NURSE: Makes Sure You Know What's Happening To Your Body
Fontana, California
Barbara Arenas, RN, has been a nurse here for 14 years—and an active member of the United Nurses Associations of California (UNAC).
"I thought I could help more people because people get sick," she said when asked why she had chosen nursing. "Nursing is hands-on with the patient—more intimate, closer contact."
An operating room nurse, Arenas feels it's an important part of her job to work with the patient before surgery.
"I will interview you. I'll ask you questions like, 'What kind of surgery do you anticipate?' I like to make sure my patients are well informed before they go into the operating room," she said. "It's very important to me that you know what's happening to your body.
"The other day, I asked a patient, 'What kind of surgery are you having?' He said, 'kidney surgery.'" Arenas explained to him that that wasn't what he was scheduled for and provided him with additional information he needed.
After surgery, Arenas follows the patient. "I wait with the anesthetist until the patient wakes up," she said. "We go with the patient to the recovery room—to the recovery room nurse. We keep the patients calm and let them know everything is O.K."
Arenas assists in the operating room as either a scrub nurse or a circulating nurse. Part of her job includes mastering the use of constantly changing equipment. "Anything new that is introduced, we get to see it at that time. A representative comes to show us how to use it," said Arenas. "We try to trouble-shoot and ask questions so we know how to handle problems—and don't have to call for help that often."
As with all professionals, Arenas must also constantly study to improve her skills. Most recently, she has been studying "the geriatric patient and the operating room. We had an anesthetist speak with us. We have more of an older population," she said. "The number one thing is to maintain the temperature of the body."
The treasurer of her UNAC affiliate, Kaiser-Fontana Registered Nurses As-sociation, Arenas greatly appreciates the education leave UNAC has negotiated. "Full-time nurses can take up to five days of training a year and can accrue up to ten days in a bank."
She also appreciates other benefits of having a union. "There's not as much fear with a union. You can speak out here. You have support," said Arenas. "If it's something right for the patient, you have to speak up. There's a big fear factor when you're non-union.
"If it's against my judgment, I can fill out a disclaimer form," she said. "I might say, 'I really object to this assignment—the assignment of an unlicensed person to take care of the patient.'"
And Arenas also appreciates UNAC's vigilance on health care issues.
"They're always out there observing the legislation that will affect me. We can have a voice in health care planning," she said. "They have always been an advocate for good patient care.
"Management's into the money. We have more of a personal, caring attitude toward the patient. They're always talking budget cuts. It comes down to care of the patients. Management takes away the nurses because there's no money, and the patient suffers in the end."
