Q: What's a typical workday like for you?

A: I probably see patients about every 15 minutes. I interview them, trying to build a rapport and gain insight into the chief complaint. People come in with a variety of issues, including headaches, stomach pain, mental health issues and sports injuries. I'm a primary care provider and I order labs and X-rays and do referrals. I collaborate as needed with physicians or other specialties. I am independent but I work as a team with others.

Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?

A: The average age student I see is probably between 28 and 30 years. I do a lot of health promotion and disease prevention. I am trying to help them develop positive health habits and that will make for a healthier nation and hopefully cut down healthcare costs.

Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?

A: I interact with laboratory, X-ray, pharmacy and patient accounting staff; insurance companies regarding medications; emergency room staff regarding admissions; referral sources and other specialties. Students, faculty and staff are primarily the patients.

Q: Why did you become a college health nurse?

A: I really like the population. These individuals are very intelligent. They ask very good questions. They've been on the Internet and they've looked up what they think their diagnosis is and what their treatment should be. They're challenging me. They want to learn and they'll probably ask me questions that they don't want to ask their parents.

Q: What do you like about your work?

A: It's challenging and diverse. I treat a lot of walk-in patients and I like that. It keeps you on your toes. I also precept nurse practitioner students and they keep me on my toes, too.