Informational Interview

 

Judy Camak

Registered Nurse

Greenwood Obstetrics & Gynecology

March 27, 2015

 

What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful?

You have to be very polite and communicate well with your patients and have great listening skills. You need to have the ability to quickly think of answers to potential problems and also relate the patient’s family background to what you are hearing from the patient. Combining these two aspects is the key to a fast treatment.

 

What areas of knowledge are most important for advancement in this field? What degrees or certifications?

Becoming a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner would allow one more reign and power in the office. Obviously acquiring a doctorate would be a huge advancement. I have to make sure that I am current with my license and certifications.

 

What are some of the rewards of your occupation?

When you have helped someone without them having to spend a lot of money. Also when you find the solution quickly. Our office treats a lot of people who are not able to afford a large medical bill even with insurance. It is great when I can relate to the patient. This way I can try to make them feel better and more comfortable because I know what they are going through.

 

What part of this job do you find the most challenging or satisfying?

The most challenging part of this job is dealing with the lack of education of the general public. You have to explain to adult patients simple concepts over and over again just because they weren’t listening the first time.

 

Is there a demand for people in this occupation?

Yes, as long as there are problems with fertility and careless mistakes with conception there will always be a need. Producing life is a part of nature and because this will never stop- there will always be a demand.

 

How would you evaluate the future of this career field?

I believe that this field will have even more growth in it’s future. I do see a swift in the physicians in the office though. This field is becoming a female dominant field. Now patients only want woman gynecologists and it is weird because it used to be all men.

 

 

How do you see jobs in this field changing in the future? What areas do you feel promise the most opportunity? The most growth?

In our office, the ultra sound technicians will change the most because of advancements in technology. They are constantly making new discoveries and having to have new certifications. Research is constantly finding new techniques and developments. Every other position will generally remain the same as it has been because they will stay hands on.

 

What strategy would you suggest for a person to break into this field?

A person should first get through medical or nursing school. Take advantage of your internships or residencies and make lasting relationships. Even if there is not a job opening for you there if you make connections there is no telling where just your social network will take you.

 

What are the "hot issues" in this field?

The major “hot issue” in this office is how to control sexually transmitted infections in teenagers and figuring out the contraceptive rates of new and upcoming birth control implants. Of course in the labs these contraceptives have their success rates, but we like to know how well these work with the patient and how practical it is.

 

Please tell me more about your organization and its purposes.

We provide women’s health and obstetrics. We help with infertility and overall women’s health such as pap smears and mammograms. We help with pregnancies and multiple pregnancies. We help diagnose and treat cervical cancer and other diseases such as sexually transmitted infections.

 

What is unique about your organization?

The most unique aspect of our organization is how many services that we do provide. We help with both conception and contraception, which many offices are too specialized to do. Our office functions as the general physician for females in Greenwood county instead of being restricted to a certain specialty.

 

What special advice would you give a person entering in this field?

I would explain to them how much patience it takes day in and day out. We see the same patients for the same problems all the time and I can promise that we will probably continue to treat them for these same problems. Instead of getting upset or frustrated with the patient, one must instead never give up hope that one day maybe these patients could make a life change that is for the better.

 

What is the "corporate culture" here?

We have forty people in our office working and running a business. Once you become so large of a practice you lose the family-like atmosphere and it becomes strictly a business.

 

What do you do on a typical day in this position?

Throughout the day I answer patient’s phone calls with questions about their health and medical records. I take patients that visit the office and record all of their measurements such as blood pressure. I call in prescriptions for patients and deal with insurance companies.  

 

If you were starting out again, would you do anything differently?

I personally would dive more into healthcare management with maybe a masters  degree in nursing.