Glenna & Kaitlyn Crouch
RN and IMCU Telemetry Nurse
Community Hospital
Munster, IN
WHY DID YOU BECOME A NURSE?
Glenna: I became a nurse because it’s all I’ve ever dreamed of being. Helping others comes naturally.
Kaitlyn: I became a nurse because I’ve always had a caring side. I’ve continually been fascinated with the medical field and I didn’t quite want to be a doctor, so I pursued nursing. I knew once I completed my CNA course my senior year of high school that nursing was where I was meant to be.
KAITLYN, DID YOUR MOM'S DECISION TO BECOME A NURSE OR GO TO ST. ELIZABETH SCHOOL OF NURSING INSPIRE YOU?
I would be lying if I said my mom’s career did not influence mine. I had heard so many stories about what my mom did and how cool her job was.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY FROM NURSING SCHOOL?
Glenna: Seeing my first live birth…The miracle of life unfolding before your eyes.
Kaitlyn: Too many to name. The most memorable are the many summers we spent in the old building, sometimes with no AC. I enjoyed every minute of nursing school, even if it was stressful. I wouldn’t be the nurse I am today if it wasn’t for St. Elizabeth School of Nursing.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW NURSES?
Glenna: Always listen and trust your gut instinct. Never be afraid to ask for help. We all continue to learn on a daily basis.
Kaitlyn: Clinical experience is just as important as the material you must learn.
HOW DID ST. ELIZABETH SCHOOL OF NURSING PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CAREER?
Glenna: St. Elizabeth prepared me to be a nurse with the clinical hours spent at the hospital. I began clinicals my first semester of freshman year. The hands-on experiences and support we received from instructors were unbelievable.
Kaitlyn: I entered the nursing field with a lot of clinical knowledge. I was not afraid to jump right in and get my hands wet.
IF YOU WEREN'T A NUSRE, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
Glenna: I wouldn’t want to be anything but a nurse.
Kaitlyn: I honestly am not sure. It is something I’ve contemplated at times, but I don’t have a definite answer. My mind always goes back to something in the nursing field.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB IN THE FIELD AFTER YOU COMPLETED YOUR DEGREE?
Glenna: My first job is my current job. I started in the ICU and am still there 29 years later.
Kaitlyn: My first position was as a cardiac telemetry nurse in a small hospital near my hometown.
WHAT DO LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR CURRENT JOB?
Glenna: I absolutely love the complex critical patients under my care. The teamwork in my unit is superb. Seeing patients come to the ICU very unstable and being able to not only take care of their physical issues but be there emotionally for them and their families is invaluable to me when these patients are often in the most vulnerable time of their lives.
Kaitlyn: The thing I like most about my current position is that I am always learning. I have experienced so many different conditions and challenges. It has made me stronger.
WHAT PATIENT POPULATION(S) DO YOU SERVE?
Glenna: I work in a 16-bed medical ICU that sees a wide range of ages from 16 to 100.
Kaitlyn: I serve a wide variety of patients, mostly the adult and geriatric populations.
WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST PART ABOUT BEING A NURSE?
Glenna: The toughest part of nursing is the long hours spent at the bedside and still losing a patient despite all you do.
Kaitlyn: The toughest part about being a nurse? The emotional aspect. Sometimes I do become very attached to my patients. It’s a hard day when you lose a patient.
HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AND YOUR NURSING PRACTICE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE SCHOOL'S MISSION OF PREPARING NURSES TO CONTINUE CHRIST'S HEALING MINISTRY?
Glenna: As a nurse, we try our best to get each and every patient out of the ICU and home. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes we are the last face a patient sees before they leave this Earth. As difficult as it is, we must remain strong in our own faith and realize we can’t always save patients from their illness or disease.
Kaitlyn: Every patient I care for influences a piece of me, even if for a short time. I also leave a piece of me with each patient. The little details also make the most difference.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT AT WORK?
Glenna: Outside of work, I’m busy trying to keep up with my three dogs, four children and flowers during the summer months.
Kaitlyn: My newest hobby is gardening. I have planted a wide variety of vegetables and fruits; many of which I have never grown before. Also, now that it’s warm, I spend a lot of time in the pool, soaking in the sun.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
Glenna: As most in health care know, the last year and a half has been extremely difficult with the pandemic. Many have left our profession. I still strongly encourage anyone to pursue nursing. It’s the most rewarding career.
Kaitlyn: Even though nursing school is not easy, enjoy every minute, learn as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help.