What inspired you to join the nursing profession?
Shanna Fortune: As the oldest child, I’ve always taken care of others. I would say that I have a taking care of others approach ever since I was little. Being a helper is part of who I am instinctively which is what drove me to the nursing profession. Nursing is my life's work.
Why did you choose to work at Catholic University? And what about the nursing department specifically made you want to teach here?
Shanna Fortune: Well, I only heard great things about Catholic University from previous alumni in the nursing program. As I just did more research I realized I wanted to be in a place where I could be encouraged to grow not only professionally but spiritually, and I just felt like this would be a good fit for me in my academic career.
Did you go to Catholic University as an undergrad?
Shanna Fortune: I did not. I went to Stony Brook University School of Nursing and that's in Long Island, New York.
After you graduated from Stony Brook where did your nursing career take you?
Shanna Fortune: I worked at Stony Brook University Hospital in a medical-surgical unit and with telemetry monitoring. That was my first position.
For those who don’t know, what is telemetry monitoring?
Shanna Fortune: Telemetry Monitoring is the process of remote monitoring patients heart rhythm and heart rate. The patients on the unit were a complex patient population because they could not only have medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure, but they could also be post-operative from surgery as well. And the reason why they're there is because there's a need for us to monitor their heart rhythm and their heart rate. One aspect of my job involved careful monitoring and attention to detail of the patient’s cardiac status.
What classes do you teach here at Catholic?
Shanna Fortune: I am in the process of assisting Doctor Selzer in developing the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. This program prepares graduate nursing students to provide comprehensive holistic care for episodic, critical/hemodynamically unstable, and complex conditions, as well as chronic disease management for the adult-geriatric patient population. I have taught Primary Care of Adults for graduate nursing students in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner programs. Those classes focus on managing episodic illnesses and injury, and chronic disease management for the adult-geriatric patient population with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.
Are you teaching any classes this spring?
Shanna Fortune: Not this spring, but in Fall of 2023 I taught Primary Care of Adults II for the graduate nursing students in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner programs.
What is special about the Catholic University students that you teach?
Shanna Fortune: The students here are special and have a unique opportunity to also provide spiritual care along with their clinical nursing care to patients and their families. I think being able to be in an environment that is faith-based enhances holistic care.
Do you have any classes that you're looking forward to teaching or would like to teach?
Shanna Fortune: I'm really looking forward to teaching the new courses in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care program. I am excited to encourage and foster the development of the graduate students in these courses, as the students would go into hospital settings, whether it's emergency rooms, medical floors, specialty clinics, or intensive care units, to manage patients during the most complex time in their lives when they're facing acute or critical conditions. I am also looking forward to teaching the Quality Improvement and Safety course in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Do you have any advice for future Catholic University students who are about to graduate and feel anxious about joining the professional field?
Shanna Fortune: I would say to our undergraduate students to try and secure a position in a nurse residency program that includes a didactic component or educational lectures and opportunities for evidence-based practice initiatives. Nursing is hard work and being in a supportive environment is critical for retention and work satisfaction. For our graduate students, I would encourage them to join and participate in professional organization meetings and events as a student to support them in their new journey to becoming an advanced practice nurse. I would also say that yes graduate school is hard, so stay focused and do the work and you will succeed. To encourage our students, just reflect on one of my favorite Bible verses, Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. In life, we will face anxiety, difficulties, and uncertainties but remember God’s promise to us. Lastly, I would encourage all students to stay in touch with the faculty here at The Conway School of Nursing, we are here to support you and hope that you consider supporting your alma mater by serving as a preceptor to future students.