When Brittany Snapp gave birth in 2014, her baby girl spent some time in the Riverside NICU. It was the excellent care and compassion she experienced from the Riverside NICU nursing staff that prompted her to pursue a career in nursing.
“It was actually how well the NICU team took care of my daughter Reagan that made me decide to attend nursing school. I wanted the opportunity to take care of babies and families the way the NICU staff took care of my daughter and family members,” she said.
A nursing career is born
Brittany is no stranger to Riverside. While pursuing her R.N. at Riverside College of Health Careers, she worked as a Patient Care Aide while completing the demanding nursing curricula. “Everyone is like a big family at Riverside and seeing the excellent care they deliver on a daily basis is what really prompted me to go to nursing school.” Once Brittany graduated from nursing school, she transferred to the Mother-Baby unit, where she currently works.
While Brittany was attending her last semester, she learned that Riverside offered a BSN program, so she applied and was admitted. Brittany is proud to have completed her BSN coursework, and her formal graduation is set for this August. When asked about which experiences impacted Brittany the most during the BSN program, she is enthusiastic to share what she loved most about the opportunity.
“Dr. Wendy Pace is the BSN Program Director. She’s an amazing woman who works closely with students and taught some of the first classes. All the students developed an immediate rapport with Dr. Pace -- she just made the entire experience special.” Brittany shared that any time there were difficulties along her journey, she felt comfortable going to Dr. Pace for support or advice.
Working at Riverside
“My favorite part of working at Riverside is obviously taking care of the babies. I love babies as patients because I must always stay on my toes. Although my patients are healthy babies, I still need to assess the babies and be diligent about caring for them. They can’t tell us if they are in pain or if something is wrong,” she said.
Brittany admits working during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented some unique challenges.
“The pandemic has been a struggle, but mostly for our patients due to limiting their visitors for their own safety. It’s hard on our patients not to have their support system around. Nurses have had to step up and spend extra time and care building those relationships, which takes the place of their usual support system.”
Despite the pandemic and its inherent challenges, Brittany loves being a nurse at Riverside. “Sometimes, it’s as simple as the satisfaction you have after getting someone’s pain under control. I love helping people feel better after they have had a baby or watching the babies so their mothers can sleep for a little while. Any way that I can improve the lives of my patients helps me be a better and more attentive nurse,” she shares.
RN to BSN program
Brittany chose Riverside’s RN to BSN Program due to its excellent reputation and flexibility. The program is designed to assist Registered Nurses in completing their Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing while also maximizing professional practice and career opportunities. The program is fully online and flexible, allowing students continued work and self-paced learning opportunities.
“I wanted to attend Riverside’s BSN program because I love teaching and sharing knowledge with others, whether it be co-workers, patients, or new nurses. Eventually, I would like to move into an educational nursing career, and my BSN will allow me to be a preceptor for new nurses that come in as new hires,” she said.
Brittany also enjoys being a super user at Riverside. Super users are nurses who volunteer to learn new skills, and then teach others what they have learned. The Vein Finder is one example of a tool used by new nurses. “The Vein Finder helps new nurses start an intravenous (IV) line, and we make sure nurses know how to use these tools and then sign off once they complete their annual assessments.”
Advice for future nursing students
Brittany recalls that it was hard to juggle nursing school, working full-time, and being a wife and mother simultaneously. “It was like being pulled in 100 directions, so I had to make sure that I dedicated enough time for school without losing any time with my family and daughter.”
Remembering her own struggles as a nursing student, Brittany is quick to offer support to students who are starting a nursing career. “Getting out of school and working on a brand-new floor can be hard. Just don’t give up – remember that every obstacle is temporary. Before you know it, you’ll be someone’s resource person, so don’t quit!”
Eventually, Brittany plans to attend the Master’s program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). “I have automatic admission to VCU’s Master’s program after graduating from the BSN program. It’s really a great opportunity for me, and I’m looking forward to getting my Master’s someday.
Living the Riverside Mission
Brittany is determined to make the most of her time at Riverside by delivering excellent care to her patients and their families. “I just love Riverside’s mission: ‘To care for others as we would care for those we love.’ Every staff member lives the mission daily. We are here to give our patients the best care possible.”
In her spare time, Brittany enjoys spending time with her daughter, who is involved in cheerleading and gymnastics. “I love to hang out with my mom friends, and my entire family likes to stay active between swimming and bowling.”
