ESTEVAN — Tara Shier always wanted to be a nurse.
It started when she was growing up on the family farm in the Willmar area. She was the oldest of 11 children living at that farm.
"I babysat over the years; helped with cuts, bruises, looking after kids," Shier told the Mercury. "If the vet ever had to come to the farm, I wanted to be out there helping and assisting, whether it be a treatment on a cow or a C-section, I always wanted to know more."
Knowing that she wanted to be in the health-care field, she started investigating her options and was accepted into the University of Brandon. Shier obtained a bachelor of science degree in nursing. While in university, she worked at the Moose Mountain Lodge in Carlyle.
After graduating in 2006, she started working at St. Joseph's Hospital, and has been there ever since.
Shier spent one year in the medical unit at St. Joe's, and then she started working in the operating room, the emergency department and endoscopy. Since that time, she has obtained her oncology certificate, which enables her to perform chemotherapy.
Nursing is a rewarding job, she said. It allows her to see people in their most vulnerable moments.
"Our job is to make them feel safe and cared for, and I feel we do that well at St. Joe's," said Shier.
It has also allowed her to work in lots of different departments and in specialty areas. Shier has gained lots of knowledge and she says her skill level is always growing.
"It's never boring; there's always something new and exciting, and you have a great team that is always there to support you," she said.
Shier and other nurses create personal connections with patients as well. She will see them at the hospital while caring for them, but she might also see them at community events, at sporting games and elsewhere, allowing them to reconnect and for Shier to find out how they are doing.
"The knowledge and the opportunities are really endless," said Shier.
National Nurses Week runs from May 8-14. This year's theme is Our Nurses. Our Future. Nurses Week coincides each year with the May 12 birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is the founder of modern nursing.
Shier said it's an important time because it honours Nightingale, creates awareness about nurses, and leads to conversations with her co-workers about why they became a nurse and while they still love the job.
"There are definitely times that are really hard," said Shier. "You have lows and you have highs."
The kindness and compassion of nurses don't go unnoticed, she said, and it's nice when people acknowledge nurses for it.
"It's a very demanding job. It's a job that doesn't end when your shift ends. You take it home. You deal with things at home. It's a tough job. It can be mentally draining. You might lose sleep [over your work], but in the end, we all are passionate about our profession, and there is a reason we go back the next day."
Every nurse has been inspired by someone, she said, whether it be an educator, a preceptor or a co-worker, during their career, and she encourages nurses to share their appreciation with that person. Shier has had many people who have inspired her.
Students are always coming to St. Joseph's Hospital to gain experience, and the experienced nurses work together to help students and those who are new to the job.
"Something I always tell our new people is make a difference, advocate for your patients, provide the best quality of care that you are capable of, and be their voice when they can't. Make a difference in someone's life and it won't go unnoticed."
Shier believes nurses always have a great team around them.
"Anyone with a compassionate heart is good for this job," she said.
