Interview with Bridget Ouellette, History 150 Spring 2020, Conducted by Briella Ouellette, April 8, 2020.
Briella Ouellette: My name is Briella Ouellette, and today I’m going to be interviewing Bridget Ouellette. She is my mom and also the mother of my two younger brothers. She was born and raised in Manassas, Virginia and she later attended Virginia Tech University and graduated in 1997. This is where she also met her husband. Shortly after college she took a job as a social worker, and then she decided she wanted to be a nurse. After nursing school, she started working at a local hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia in June of 2006. When she first started working there, she was a pediatric nurse, specifically from 2006 until September of 2011. After that, she decided that labor and delivery seemed like a good place for her. So she started working as a labor and delivery nurse in October of 2011 and she is still doing this now. Recently, she took a job as an analyst, specifically an epic business analyst, and she now will be helping build software for the electrical medical records at her hospital. Hi, Mom, how are you today?
Bridget Ouellette: I’m good. How are you? You did very well.
Briella Ouellette: Thank you. So my first question for you today is what was your inspiration for working in the medical field/ being a nurse.
Bridget Ouellette: I have always been fascinated with child development and then when I was a social worker, I accompanied a nurse and together we went we worked in Greensboro, North Carolina, and we went together to homes and she did the nursing piece and I did the child development piece, and I taught child development to young and pregnant moms in Greensboro, North Carolina and it was very challenging, but I watched her and I loved what she did. That along with I mean, I always loved the miracle birth. I asked her that as a Christmas present when I was 13 and I was always fascinated with human development and child development, and it just continued to grow and I just realized that that’s where I was supposed to be. So I went back to nursing school.
Briella Ouellette: Okay, and what would you say is the most challenging part about working in this field?
Bridget Ouellette: Wow. Long hours. Gosh, right now, right now I’m currently not on the floor. So I cannot take credit for working in the front line. But right now with everything going on with COVID-19 I think that clinicians in this profession are really facing huge obstacles. So I’m kind of stumped right now. Typically, I would say long hours long shifts, new nurses start off working night shift. The rest of the world doesn’t understand night shift. Those were the kind of things I had to deal with 14 years ago. I wasn’t a new grad dealing with Coronavirus, so that’s completely different. Also, I guess I would say and it’s something that I read today to nurses sometimes unfortunately aren’t kind to their own. So starting off sometimes can be a challenge. But I was really lucky with the unit that I started on, on pediatrics and everyone was really really good to me. So, I guess I’d have to say the challenges are just long hours, me working nights, not getting a lot of sleep, raising my kids during that time.
Briella Ouellette: Would you say that it’s harder to work night hours than it is day shift?
Bridget Ouellette: Absolutely. Back in the past, there used to be incentive to work night shift and to work weekends because they would give you incentive pay, and they decreased that a lot. So the desire for that fell. Some people like to work nights. I didn’t mind working nights when my children were young because I was able to juggle my sleep and my naps with my kids. But nights is definitely harder, it’s nice in the sense that not a lot of family visit and there’s not as much administration walking around and it’s not as I won’t say, busy, it is still busy with patient care. It’s not true that patients sleep all night. Typically they don’t fall asleep till four or five in the morning. So you’re still doing heavy heavy patient care, but you don’t have as many distractions as you do in a day. Plus it is really really really hard on your body to work nights.
Briella Ouellette: Okay, um would you say that is a challenge finding a balance between being a mom and being a nurse?
Bridget Ouellette: I don’t think it has ever been a challenge. Being a mom and being a nurse. They kind of go hand in hand. Every mom that I know on a daily basis has to triage your kids, whether it be one of them having a sore throat one of them’s ankle hurts one of them. You know, that is a typical daily thing I think for most mothers and fathers. I think it’s the challenge of being a working mother and working full time. That is the challenge is trying to maintain a household and being upbeat. And I truly believe that the mom is the heart of the home and trying to keep everything in order and trying not to be exhausted because I work nights and not to bring that back home on my family. I think it’s just the balance of overall life when you are a full time working, or even part time and juggling raising a family.That’s definitely challenging.
Briella Ouellette: Do you think it’s like gotten easier finding this balance as your kids have gotten older?
