Jaime Taylor is a natural leader.
As an ADN student, Taylor launched a mentorship program at Delgado Charity School of Nursing.
In her role as ICU operations coordinator at Ochsner Baptist, sheСAPPs served on the hospitalСAPPs Diversity, Equity and Inclusion council, advocated for practices to prevent eclampsia in black women, and led ABLE СAPP African Americans Building & Leading Equality.
Taylor wanted credentials that aligned with her drive to lead. Her first step was earning her B.S. in Nursing degree online from the СAPP. Now, sheСAPPs pursuing her MSN through the СAPPСAPPs online degree program, as well.
СAPPI started out as ADN, and I can see the need for advanced learning in the nursing profession to elevate the profession as a whole,СAPP she says. СAPPI think that once I finish my master's, I'll probably go back and get my doctorate. I just think that nurses are super special. And for us to advance the practice and to advance nursing, in general, education is important.СAPP
Choosing Patient Care
Taylor says sheСAPPs always filled a caregiver role in her family, so nursing felt like a natural career choice that would also support her community at large.
СAPPI felt there was a need in the community for more African American Nurses and just to get that representation at the bedside,СAPP she says.
While earning her ADN through Delgado, Taylor began working as a nurse technician in the Ochsner Baptist ICU, and sheСAPPs been there ever since.
СAPPIt's a privilege to be at the bedside when someone is at their sickest, so that I could be there for the family or to hold their hand when they're going through medical procedures,СAPP she says.
That includes creating a safe and open environment for patients and their families to ask questions to better understand their conditions and care.
"New Orleans has a very high percentage of African Americans. Unfortunately, that's not always represented in healthcare, especially specialized units like the ICU,СAPP says Taylor. "I think I have been very successful in showing my patients that we can speak freely here. They're able to see themselves and be understood.СAPP
Taylor has also mentored other young nurses to pursue roles on specialty floors.
СAPPI know so many young nurses who have gone into ICU straight out of school or aspire to go into ICU after being on medical-surgical nursing, or just because they see me and see that I can do it,СAPP she says.
Leading as an RN
As Taylor began to take on more responsibilities in the ICU, she wanted to strengthen her foundation and practice. A BSN was the first step toward that goal, and Taylor needed a program that she could complete while remaining present for her three kids.
"UL Lafayette offered the most flexible program,СAPP she says. СAPPWhen I started my BSN, it was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no way I could have gone into someone's classroom to take a course, but I was able to get my BSN. It wasn't less challenging. It was still hard work. But I was able to do that because of the program and how it was set up. I value that so much because I don't know that I could have done it anywhere else."
With courses in nursing management and evidence-based practice, the LHC Group СAPP Myers School of Nursing RN to BSN degree program prepares nurses for leadership roles and to better understand the СAPPwhyСAPP behind patient care.
СAPPI am able to see patient care from a manager's perspective,СAPP says Taylor. СAPPI learned a lot more about behind the scenes, statistics, why we do the things that we do, why decisions are made the way that they're made. There's a stronger emphasis on evidence-based practice and using peer-reviewed journals, and studies to bring different practices to the bedside.СAPP
Setting an Example
Earning her BSN online meant Taylor could complete her coursework, maintain a full-time job and still be the one to pick her kids up from school, which is exactly what she wanted.
While she used her days off while her kids were in school to tackle the bulk of her coursework, her efforts were still very visible to her children.
СAPPThey were super invested,СAPP she says. СAPPTheyСAPPre used to seeing me with flash cards around the house. If I had a test coming up, I'd say, СAPPAlright, y'all, test up on Monday,СAPP and theyСAPPd know that in addition to like this picnic we were going on, they were going to be playing; mommy was going to be sitting on the blanket with her flashcards.СAPP
By showing her family the work and sacrifice required to earn her degree, Taylor hopes sheСAPPs giving her kids goals to reach for СAPP and exceed.
СAPPA lot of the reason why I want to go the extra mile with education is so that they will look at me as an example of how no matter the circumstances, you can absolutely accomplish anything that you're serious about, whether that's education or not,СAPP she says. СAPPI think that they see me, and they realize, СAPPif she can do it with all these extra circumstances СAPP she's working, and she has us СAPP then of course we can do it.СAPP And that's the goal.СAPP
Taylor was even able to incorporate her family into her coursework. As part of NURS 408 СAPP Trends in Genetics and Genomics, TaylorСAPPs daughter served as the basis for her final project.
"My oldest daughter was born with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. It's a very rare genetic disorder. And so, in that class, I got the opportunity to present her as my project and how far she's come,СAPP says Taylor. СAPPThat was my highlight of the program.СAPP
Earning the Reward
As involved as her children were in seeing her put in the work for her degree, Taylor made it a priority for them to see the reward, as well.
All RN to BSN graduates are invited to participate in commencement exercises at the Cajundome, as well as a pinning ceremony on the СAPPСAPPs campus.
СAPPWe made a whole trip out of it,СAPP says Taylor. СAPPI felt so good СAPP and so proud СAPP as a mom to share that moment with my kids.СAPP