Na Na Dong
- Registered Nurse
- Hershey Medical Center
School Information
School: Penn State University
College Major: Other
Years at College Works: 2009
Career Information
Working For: Hershey Medical Center
Title: Registered Nurse
Industry: Healthcare
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
Registered Nurse in the Heart and Vascular Critical Care Unit. Manage post-operative open heart, cardiac transplant, thoracic, and vascular patients. Provide education and medical management of heart failure patients. Execute interdisciplinary approach among physicians, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, dietitians, and social workers for optimal patient care. Apply critical thinking, communication, teamwork, avocation, education, professionalism, and evidence based practice daily. Attend in-service trainings and complete annual competencies. Competent in managing Swan Ganz catheters, intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?One of my proudest accomplishments would be getting accepted to every graduate school I applied for which included University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, Penn State University, and Jefferson University.
College Works Career Impact
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
My College Works Painting experience improved my confidence and communication skills which has impacted my career choices.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
I don’t recall the client’s name, but it was a memorable moment in 2009. This client was a perfectionist and was hesitant on hiring me for a job that he could easily hire a professional painter to do. I was professional and explained the reasons why I could do a better job than someone with decades of experience. I was nervous inside and thought I probably won’t get the job. Surprisingly he signed on the spot and told me that my confidence and professionalism are what sold him. That summer, he was very happy with the results. It was a major confidence booster, and I portray that confidence and professionalism everyday in my career.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Never give up on yourself and always believe that you can achieve anything if you put your mind, dedication, and hard work into it.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Nothing comes free in life. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance are the ingredients to succeeding in life.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
Never give up.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Employers always looking to see what sets you apart from the other applicants. College Works Painting is different and catches their eyes. It is what you learn from this interesting experience that draws the employer into hiring you.