Keeping Cool & Calm

Rami H. is a nurse practitioner. He helps out people with their sicknesses and their mental health. He works at a hospital in Arlington Heights, IL. We want to know more about how Rami treats his patients.

What is the process to become a nurse practitioner?
A nurse practitioner’s degree is two years in school. Then, you have to get your bachelor’s degree in nursing, your BSN. From there, you could get your Masters, which is another two years. You get your Masters of Science in Nursing with a specialty. Usually you specialize, whether you want to do psychology, or like cancer, blood, bones … whatever you feel you are good at.

Why did you become a nurse practitioner instead of a registered nurse?
Because I want to make a difference in a patient’s life. A nurse practitioner can do so much more than a registered nurse. I found it really interesting that the longer I was a nurse, the more I realized I want to help people out in a different way.

What made you specialize as a mental health nurse?
When I was in nursing school, I had a very depressed patient. After being with that patient for many weeks I saw her become more happy and enthusiastic. She smiled at me, and she was like, “Thank you so much of what you did for me.” Having just that little interaction, I knew that being a psychiatric nurse was my calling. That it would be really rewarding for me.

What is the hardest part about your job? What is the most rewarding part?
The hardest problems are when people who are very depressed or anxious are going through a crisis. At the beginning, they come to me very stressed out and I have to help them out. I can’t help their problems after just one day. It’s a very long process.

The rewarding part of my job is that after being with the patient for months and months and years and years, they show improvement. I feel so much better. I feel better about myself, because I helped somebody out. It doesn’t even feel like work to me.

Have you ever had to help a patient who was scared or upset? How did you handle that?
Yeah, all the time. Patients are scared and upset all the time. Maybe they’re depressed, or they don’t want to live. They’re addicted to medication they don’t want to stop taking, or they’re anxious. I listen to their story. If they feel like I’m just asking them questions and I show no emotion, they’re not going to get better. But if you really listen and understand somebody and develop a relationship, then they trust you. They will be more compliant. Compliant means they’ll take treatment seriously and they’ll take the medication on time and they’ll follow my instructions.

How do you handle burnout in the field?
When I’m really tired and stuff, I rely on a lot of coping skills. I don’t take my stress home with me, so that’s No. 1. When I go home, I just turn off work mode, because it would make me really anxious. I do a lot of working out. I spend time with my family, I like to go eat food, and I like to go on walks … just a lot of distraction and just really taking time for myself!

What advice would you give people who want to become a nurse or a nurse practitioner?
I would say take it one day at a time because it is a very stressful job physically and emotionally. Take your time, always ask for help, be organized and just realize what you’re doing because you’re there to help out other people. Again, when you study to be a nurse or nurse practitioner, it is very overwhelming and stressful. But you have to keep reminding yourself you’re doing this to help out others, and at the end of the day it will be worth it.

That was my last question. Do you want to add anything?
You’re a great interviewer.

From Ms. Smith: To coincide with the launch of Mannheim Middle School’s PaCE framework, the MMS Newsroom presents a series of college- and career-focused interviews by MMS students. What is PaCE? PaCE guidelines help students to develop a growth mindset, recognize their strengths, build confidence, and plan for college and careers.