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Interviews
Carly Wolnitzek
University of Kentucky

Featuring Interviews from Angela

Schaufert and Theresa Amon, RNs
from Good S amaritan Hospital in
Cincinnati, OH.

Angela Schaufert currently works at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio

in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU). Angela received her Licensed
Practical Nurse (LPN) associates degree from Ivy Tech and then furthered her education
at the University of Phoenix where she received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing
(BSN). Lastly, she started to receive a Masters degree at the University of Cincinnati in
an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and was one year away from finishing until
she had to stop schooling. Angela has been a Registered Nurse since 2007.
Q: In high school what were your career goals?
If your major changed in college, what caused you to change it?
Angela: At the age of 17, I became pregnant so I finished high school but did not go to
college right away. I then married and had two other children. My youngest is now 22.
After high school, I worked in a fertilizer factory and soon realized I needed to change
my life and do something different. I always wanted to be a nurse since high school. It
took me awhile due to financial limitations and the time it took to raise three children
without much support from my husband. I did eventually go back to school to become a
registered nurse with an associate degree. I eventually got a divorce and once my
youngest turned 18 and I was financially capable, I furthered my education with a BSN.
Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job?
What is the hardest part?
Angela: The most satisfying part of my job is being able to see the progression of the
patients from open heart surgery to discharge. I am instrumental in making a difference
in their life after a life changing event. I assist them with their basic needs, manage their
most intensive care, educate them, and assist them as they transition to home.
Q: What is your goal in life and have you met it yet?
Angela: My goal is to become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. I have not met this yet.
I was 1 year away from my Nurse Practitioner (NP), yet I had to quit due to my divorce.
Now, I have been told by NP programs that I will need to reapply and start over to obtain
my NP. I have not decided how I am going to proceed from here.
Q: Who has impacted you the most and how?
Angela: My children have impacted me the most. If it wasnt for my children, I would
not have worked so hard to obtain a career that is financially dependable and worthy of
self respect. My children have been my incentive!
Q: How did you in the past and how are you currently managing your job with
raising a family?
Angela: I had managed working and family in the past by working weekend shifts only.
I was given a money incentive to work Saturday and Sunday, 8 hour day/night rotation

only. I was then off during the week when my children needed me the most. My
husband or other family members where there for my children on the weekends. I could
make the most amount of money by the least amount of time. Currently, I work full time,
three 12 hour day shifts per week. I obtain full time benefits and am able to see my
children more, who are out of town now. These hours are more flexible as I am able to
schedule myself the three days of the week. I still do every third weekend.
Q: What do you find unique about your career field?
Angela: Everyday is different. This is what is unique to my job. Everyday I meet new
people or patients, have different experiences, and am presented with different
opportunities. The thing that is the same is the basic education that I apply to these
different situations.
Q: What sacrifices have you had to make to succeed in this field, and do you feel the
sacrifices were worth it?
Angela: Working weekends as the children were growing, I missed out on a lot of their
activities. Most hospital RNs are required to work weekends and holidays. So I missed
some important holidays. When I worked night shift, 7PM to 7AM, I lacked sleep due to
a different sleeping schedule, not obtaining a sound sleep, and needing to be available for
my family during the day. I was tired, cranky, and really unhappy.
Q: What kind of people experience the greatest success in the field?
Angela: People who are adaptable, dependable, want to increase their knowledge base,
are open to change, want to be mentally challenged, and want to help other people are the
ones who experience the greatest success in this field.
Q: Has your career changed in anyway from when you first entered the field and
now?
Angela: My field has changed in how we chart. I have gone from writing on paper
charts to now all of the charting concerning the patients is done on the computers at the
bedside. I rarely use my pen!
Q: Any advice for aspiring health professionals?
Angela: My one advice is obtain your BSN at the beginning in college as this is a
stepping stone to further that degree.

Theresa Amon currently works in the Cardiovascular Care Unit (CVICU) at Good
Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has resided in this unit for the last two years
as the Night Charge Nurse. Theresa attended Miami University in 1990 where she
received her Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) and furthered her education at the
College of Mount Saint Joseph in 2010 to obtain her Bachelors of Science in Nursing
(BSN). She started her career in 1990 at Providence Hospital in Cincinnati and then
continued at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati as a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1992.
Q: In high school what were your career goals?
Theresa: In high school my career goal was something in business.
Q: If your major changed in college, what caused you to change it?
Theresa: So just after I graduated from high school my dad was transferred to Athens,
Ohio from Alabama. I did not where to go to college, so I took an office job until I could
decide on a college. I was also supporting myself. I soon realized, I did not like the
confinement of the office and not being able to move around. I discovered that I could
attain an associate degree in nursing in two years and start working. This was the fastest
way I could become financially independent.
Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job?
What is the hardest part?
Theresa: The most satisfying part of my job is helping patients transition from being so
sick to well enough to be able to go home. The hardest part of my job are my
responsibilities as a charge nurse. The challenge is when confronted with the different
personality types and then trying to keep the peace between coworkers. Ensuring that
everyone is helping one another as well as seeing to that the patients are receiving the
optimal of care from each nurse on the unit. Definitely interpersonal and communication
skills are essential as a nurse.
Q: What is your goal in life and have you met it yet?
Theresa: My goal is to one day further my education to educate other nurses by
teaching. I have not obtained this yet, I would need to go back for my Masters in Nursing
(MSN) or Education.
Q: Who has impacted you the most and how?
Theresa: My preceptor in nursing school in my last semester, has impacted me the most.
She was a person and a nurse that I wanted to be most like.
Q: How did you in the past and how are you currently managing your job with
raising a family?

Theresa: I am single, so I have time and flexibility that I can travel, and then also see my
family who are out of town.
Q: What do you find unique about your career field?
Theresa: I have different experiences everyday. I continue to learn everyday I work.
And of course, I have made a difference to the many people I have cared for.
Q: What sacrifices have you had to make to succeed in this field, and do you feel the
sacrifices were worth it?
Theresa: I have sacrificed my time on weekends and holidays. I work strictly nights, so
while most people are up and working, Im sleeping. However, I enjoy the nights and
love to be around people.
Q: What kind of people experience the greatest success in the field?
Theresa: To be a successful nurse, you need to be balanced. You need to be serious, yet
have a sense of humor. You need to know how to communicate effectively, yet also
know when to be quiet. You need to be mentally tough, yet emotionally available to help
those in need. You need to be smart and open to change and new challenges. Most of
all you need to have compassion and a love of people, and most often placing peoples
needs before your own! The unit may be so busy some nights that I forget to pee or eat!
Some of the above attributes will come with experience if not already present at the
beginning. Yet, compassion and a willingness to help has to be there the first day on the
job.
Q: Has your career changed in anyway from when you first entered the field and
now?
Theresa: The job is so much more technical and time management oriented. Theres
more of an emphasis on getting patients through quickly. Charting has changed to
where we now chart everything on a computer. Advancements in medicine have helped
more people. Patients who are in the hospital now are much sicker requiring more and
intensive care.
Q: Any advice for aspiring health professionals?
Theresa: Have an open mind. Try to get as much on the job training has you can before
and during school, nurse aid, and volunteer.