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Mary Marlen’s life calling benefits Belleville Memorial Hospital
Sponsored content by Mary McHugh, Brand Ave. Studios contributing writer Mary Marlen has been a nurse for 16 years, but she’s been caring for people since she was a little girl. Putting cool cloths on her siblings’ foreheads when they had a fever and making soup when her mom wasn’t feeling well have evolved into a fulltime career at Belleville Memorial Hospital. “I’ve always believed that the healthcare field was my calling,” said Marlen, MSN, registered nurse. “As a nurse I’m able to connect with patients and be a part of making a difference during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives, and no matter how big or small that difference is, it just makes me want to work harder and show up for them.” Even with the years of schooling and clinicals required to become certified as a nurse, Marlen said it’s her patients who continue to teach her day after day.
Mary Marlen, MSN, is a registered nurse at Belleville Memorial Hospital.
Photo courtesy of Belleville Memorial Hospital
“Each patient is so different, with very specific needs, and the way you care for them is based on what’s important to them,” she said. “You can always
do more training or have someone mentor you, but I’ve also realized that a lot of learning comes from the patients and their families. To do this job you have
to have a compassionate heart and the ability to individualize how you deliver that care to a patient. Seeing them happy is a validation that I can
make a difference, even if it’s in a small way.” Marlen’s advice for anyone considering the profession is to understand that nursing is more than
just giving medications and assessing patients. “It’s taking care of the patient as a whole and everyone on the care team, including the nurses, need to have that in their heart,” she said. “The good thing is, there are so many different types of nursing career paths that it’s important for students to really dive into their clinical experience and explore the different departments in a hospital to see what they enjoy the most, because the opportunities are endless.” She suggests new nurses work a year or two on a medical-surgical or telemetry floor, where they can expect to receive a very well-rounded foundation in patient care, as well as the experience of being part of a highly efficient and collaborative team. “That experience prepares you for everything,” she said, “especially since today’s nurses are playing a bigger role on the care team. There’s so much more autonomy in nursing
See MARLEN, D7