Faces of Bryan

Olivia Oerman didn’t really have a dream job growing up. However, that changed when several family members got sick.

Her brother and grandmother were both diagnosed with cancer while she was in high school, and her grandmother ultimately passed away. Throughout the entire length of their illnesses, Olivia saw how nurses interacted with patients, doing everything they could to ease the burden of her family members’ ailments.

Watching the nurses, she felt that she could make a difference in the lives of people like her brother and grandmother, too.

“I don't really have that many family members in the medical field, so I didn't have that kind of exposure. I mainly had exposure through family members receiving care,” she said. “It piqued my interest. It was a way to interact with patients and have an impact in helping them get better. I wanted to be a part of that.”

A Nurse and a Leader

Fast forward to today, Olivia has been an RN for the 5E/5W Cardiac Medical Unit at Bryan East Campus for nearly four years. It’s clear to her and her team that she made the right decision for her career.

“Olivia is kindhearted and wants the best for everyone,” Molly Sass, 5E/5W nurse manager, said.

That goes for Olivia as a nurse and as a leader. With four years of experience under her belt, she often serves as charge nurse for her unit. Her infectious smile, tenacious hard work and thoughtful leadership have proven invaluable to the operation of the 5E/5W unit.

“On a daily, Olivia puts her team first. She does whatever she can to help the day run smoothly,” Molly said. “Through her leadership as a charge nurse, she provides support for her team and is a positive role model for others on the unit.”

Olivia feels the same way about the rest of the team. What makes their unit great is the teamwork they all put in, she said.

“I love the unit I work on, and I think that's one of the reasons I like this position so much – it’s the people. It's a fun work environment,” she said. “Everyone is so helpful, and everyone will pitch in if you need help. Knowing that I work with a great team helps keep me going.”

A Focus on Patient Care

Olivia finds that taking care of patients is the most rewarding aspect of her work, despite the everyday issues of capacity, obtaining orders, workforce challenges and noncompliant patients. It’s about doing what’s best for the patient.

“These patients are not in the best time of their lives, and they are going through so much. Half the time they aren't acting how they normally would if they felt better,” she said. “It is a hard job, but we have to make the most of the little successes and the positivity."

At the end of the day, her goal is to see patients leave the hospital in better shape than when they arrived.

“I like to see people improve, to get them feeling better and push them to see if we can hopefully get them home,” she said. “I think the demand of our jobs has made some people go away from the bedside, and I understand. I get where they're coming from. But I still enjoy the connections of bedside nursing, and so I’m happy where I’m at. I go home tired, but there's definitely little parts of the day that are rewarding.”