have to react fast to them. The amount of help comes so quickly - everyone pitches in. It’s teamwork that I haven’t seen anywhere else or even really heard of. I love working where I work.

I would have to say that nursing is a great field. You have to be assertive. If you’re not assertive, then this will improve those skills. I think you have to be a teamplayer. If you really can empathize with patients and family members and you’re a good communicator, I think you’ll do well.

You see a lot of trauma … some really interesting cases and good patients to work with. I really like the people here at St. John’s."

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