Bridget Ouellette: That’s a good question. I think my kids are definitely more understanding and they’re older and more mature, you know that you’re my oldest but um, and we have one that 16 and then a 12 year old. I think that they are used to be working nights. So they’ve kind of grown up with that and also your dad works from home so there used to um being respectful. So I think it’s definitely gotten older because everyone has their own activities. It’s a different kind of challenge. It’s a it’s it’s more of being Uber and driving everyone everywhere, and staying on top of things versus the physical demands. It’s definitely mentally and emotionally taxing now. So I won’t say it’s got it’s gotten easier, in some ways, perhaps physically. Once my youngest started school, I didn’t feel guilty at all to take him to school and then from nine to three, I was able to sleep with guilt free, so that was definitely easier. So in someways yes, them being older, makes working full time easier.
Briella Ouellette: Okay, and do you think raising a family as a nurse has made you feel more comfortable in certain situations?
Bridget Ouellette: Hmm. Does it make me feel more comfortable in certain situations? I think, gosh, my head is going many places with this. I think I’m very aware of things that could happen. Your sister, your aunt, my sister is an ed nurse. So together, she and I have seen a lot of sustain and seen and heard a lot of stories about, you know, accidents and incidents and things with kids. So I think we’re pretty cautious about things. I dont know that I am answering your question, will you repeat it?
Briella Ouellette: Um, so my question was raising a family as a nurse, have you felt more comfortable in certain situations? One example I was thinking of when I wrote this question was um translating into like, when you’re coaching soccer and someone gets hurt, you’re always the first person like to help them…
Bridget Ouellette: Now thats cause your dad makes me.
Briella Ouellette: *laughs* Well, I meant like being a nurse, do you think that that made you more comfortable for like, if anything happens, like in the split of the moment, like you’re ready to help someone like you feel comfortable to do that?
I think that I don’t, I definitely feel comfortable to do that. And I feel I’m actually I’m less inclined these days to give anybody advice. Because I always tell people, when in doubt, check it out. Because there was one instance about 12 years ago where someone asked my opinion and I said what I would do and she told me later, she wish she’d done something differently. And, I mean, moms moms have this gut intuition too and every child is different, every mom is different, every situation is different. So I’m not hesitant to respond to things but and I think that’s also from being a mom. So I don’t know if that’s being a mom or being a nurse. But I mean, I’m definitely fine with, you know, handling things as they come or, but it’s different when it’s your own kid. There was a time that Chase was choking, and he was actually downstairs in the basement, and I saw him choking and I picked him up and I ran him right in front of aunt brandie. Because it just it was like another person there for me. So I don’t know if it’s a nurse that wants you to jump in and help kids or if it’s being a mom or if it’s the combination of both.
Briella Ouellette: Thats a good answer.
Bridget Ouellette: But your dad he definitely, he kind of waves his finger for me to handle that stuff on the soccer field. So that’s, that’s a whole different story.
Briella Ouellette: Um, so during the time working in the medical field in your profession, have you seen a change in gender roles?
Bridget Ouellette: I don’t know that I’ve seen much change in gender roles. There were a few men that worked on pediatrics with me and they were phenomenal, phenomenal. And a few men that worked on labor and delivery with me and again, wonderful nurses. But I, I don’t know that I’ve seen a change in the past 14 years in gender roles. I think nursing is predominantly woman.
Briella Ouellette: Hmm.
Bridget Ouellette: I think that’s what people associate it with. I don’t think it shouldn’t be that way. Because I think the men are just as strong as a woman. Just like I think there are more physicians that are men than woman and I, I think, woman are just equally as gifted and talented and be physicians as men.
Briella Ouellette: That kind of leads into my next question um regarding nursing school. Are there a lot of men in nursing school or was it predominantly woman?
Bridget Ouellette: Gosh, I don’t recall specifics. I mean, of course, in my individual group, there was four of us and there was one male. But, I mean, there definitely were men in my group, and um, gosh, quite a few I still work with at my hospital. But yes, it was predominantly woman. I guess if I had to guess maybe I’d say 70- 30 that might be high. 30 might be high.
Briella Ouellette: So do you think that the stereotypes surrounding male nurses has changed over the years? Or do you think it’s stayed the same?
