A Lifetime of Learning

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(CRT) at CHI Memorial, and also working on her master's in nursing. ... earlier degree in criminal justice, my ... While
A Lifetime of Learning FROM POLICE WORK TO NURSING, WILMA BROOKS PUTS SERVICE FIRST.

Tap Into Your Potential DO YOU LIKE A FAST-PACED WORK ENVIRONMENT AND BEING EXPOSED TO NEW THINGS EVERY DAY? The clinical resource team (CRT) might be for you! CRT serves as a critical resource for the hospital, and includes unit secretaries, nursing assistants and registered nurses. When someone is sick or off work and a unit is shorthanded, managers can call CRT for backup to fill in the gap and assist with patient care. The team isn’t based in a specific unit, but acts as “float pool” to assist wherever there’s a need.

This year, CRT is piloting a new category of service called ‘internal travelers.’ Nurses will take longer term assignments (for 2-3 months) when employees are on maternity leave or FMLA. To be eligible, RNs must have one year of experience. Because the job requires working on different units every day, nurses undergo more intense and extensive training. The expectations are

a little higher, and you must be prepared to jump in wherever you’re needed. If you’re interested, visit HR Payroll Connection, select Search Career Opportunities/Apply and enter Clinical Resource Team in the keyword field. You can also email the CRT coordinator and lead house administrator at [email protected].

It’s not often you meet someone who’s a police officer and a nurse. Both can be physical and demanding, but Wilma Brooks has never been afraid of hard work. Wilma is a patrol sergeant with the Chattanooga Police Department, an RN on the clinical resource team (CRT) at CHI Memorial, and also working on her master’s in nursing. AS A POLICE OFFICER, Wilma has put in 20 years and eight years in her current role as patrol sergeant. Her husband, Darrell, is also a police sergeant and a 28-year veteran of the force. “My job is largely administrative, and I oversee eight police officers on patrol, handle paperwork, scheduling, statistics and responding to calls with officers to observe and evaluate their actions,” says Wilma. “There are times when a supervisor needs to be present on the scene of an incident­—if an officer is hurt or involved in an accident and every time there’s a shooting.” Wilma had an interest in nursing immediately after finishing the police academy. But she didn’t start school again because according to Wilma, “life intervened,” and she was expecting her son, Cameron. But when she discovered that Chattanooga State offered pre-requisites online, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “It was great because I could get started and do the course work around my work schedule. I could also flex my time at the police department and that helped, too,” says Wilma. “I graduated from nursing school with my associate’s degree then I completed my BSN. Thankfully, because of my

earlier degree in criminal justice, my classes focused on nursing leadership—something I really enjoy.” While she was in school, Wilma began working at CHI Memorial as a patient care tech to gain experience and then moved to the cardiothoracic step-down unit on 2 Central (now 5 North). Now she’s part of CRT, working in several units including cardiac, orthopedics, the clinical decision unit and the emergency department. “I love my team and manager, Michael Smith,” says Wilma. “The flexibility also means I can keep working and finish up school at the same time.”

The Final Hurdle Right now, all that stands between Wilma and her master’s in nursing is completing practicums. In order to be there for all her son’s big moments during his senior year, she’s postponed that until fall 2017. And even though she’s taking a break, Wilma is still dedicated to finishing what she started. “With my coursework behind me, I’m excited and completely committed to finishing this last phase of my education and putting it to work!”

NURSING AND POLICE WORK SHARE COMMON GROUND As it turns out, being a police officer and a nurse are more alike than different. Whether she’s at the police department or working on a new floor with CRT, Wilma loves that every day is unique with different people, different schedules, and different problems to solve. That variety helps keep her engaged and open to new experiences. The downside according to Wilma? “Well, the paperwork load is pretty much the same,” she laughs. “There’s always piles of documentation!”

How do you prioritize career and family? A BALANCING ACT | With a husband of twenty years, and a 17-year-old-son who is actively involved in sports and other activities, Wilma always has a full plate. But that’s never stopped her from pursuing her dreams. When it comes to nursing, leadership is what she’s drawn to the most. And that’s part of the motivation that kept her going, even though it was hard juggling work, school, and family commitments. “I really love the classroom environment and learning new things,” says Wilma. “Nursing was something I always wanted to do and saw an opening—I just decided to do it. I didn’t want to look back and regret not taking the opportunity.”

WILMA BROOKS

RN // 5 years Clinical Resource Team

FUN FACT Member of the Army Reserve from 1995 to 2010. Played softball in high school, and her favorite book is The Color Purple.