Hello, my name is Michelle Wheeler. I live in Olathe, Kansas with my husband and 2 sons. We love summer and warm weather. We love spending time outside. My sons and I love to travel and spend time somewhere by water and a beach. We are active, and like to play all different sports, yet love our rest and relaxation time too.
I have been a nurse since 2009. I started working in a progressive care unit and worked there for 5 years. Then decided to get my BSN, so I started working as a substitute nurse in our local schools. I loved working in PCU, but needed to have a schedule that fit better with school and my full-time job as a paramedic. I am crossed trained as a paramedic/RN. I have been a paramedic for Johnson County Med-Act for 19 years. Although, I love being a paramedic and working with the community, I am over working 24 hour shifts. All my experience in the hospital, schools, and on the ambulance have been great learning experiences. My hope is to get my BSN and work with the community in some capacity. Whether it be school nursing or being a part of mobile integrated healthcare, we will find out which door opens when the time comes.
I look forward to getting to know you all and all the things we will learn in this class.
Welcome, Michelle! Don’t forget to check the category box associated with the module (I fixed it for you this time). I also LOVE the beach; Naples, FL is my favorite place! A substitute nurse? I didn’t even know there was such a position!
Ok, I will check the box next time. We usually go that way in FL, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and St.Petes. I wasn’t specific in my post, substitute school nurse. Basically, cover for school nurses if they call in for sick day or other appointments.
Michelle,
Hello and have a fabulous semester. Family is so important! I left the hospital to work in a clinic for my children when they were small so that I could be home with them.
How is research playing a role as a substitute school nurse?
I agree, Catherine, family is important. Research for school nursing, is updated evidence based training for children. We do have special needs children in the schools trying to live a normal life amongst other children their age. Also, we do have some kids that battle cancer and come back after they are doing better. Community nursing is much different than hospital nursing in my experience.
Nice to meet you Michelle! I really respect your RN/Medic experience, those were the folks I always wanted near when things got hairy in my ED days! My hope is that you realize your dream of working in the community, we need more strong educators out there that are passionate about community health!
Thank you, Christan, so nice to meet you. I am passionate about it and hope that I can make a difference some day.
I also left working shifts to spend more time with my family. It seems you get so little of it, time speeds on without you when you’re working shifts! I bet your training as a paramedic has really increased your ability to work quickly as a nurse, that sounds like it would be an awesome adventure. You seem to have a solid background from multiple areas! Best of luck in the class!
Thank you for the reply! Best of luck to you too!!
Impressive! I applaud your emergency/trauma side of emergency medicine. I am not cut out for that work. Welcome to the class!