Bridget Ouellette: You know, I’m not a male, so I don’t know what they experience and especially in labor and delivery, there will be some times that certain woman will come in and based on their religion, they don’t want a male nurse but they also don’t want a male provider, a physician as well. So, I don’t think there has been much changes. I don’t know that there are more males. I mean, I think people are more relaxed about gender roles overall. But I don’t know statistic wise if it’s changed.
Briella Ouellette: Okay, so do you think that either gender male or female have more opportunities in this field?
Bridget Ouellette: I will say that there is one. It kind of reminds me of a story. There was one male that was in my group and he works on the medical floor and we went to a hospital kind of far away and the question raised to him was how are you going to become a nurse anesthetist? So that in itself is kind of stereotypical. I there are some people that believe that male nurses that it’s not enough to just be a male nurse and work either in the ICU or on a medical floor on pediatrics or labor and delivery or whatever. I think there is the belief that males that enter nursing probably are going for those advanced degrees, administration, management, or a CRNA position. I think there’s that expectation on them. So yeah, I mean, I unfortunately I do think there probably are some stereotypes that exist.
Briella Ouellette: Um, So I would agree and say that there are some gender biases in this field. Um, after doing some research, I found that 55% of medical practitioners are men, and then 66% of specialists are men. So has this gender bias ever personally affected you? And if so, how?
Bridget Ouellette: I’m trying to think if I’ve ever been affected, umm…
Briella Ouellette: If it hasn’t affected you personally it’s okay to say..
Bridget Ouellette: The only way it would have affected me is if I was working at the time and supposed to pick up a patient or not pick up a certain patient on labor and delivery and then that patient didn’t want to be treated by or cared for by a male nurse. That’s happened a couple of times. But other than that, I can honestly say that I work with both males and females that are medical physicians and registered nurses and clinspecs and nurse educators and, they do great. I don’t think I’ve had any negative impact.
Briella Ouellette: That’s good. Um, do you think it’s easier to get a leadership opportunity now in this field than it was previously? For either gender, it doesnt matter.
Bridget Ouellette: Okay, I was wondering if it was gender related. Hmm, good question.
Briella Ouellette: Like, do you think it’s easier for you to get a leadership now than it would have been for you 14 years ago.
Bridget Ouellette: Not necessarily. Again, I mean, I haven’t looked at stats and I don’t know what, what they say. It typically sees what I’m thinking in my head of who are nursing administration’s heads are my hospital. I mean, for the majority it is woman. So I don’t think that it would be easier for me now versus back then I think it was kind of expected.
Briella Ouellette: Okay, and would you say you’ve had any opportunity with these leadership positions or has that been something that you were interested in or?
Bridget Ouellette: I’m really not interested in administration. I like to do my job and come home. My number one job is being a mom and a support for our family. Maybe one day, that’ll change as my kids get older. But we do have clinical councils and I chair on those and then now, formally, I was a credential trainer and taught some of the epic classes and now I am learning the analyst build peace and I’m happy with where I am. I don’t, I don’t think I’d really want to do management, or administration.
Briella Ouellette: Um, so the final thing I wanted to talk to you about would just be the whole Corona virus situation going on. I know that you firsthand, I’ve seen how difficult this has been for a lot of the nurses and I was just wondering if you could maybe say something about that briefly.
Bridget Ouellette: As soon as you asked me that, you see me put my head down. Um, I think this is a humanitarian crisis. I think what’s going on in New York is horrific and Louisiana. And today is April 8th and it looks like our peak here in Virginia will be in the next week or two versus the end of May, which was the prediction before. I…It’s been devastating. It’s been very, very hard. It’s been really, really hard to watch first responders and their reports on TV and it’s been really great to see how the community has kicked in and how people have helped.
I for one can honestly say that I have nothing but pride from my hospital. My hospital has worked tremendously hard, and the anticipation and the planning for the days that lie ahead and what still may happen and what may lie ahead. Down to our avs workers, to our builders, to our engineers, and those people that help run machines here and there and pumps, and everybody has worked very, very hard even to building a little miniature emergency department in our parking garage. We are really, really ready. In that sense. It’s given me a lot of faith in the place that I work. I have not worked at any other hospital and I don’t plan to this is my hospital. It’s my community. I love it. I’ve been here 14 years and I’ve seen how the community has pitched in to help make masks and to help care for others and keep restaurants downtown afloat and reaching out to neighbors and trying to help kids that are relying on being at school for their meals. So in that sense, it’s been really awesome to witness but the crisis itself it’s been horrific and I just pray for all those that are on the front line, and I will say it’s one of the things that’s frustrating to me.
