Victoria Yandle discovered her passion for nursing at a young age during the care she received in the hospital. After 36 years working as an RN, she has returned to school to pursue a DNP.
Why are you Passionate about Nursing?
I discovered my calling to be a nurse after an accident brought me to the hospital for an extended visit of six weeks as a child. At 14, I had a freak accident and fell off my horse. I shattered my humerus bone and was in traction for six weeks..
Traction meant I could not get out of the hospital bed AT ALL! My arm was suspended in the air by weights- a rod and pin held my elbow and shoulder together. Bed baths became the new norm, and there were many other surprises in store for me. The first-day post op, I realized I needed to go to the bathroom. My eyes quickly darted to a tiny semi-private bathroom. There, by the sink, was a shiny metal object that resembled a saddle. It was the dreaded bedpan, the porcelain goddess, the throne, and I was about to learn how to ride a new horse. Needless to say, I was the resident guinea pig for every nursing student from Orangeburg to Columbia.
When I was discharged from the hospital, I cried. I had fallen in love with my nurses, and I wanted to be just like them. The first step in my nursing journey was becoming a candy striper, and the rest is history. Upon graduation from the Orangeburg School of Nursing, I worked as a staff nurse in the coronary care unit. I loved everything about nursing, from the intimate patient care to the white caps and uniforms; it was everything I dreamt it would be.
Why did you return to school to earn your DNP?
Caring for people in their most vulnerable time is one of the greatest gifts you can give to another person. Jean Watson says it best, "Maybe this one moment, with this one person, is the very reason we're here on Earth at this time." Nurses impact patients' lives every day, but we are so often in our own world doing "our thing" we forget how we impact our patients and their families. It is the simple gesture of caring that makes a nurse stand out among any other medical profession. After 36 years of being a nurse, I continue to find myself devoted to nursing. To further my knowledge and follow my passion, I enrolled in the DNP Nurse Executive Leadership program at the College of Nursing.
How was your Role Impacted by COVID?
COVID impacted my entire department. Due to safety concerns, the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation area had to close its doors on March 17, 2020. Staff members were deployed to other critical areas of the hospital, and some were unfortunately furloughed. I was charged with the management of the hospital entrances.
After the height of COVID, our team worked diligently to find creative ways to reopen and provide care for our patients. Virtual education has become the new norm and allows patients to see a provider. As COVID evolves, we continue to make changes to improve enrollment, attendance, and overall safety for the welfare of our patients.