Why 3 nurses love working at Children’s of Alabama

Sponsored

National Nurses Week is May 6-12 this year, and we’re celebrating by learning what makes this such a special field from three incredible nurses at Children’s of Alabama. Keep reading to hear their stories.

Rhiley Dixson, Staff Nurse

Rhiley Dixson has always been fascinated with how the human bodies function and loves taking care of other people, especially at their most fearful and vulnerable times in life.

She knows that a career in nursing can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging jobs out there.

“The best part of my job is getting to see the smiles and personalities come back in children as they start to heal and feel better. I love getting to be a part of the whole process—from helping them be strong and comfortable during their stay to sending them home happy, healthier and braver.”

Rhiley Dixson, Staff Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

For Rhiley, the hardest part is seeing her patients scared or in pain, but one thing she wants people to know about nursing is that it isn’t always a sad environment, and it’s so worth it.

“Working with sick children, sometimes people assume that it’s always sad, but as a nurse, we get to have a lot of fun and get to know our kiddos and their families well during a difficult time in their life.”

Rhiley Dixson, Staff Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

Jeanette Stewart, Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist

Jeanette Stewart quickly learned that there’s more to nursing than taking care of people who are sick and that there are so many facets to the career. She noted how important keeping a positive attitude is as a nurse, through the good times and the bad.

“There is a nursing shortage at all hospitals, and this is just facts. Somedays you work harder than others. You meet many different people, and all people are not nice people, and therefore you must be the best person you can be always.”

Jeanette Stewart, Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist, Children’s of Alabama

As a psych nurse, she’s able to talk and listen to her patients, provide an understanding and a nonjudgmental attitude, and help formulate the lives of her patients.

“As a nurse, you see most of your patients get healthy and live a productive and fulfilling life. You see people at their most vulnerable time of their lives, and you are there to help in any way you can. Sometimes it’s wound care but other times it’s just an ear to listen. You learn from others, and they learn from you.”

Jeanette Stewart, Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist, Children’s of Alabama

See what current positions are open at Children’s.

Jennifer Cornelius, Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse Specialist

Jennifer Cornelius also always knew she wanted to be in the medical field and had a desire to make an impact. For her, the most rewarding part of the career is easily the relationships formed with patients and their families. These relationships also play a huge role in what makes being a nurse so hard.

“As a nurse, it is just in our DNA to fix everything for everyone. We want to heal, keep the peace, make everyone happy, and give everyone the best chance possible to thrive. When we have done everything, and the results still are not what we have hoped, I think that is the hardest part.”

Jennifer Cornelius, Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse Specialist, Children’s of Alabama

If she could tell people one thing about nursing, it would be how complex of a profession it is.

“In general, people can have the wrong idea about what we do. There is so much more to it than giving medications or just carrying out a doctor’s order. We become the patient’s advocate, the family’s advocate, the hand to hold when family is not available. We are the ones constantly by your side throughout your medical journey.”

Jennifer Cornelius, Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse Specialist, Children’s of Alabama

Thanking nurses all over Birmingham this week

We are so excited to recognize and honor all of the incredible, life-changing nurses this week. For anyone pursuing a career in nursing, these nurses want you to know that the relationships you’ll build and the interactions you’ll have are worth every second of the challenges that come.

“Think big. Work hard. Have fun. Above all, believe in yourself and have kindness in every interaction you have with people. You are signing up for a lot of hard work, but at the end of the day, having even the smallest impact on a patient or their family will make every minute of hard work worth it.”

Jennifer Cornelius, Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse Specialist, Children’s of Alabama

See what current positions are open at Children’s and learn more about joining the team on their website, Instagram + Facebook.

Sponsored by: