“When I was young I had no idea what I wanted to do,” said Amy Speanburg, Registered Nurse.
Like many other young adults, Amy Speanburg was unsure about the career path she should choose. She started out with a liberal arts major but during her freshman year, things took a surprising turn.
“I was home on a break and I woke up one morning and I couldn’t see out of my right eye,” said Speanburg.
She was diagnosed with a detached retina.
“I am developing what’s called neovascular glaucoma, which is a very painful form of glaucoma,” said Speanburg.
After undergoing numerous surgeries, she gained a new perspective and a new desire to work in the medical field
“Every person I came across treated me so well and made me so comfortable. I was so scared and they made me feel so much better. So, I decided at that point, that I wanted to become a nurse,” said Speanburg.
With her new career path in nursing she went full steam ahead, she got her masters and is working in a medical surgery unit but also specializing in what’s called InfoMedics.
“The clinical setting has changed. Now, when you go see your healthcare provider or visit a hospital most likely, your record is called an electronic medical record. Our records are all computerized and hopefully soon to be portable,” said Mary Lee Pollard, Dean at Excelsior College School of Nursing.
“I was picked to be part of this group of nurses that helped develop electronic medical records because previously were documenting on paper. From the time I started nursing to now, it’s completely different,” said Speanburg.
Amy’s personal medical experience has given her a better perspective in what nursing care is all about.
“I took a terrible experience and tried to turn it into a positive one so I can help other people the way that the nurses help me,” said Speanburg.
