If you know a thing or two about health, wellness, fitness, YouTube, lifestyle, blogging, and Instagram, chances are, you know a thing or two about Claire Guentz. She is quite the health and fitness extraordinaire, but we were particularly interested in learning more about Claire as a nurse.
Claire is the epitome of what we mean when we say “we’re not just nurses.” We are professionals, with incredibly unique jobs, who have passions, interests, hobbies, relationships, and roles beyond - and entirely outside - of our professions. The nursing lifestyle will only become more dynamic as nursing and healthcare changes; the more we won’t be just nurses.
Claire doesn’t just get this, she perfects it. So we’re taking a page or two from her book... er, blog posts.
Claire Guentz: Multitalented Individual And Nurse
Why did you become a nurse?
To be honest, I became a nurse because I was at a crossroads career wise. I had gotten my bachelor’s in communication studies and thought I wanted to go into PR or marketing, but I discovered that it wasn’t a great fit for me. I then started thinking of other professions that I could get a job in, that had flexibility within the career, and that I might enjoy, Ultimately, I decided to go the route of nursing.
The first class I then took was anatomy, and it was my favorite class ever–so I thought, okay, well, this is a good sign, right?! I also knew I wanted to work with people in some capacity as well. So yep! That's how I stumbled across nursing, and the rest was kind of history.
What aspect of your job keeps you going despite the really tough days?
Working in a Medical ICU can be especially difficult because the majority of my days could probably be classified as really tough days. But I try to remember that at the end of the day, I am doing something to make this world a better place, even if just one patient at a time. I have a job that is meaningful and impactful to others, whether it be the patient themselves or their family. And I don’t feel like a lot of professionals can say that.
Also, it’s those days especially that put things into perspective for me. You think you have problems? You don’t. Well, at least nothing of the same magnitude. It makes me appreciate my life and my health more on an entirely different level.
Aside from being a nurse, what’s another hat you wear? How does it fit into nurse life?
Good question! Honestly, I would be working as a blogger and digital influencer full-time if I could. Through that platform, I’ve been able to connect and inspire a lot of other women who are also nurses. Unless you’re a nurse, you don’t understand how hard it is to workout after a 12-hour shift. You don’t understand how difficult it is to maintain healthy eating habits when you’re working nightshift.
It’s things like this that I’ve been able to blog about and help other nurses embrace an overall healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
“Nurses are capable of so much, and it’s just a reaffirmation that despite what can be a very taxing job, we can do it all!“
What do you wish the world knew about nursing?
I don’t think the world will ever understand how exhausting a 12-hour shift is! But on a real note, I wish people knew how much getting a degree in nursing entails (I mean, it’s voted like one of the hardest undergrads), and how much critical thinking has to occur, especially in certain specialties. As an ICU nurse, you have so much autonomy and are capable of making care decisions without a doctor’s order. I don’t think that everyone realizes how far nursing as come, and the amount of critical thinking that is required every moment of the day.
How do you feel about the future of nursing? Your nursing career in particular?
I think nursing is moving in a great direction. More people now realize what the scope of being a nurse entails (definitely something that I wish more people knew as I stated above, but I do think it’s getting better). Also, there are so many advanced degrees in nursing now, whether it's a Masters or a Doctorate as a NP or CRNA, or whether you want to become an educator, etc. Overall, it's a really respected profession, and so many people I meet give me “kudos” for being a nurse.
As far as what the future holds for me, I’m not entirely sure. I started working in an ICU as a new grad partially because I wanted to go to CRNA school, but I realized that I don’t think it would be a good fit for me–I want to interact with others more, and I like helping educate patients and families. So maybe NP school? Honestly though, I am content at where I am right now, and I just want to gain as much experience as I can before thinking about that next chapter!
To read more about Claire’s lifestyle as a nurse, head over to her blog!
