Ernest J. Grant, RN, MSN

1. What inspired you to become a nurse?
I wanted to be a medical technologist or an anesthesiologist. But my guidance counselor suggested I consider nursing because of our limited finances. He suggested I enroll in an LPN one-year course. After six months, I knew I found my calling.

2. What are your specialties, and how did you get there?
Critical care. Currently I am the outreach clinician and burn nurse at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center. I have also worked in other hospital settings -- medical surgery floors and medical surgery ICU. It's very challenging, but I've never regretted it. I also have the opportunity to work with the nursing students. It's challenging and rewarding to make a difference in someone's life every day, even if it's a transition from this life to the next.

3. How do you cope with difficult cases?
I always say when my work doesn't affect me then it is the day to leave. I have to be in the mindset that the things I'm doing are helping the person get better, even if it hurts them. In our environment, patients typically will come back after they are discharged. We follow our patients for up to 18 months. Sometimes they have to come back for reconstructive surgery, so we stay in touch with them. We also have a Children's Burn Camp and Adult Survivor Reunions. There are more than 120 officially recognized burn units across the country, varying in size. The N.C. Jaycee Center serves individuals in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina.

4. Are nurses teachers?
We often are not seen as teachers, but we are. I read once that "nursing is the foundation of health care," and it truly is. We are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We're the ones the family remembers. We're making a difference. Not only do we have the opportunity to teach patients, we also get to teach others in the field; i.e., EMTs and paramedics, nurses, hospital staff. As part of my education outreach, I dress up as Sparky the Fire Dog and visit preschoolers, kindergartners and first-graders to teach fire prevention and safety.

5. What do you like best about working in the nursing field?
There is so much you can do in the nursing field - research, industry, schools, clinical and teaching. I also like the variety. No two days are the same. I have the opportunity to travel around the state and the country doing lectures and presentations. I also teach students in the clinical setting. I have the best job in the world.

6. What, if any, barriers have you had to overcome?
Very few. The typical barrier has been because I am male, people automatically assume I am a physician. Also I am 6' 5-1/2", imposing because of my size, which gives a false perception to people. Actually I am very tender and gentle. I try to get down to the level of children.

7. Do you have a personal story you'd like to share?
I oversee the fire safety curriculum, Learn-Not-to-Burn, in the school system, and provide training to teachers and members of the local fire service. A fireman in Boon, N.C., took a portion of the curriculum and brought it to developmentally delayed children. It was frowned upon by some because they thought these children wouldn't retain what was being taught to them. One of the girls saved herself and five members of her family from a fire. That made me feel good. Fire safety can be taught.

8. What are your most proud accomplishments?
Being named the 2002 Nurse of the Year by Nursing Spectrum magazine. Also that I finished my degrees, when I had financial hardship. I had to work full time during undergrad and grad schools.

9. What are your plans for the future?
I love books, education and politics. I plan to go to law school and eventually work in health care policy. I'd like to help make changes in the health care arena.

10. What words of wisdom do you have for a student just graduating?
You are entering the best profession known to man. Be proud. Be honored. Be humbled. Be involved. You do not know the impact you are making unless you are involved.

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