This week, Nursing Notes Live visits with the 2013 Amazing Nurse Gloria Kindzeka, a pediatric home care nurse who was nominated by the mother of one of her patients. Here, Gloria talks about her passion for nursing and the special caring relationship she has with her patients. Here’s what she has to say.

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INTERVIEW

Jamie Davis:         Gloria, welcome to Nursing Notes Live. I always like to start off my interviews with asking the nurses that join us here to talk a little bit about how they became a nurse. Why you decided that nursing was a job for you?

Gloria Kindzeka:      Okay. First off, Jamie, I just want to thank you for inviting me. My inspiration to become a nurse came from watching my sister do her job as a Pediatric Homecare Nurse. I felt very comfortable because I could relate what she was doing. Back in Cameroon, where I come from, it’s in the west coast of Africa, we do not have nursing homes, group homes. We basically take care of our relatives, friends and neighbors in the comfort of our homes. So those background encouraged me to become a nurse because I have the passion in caring, how to take care of the sick. When I watched my sister, I kept thinking to myself but I know I can do all that but I still need education to back it up with. So that’s how I get started: we babysit, started as a nursing assistant then later as a vocational nurse and later as an RN, as a registered nurse.

Jamie:                   When you started off as a nurse, did you start off in any particular area of nursing? What was your career path like to where you are today as a pediatric home care nurse?

Gloria:                  Yes. My first job was working in a detox center in Oklahoma City. We basically help detox people on different types of drugs. Then I also work in a nursing home. Most of the time, I work in an acute care and adult respiratory and Alzheimer’s care. Those were basically the two areas that I worked in. Sometimes, I think I work partly in a group home than before coming to do pediatric nursing, homecare nursing.

Jamie:                   What drew you to do pediatric homecare?

Gloria:                  Okay. Oh, my goodness. I love children. I love working with my children and their families. My mom, she was a preschool head mistress and I spent a lot of time in my teen years working with children. So that was a great feat for me. I just love working with the families too because it also helps me to provide the families with the – they too need to navigate the healthcare system. It was one of those things, when you do different things you come to a place where you have that, let’s say, fit, if I’m in an independent setting.

Jamie:                   I know exactly what you mean.

Gloria:                  Yes. It also gives out what you need to have a relationship. Over time, that trusting relationship is what is very important in my career as a nurse. It was just a perfect fit for me to do that. I love children. I say “love children.” I love working with them. I love the hugs. I love the kisses. I have one who calls me “Princess Yana.” I have somebody who calls me a princess. It’s just rewarding working with children.

Jamie:                   What are some of the things about your patient population that make it so necessary for them to have nursing care? Just give us an overview of what your patient population is like.

Gloria:                  We basically work with kids with congenital disorders. They come home with different – we have diverse, different kinds of problems.