I saw a physician, he gave a story and he said, there’s two things that providers and clinicians can do one, they either either get angry and bitter at other people when they fail to take the recommendations of government or the CDC, or two you just try to educate and I’ve definitely had some times where I’ve just been absolutely furious when I see people post things on Facebook or when I see people traveling and completely disobeying, and I shouldn’t say disobeying but just disregarding the warnings that are out there and the ignorance that people think that it cannot happen to them. That nothing can happen to them, and it’s horrific, to think that there are some physicians that are having to make decisions about respirators and ventilators and who should get support. I’ve lost both my parents, it’ll be two years from my mom on Easter Sunday and my dad was three years ago and I never ever knew what a blessing it was for me to have had with both my parents I was with them when they passed and 18 hours before both of them passed and advocating for them to not be in pain and to be with them and to talk to them. Each of my brothers was with me for each parent, and we were able to just tell my mom and my dad that they weren’t alone and to be with them and and then to grieve their loss and have a funeral. And I mean, the fact that people cannot do that right now. It’s terrible.
Briella Ouellette: Yeah it’s heartbreaking.
Bridget Ouellette: It’s definitely heartbreaking.
Briella Ouellette: Well, that is all the questions that I have for you today, thank you so much for letting me interview you.
Bridget Ouellette: You’re welcome. Can you please put away the dishes? Just kidding.
Briella Ouellette: Thank you.
Bridget Ouellette: You’re welcome.
Research: Going into this research I knew that the medical industry was biased and that there were many common gender roles that were frequently seen. However, I found a website that went into even more death and even explained that these genders roles do not apply only to the employees, but the patients as well.
Many times when a woman walks into the emergency room expressing that she has some pain, she is not taken seriously. In fact, women are less likely to get CPR than men. For example, only 39% of women that have a cardiac arrest in public places were given CPR, opposed to the 45% of men that are given CPR. This bias has gotten so bad that people are now being told they have to “listen to women”. Reading this honestly shocked me. The fact that people would not believe someone is in pain simply because of their gender is not right.
Women believe that they are beginning to be treated the same way as men in this field. However, a recent study showed that the pay between male and female clinicains varied greatly. In fact, female physicians were being paid nearly 26.5% (91,000$) less than male physicians. However, this article goes into depth about how it is not just pay that is different. Giving the statistic that one in three physicians are women, however these women are continuously passed over when it comes to getting their full recognition. Both of these facts are very sad and need to be changed. The fact that a biological gender can impact someone’s life so much is dissapointing.
Works Cited for research:
Schopen, Fay. “The Healthcare Gender Bias: Do Men Get Better Medical Treatment?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 20 Nov. 2017, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/20/healthcare-gender-bias-women-pain.
Whitman, Joe. “Gender Discrimination in Healthcare.” Gender Differences and Discrimination In the Workplace, sites.psu.edu/civic/2017/02/14/gender-discrimination-in-healthcare/.
Willard, David. “Leveling the Playing Field: Can We Achieve Gender Equality in Medicine?” ASH Clinical News, 9 July 2018, www.ashclinicalnews.org/spotlight/leveling-playing-field-can-achieve-gender-equality-medicine/.
This interview was conducted in person, my mom and I decided to conduct it in the basement so there would be no loud distractions during the time that we were doing this. In order to make this process run as smoothly as possible I used a handy recorder H1, I checked this out from the JMU library. I will say this recorder made the audio really clear and was not too difficult to transfer the file onto my computer. As far as editing went, I did not have to edit the interview a lot, I conducted it in one take, but I did have to edit the transcription a bit so that it flowed smoothly.
I think the interview flowed smoothly. Interviewing my mom definitely made this whole process easier because it was not awkward it was more like we were having a regular conversation. Feeling this way also made it easier to go “off- script”, I just asked her following questions when it felt natural. Overall, if I could do this process again I do not think I would do it differently, I think it went really well.