Persevering To Achieve The Career Of My Dreams In Healthcare
BY DANIELLE FRUEH, NP
I have spent 15 years as a registered nurse working in the women’s health field. This ranges from working in a labor and delivery unit, OB research area, an infertility clinic, and as a triage nurse within a tertiary care center in the St. Louis women's assessment center. In my current position, I work as a nurse practitioner in a more rural area of southern Illinois where I work alongside a physician throughout the night caring for patients who are admitted or waiting to be admitted into the hospital. My current title is nocturnist/hospitalist nurse practitioner.
While my experience and expertise in the field has continued to thrive, I will be the first to admit that it was not an easy road getting to where I am today. Through the ups and downs of establishing my career, I never gave up or quit. There were many times I wanted to, but I always reminded myself of the end goal. Someone took a leap of faith in me and here I am today. What I want every woman to take away from my story is to also never give up, keep chasing her dreams and remember to take one step at a time, one day at a time.
Since childhood, I have always wanted to be a nurse. I even documented this dream in my 4th-grade journal as I always had a passion for healthcare and babies. While I initially wanted to work as a nurse in the NICU, I ended up starting my career as a labor & delivery nurse, helping to care for newborn babies and mothers, which I truly loved. Women and children’s health will always be near and dear to my heart.
Due to some health issues, there was a point in my career when I had to step back and take a break from nursing for a short time. During this hiatus, I spent a lot of time considering what I really wanted to accomplish both short-term and in the future. It was only after coming back from California that I decided I needed to make a change, and in my case, advance my knowledge and experience in the field of nursing.
I spent time as a nanny for twins while I was on a break from the field of nursing. It wasn’t until one afternoon during Fall while the kids were napping that I decided to make a phone call and explore graduate school opportunities. I figured there would be several steps to the process of applying, getting accepted, and entering into a graduate school program, but by the end of the conversation I was signed up and due to start within a very short time frame.
I ended up going to graduate school full time while also working full-time night shifts as a nurse. It was challenging to say the least and given the opportunity to do things differently I most likely would. The stress of working and school created inevitable bumps in the road. There were multiple times throughout this period when I felt as though I was having a complete meltdown. On numerous occasions, I asked myself “why am I doing this?”, and questioned if this career decision was going to be worth it. Looking back now I can confidently say that everything I went through and experienced was completely worth it.
I was determined and had the perseverance to never back down from these difficult moments. After graduate school ended, I faced a whole new set of challenges. When you are looking for a nurse practitioner position in an already saturated industry and your only direct nursing experience is in women’s health, you often hear “no” when applying for positions. I won’t lie, it was hurtful to hear and I questioned if I would ever be able to find a job. I tried my best to not give up hope and told myself that the right position would come along when the timing was right, but it was not always easy to stay motivated and optimistic.
I sometimes think back and wonder what if I had not taken this leap?
I was finally offered a position as a nurse practitioner in an office setting under the direct care model. While I was excited about the opportunity, I would have to move my entire life six hours from what I had always known as “home” to accept this position. After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to take the offer and I’m so glad that I did. This job opportunity provided me with many eye-opening experiences in the field. I learned some difficult life lessons throughout my time in this role. While this career change was not an easy decision, it is one that I consider a milestone accomplishment. I am proud to say that I never gave up on pursuing my dreams and fought hard to get to the point where I am now. I sometimes think back and wonder what if I had not taken this leap?
You will now find me working seven, twelve-hour night shifts in a row. I care for patients already admitted to the hospital, help have patients get admitted to the hospital from the emergency room, or in some cases, assist with admitting patients from outside, smaller hospitals, to help them get the proper diagnosis and care they need.
Throughout my time in this role, I’ve experienced caring for a wide range of patients and medical issues. I have helped identify and care for a patient who was having a stroke, another who fell and suffered from a serious head bleed, and even dealt with a patient who had sepsis, went into septic shock, and had to be moved several times into the ICU due to deterioration in their condition. To be able to say that this is what I do, and know that I have the ability to make a difference in someone’s life almost every day is huge. At times I have to make quick and immediate decisions regarding what I should prescribe and/or do in a variety of patient situations. Yes, this does mean that my job is demanding, stressful (both mentally and physically), and at times exhausting, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Over the past two years, the pandemic and treatment of Covid-19 patients have brought on a whole new level of stress and challenges, but I continue to persevere because I love what I do.
Overall, I want women in the medical profession to know that I admire and respect them and that they each have an amazing role. I’ll never forget the women who helped me along the way and look forward to providing that same help or advice to others who may be going through a career change or difficult time. I feel fortunate to have made some amazing friends throughout my career and journey; I truly enjoy watching the kids I have cared for grow up, having been there for their birth, hospitalization, or whatever the reason may have been. To know I made a difference in someone’s life means the world to me both professionally and personally. I strive every day to continue to be the best practitioner I can be and provide my patients with the best care possible.
ABOUT DANIELLE FRUEH, NP
Danielle lives near St. Louis, MO in a small farming community in Illinois. She grew up on a farm and continues to love being out in the tractor or combine during harvest. You’ll find her on her days off spending time with family and friends, practicing yoga, trying new restaurants, or enjoying some wine. When the weather is nice you’ll also find her riding the four-wheeler and getting muddy or at a country concert. She also enjoys spending time watching the twins (there are multiple sets in her life) that she has cared for.