94 - Brittany Slegers Pt 1: Expect the Unexpected

Join “sort-of” nurse educator and Boise, Idaho native Honored Guest Brittany Slegers as she talks about her roundabout method to becoming “just” a nurse, her incredibly supportive parents, her advice for those without supportive parents, mean nurses, what she has done with her nursing license, her first interaction with a neurosurgeon as a brand new nurse, and more!

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Transcript

0:01

Good morning, everyone. This is today's episode of the Feeding Our Young podcast. At least I sure hope it is, because you're here to listen to that. So if it were anything else, I don't know. I don't know what I'd say about that. But as I always am, I'm very, excited to introduce someone to you who is just incredibly talented, incredibly gifted. And there will be a kind of an interesting little spin that you'll find here. talking about her, her life, and what she does in the nursing field. Because yes, ladies and gentlemen, I know it's hard to believe, but she is a nurse. This is the one and only Brittany Slegers. Brittany, how the heck are you this morning? I am doing well. How about you? I'm doing good. Here's our first curveball. So you're not too stressed anymore, at least at the moment we were able to put that aside. I'm doing better. My hands aren't shaking as much from me running around everywhere. But yes, yes, I'm doing better. Yes. but here we are. We just come into the ever relaxing and not crazy Feeding Our Young studio where we can just kick our feet back and talk all things nursing. So Brittany, without further ado, in fact, I am kind of curious. You were in the middle of doing something. I had texted you and said, hey, if you want to go early, like I'm available, no pressure, whatever. And then you wrote back, what were you doing at that time? my goodness, I was looking into a schedule swap for a student. Yes. must mean you're one of the educators, many educators that we've had on this show. Would that be correct? Well, yes and no. Kind of, maybe. your tease everybody. We're gonna find out what it is that Brittany does with her licensure. But speaking of licensure, go ahead and introduce yourself. What degrees do you hold? When did you get them? Where'd you get them from? Yes, so I am Brittany Slegers. I have been a nurse since I successfully passed the NCLEX on my first try in 2012. Yes, my gosh. I went to Boise State University for my undergrad. That's where I originally hail from. And then I got my master's degree in nursing leadership and healthcare at Gonzaga University in Spokane. Oh my goodness, and any listeners to this show, you are obviously well acquainted with the Zags and the all things Bulldogs, that's how we are. We're kind of in the middle of a, you know, we're usually known for basketball and now that's starting to tail off a little bit this year, but. I know, it's been a little bit of a rough go, man. we're not accustomed to, well, I'm accustomed being from the Seattle area and being a Mariners and Seahawks fan. Historically, I'm accustomed to far things worse than this. all right, so you kind of touched on it. Where are you from? What's home? Where is home for you? Yeah. So I, originally was born in California, but I don't claim that as where I'm from. moved to the Boise area when I was five. So I say that I'm a true Idahoan since I've been here for, you know, over 30 years. which is weird to say, but, yeah. So I grew up in the Boise area in a town called Nampa. a lot of people don't know where that is when I say it. So I say Boise area. Um, but I grew up down there, went to high school down there, uh, went to college at Boise state, obviously. And we actually moved to Coeur d'Alene back in 2019. My husband took a job transfer. So we packed up our little family and headed North knowing no one and having no plan. But you know, we trusted that the Lord had us and would provide for us and he has, and we love it here and can't really see ourselves moving back down there. It's too busy. Too busy now. yeah, I understand. still have yet to visit Boise, much to the chagrin of one of my very good friends that I've known since elementary school. I need to get down there and visit them. But I've heard it's just like, I mean, it's a big city. you know, I mean, it's the biggest, yeah, it's the biggest city in Idaho, I was gonna say, right? Yeah. And it's so different. And even the weather is different. In the summer, it's a lot hotter down there. So I really don't miss that at all. And like, where we lived, we backed up to a cornfield and I heard that they sold it recently and they're just going to put a million houses there. So I was like, good riddance. I'm happy with my little plot of North Idaho land. So yeah. of progress, right? I'm not gonna digress. There's a whole story I have on that too. But progress is progress and it is what it is. But we're glad you're in Coeur d'Alene and we're glad you're at Gonzaga, that's for sure. I am honored to know you and to have made your acquaintance. I'm already gonna, let's just turn this up on its head a little bit. Everybody kinda knows what to expect, right? What are your three words? What are your favorite three songs? But I'm not gonna have you share your three words. I'm really into yours. No offense to anyone that's come before you yet. And by the time people listen to this, that'll be quite a few honored guests. But no offense to them. You have three of the most intriguing. love the three you chose and how you chose to describe them. So that's all you get everybody for a tease for that. Stay tuned for the end because you don't wanna miss her three words. But with that, what are your three favorite songs in life right now? Ooh, so I am a big Christian music fan. So I love I give you my dreams by Torrin Wells and Sarah Rivera. Believe for it by C.C. Winans and Honest Offering by Kane. So yeah, a lot of like, you know, giving your plans over to God and a lot of, you know, believe in the things that you're hoping for, like a lot of that kind of encouraging music is what I go for lately. It's weird, it's almost like people need encouragement lately. I don't understand. Anyway, we're gonna leave that one there as well. I mean, I don't know, I feel like that's been the case. I mean, even pre-COVID, obviously everybody needs encouragement, but ever since COVID, like man, life is just, it's tough. It's tougher for some than others, but it's tough for everybody. And I don't know, if we can offer a little bright spot here. Brittany's a little bright spot. Listen to what she has to say. you're gonna come away encouraged by the things she has to say. So that was my segue into a very non-spiritual new intro question, which is a very odd disjointed way to put these two things together. But in these last few episodes, we have come up with our not yet patented Feeding Our Young personality quiz. Brittany, I have obtained your permission to give this quiz sight unseen, correct? Yes, you have. I'm nervous. is the only thing that is going to be any sort of pressure whatsoever. So, rapid fire, five would you rather questions or either or questions. And this, your answers, no pressure, but your answers to these five questions will tell us exactly what type of person you are. Are you ready? Okay. Okay. And you can give rationale. You don't have to give rationale. This is just boom, boom, boom. Would you rather? Instantly learn a new language or an instrument. language. You have a time machine. Do you go back in time or do you go see the future? I don't want to know the future. I'll go back in time. There's a lot of mistakes that I could fix from middle school that I can think of off the top of my head. So I'm for sure going back in time. I like that. Hold on, I gotta write that down. With my time machine. Okay, question number three. Rapid, not so rapid fire. Is Wham's song Last Christmas? actually a Christmas song. my gosh, my kids, my girls love that song and I cannot stand it. my gosh. We have an Alexa, so it's constantly, Alexa play this song. And I was like, Alexa, no more of that song. God. I'm gonna say yes because it's always on at Christmas time in my house. and unfortunately we have to end our interview here. I respect you as a person, but at this point you've just disrespected the great George Michael. No, no, no, it was a family tradition. I don't think I've talked about it on this before, but about teenage, around middle school is when I started counting how many times I'd hear last Christmas on the radio. This is the reason for this question, everybody. This is why it's part of the personality test. Because I would, and it was A, because I genuinely didn't believe it was a Christmas song. He's talking about, you know what mean, this breakup and this, ah, ah, ah, ah, my gosh, too funny. And I like, well, I have to hear it so it doesn't count. Anyway, we kind of, over the years it progressed to this thing where the family could contribute and they would record a little snippet to prove that they had heard it. And so long story short, the most we got was 2023 where everybody was listening and like my son, who doesn't care about these things, he had the radio on all the time. 98.1 is the local Christmas station during Christmas time. He's like, dad, I heard it again. And so we're like piling if people heard the same one. It only counted as one, but we heard it 149 times. And 149 since it was like, they started playing about early November that year. And so sure enough, we were waiting. We stayed up on Christmas till midnight because nevermind the true meaning of Christmas, the Millers were hoping to catch 150. I cannot joke. This is no joke. I don't even know if any of this is making the episode. We're way off the trail here. my gosh. 11.55 p.m. Guess what song plays? Last Christmas, but not by Wham! And it had to be by Wham! to count. It was the most insulting thing ever. We turned the radio off and I was like, go to bed, kids. Good night. So it was fun. I've ever heard that song not by Wham! So that is intriguing. a great thing. If you don't like it already from the original, there about, and in fact in 23 was the first year, Backstreet Boys did their own cover of it. so, it's Glee has a cover of it. Anyway, all right, so definitely slow fire. You've answered three questions, the other two. Would you rather have the ability to fly or breathe underwater? Ooh, breathe underwater. Of course. And then, are you Team Pie or Team Cake? Ooh, I used to be Team Cake when I was a kid, but I love pies, specifically Birdie's pies. And they have one in Spokane now. And my gosh, they're the best. The chocolate cream, can't, there's your plug for Birdie's pies. You might get a sponsorship now, you're welcome. Hey Birdie's, hey Birdie's, if you're hearing this, anyone from Birdie's, please hit us up. Let's work together, shall we? On that note, and I don't know that anybody's gonna hear that in the background thanks to our wonderful editing software, but I hear a member of your family barking up a little bit out there. Who might that be? That is Birdie, one of our seven month old puppies, Gorgugali puppies we have. We call her Yappy, if you can't tell why. She can hear me in here and she's like, why am I not in there too? Like, why are you not giving me attention? So she's one of two. We have her brother is Divet and we got them back in August. They're so sweet. We absolutely love them. They're border collies. Yes, they're so fun. They're so busy. We might have to get a picture of you with a birdie or somebody by the time we're done here and we'll put that on the little promo thing too. Awesome. call her Yappy. my goodness. maybe nobody hears her and they're like, well, okay, this is weird. But you might hear in the background, we hear her plainly enough and she is adorable. So, I absolutely love it. I love it. And if it helps, bring her into studio. Let's have her talk. It'll be great. She'll have things to say about nursing. I love it. Why does my mom have to leave every day? What is going on? Well, this was a beautiful segue right into your family. So we've talked about your furry family who also seemed. have a theme amongst their names. But what do you want to share about your family? Yeah, so I am married to my high school sweetheart. We've actually known each other since we were 12. We met in middle school when he came to my school. Yeah, and it took him until our sophomore year to finally ask me out, but I had had a crush on him. my gosh. I waited for this guy. Let me tell you, I had had a crush on him since seventh grade. So it took forever, but yeah, we've been together. Let's see here, we got married in 2010. So this year will be our 15 year anniversary. And we have, thank you, we have three wonderful kids. They keep us very busy. My oldest, Brecken, he's 11. Marina is eight, going on 16. And Vivi is six, going on 16. So. yeah. So we're a busy household. mean, we've got something every night of the week between sports and dance and life group and my husband's virtual golf league that he does. So we're busy. Yes. Yes. It's new this year. yes. He's trying to find a way to still play golf in the North Idaho winter time. So yeah. Yeah. smart, yeah. If you're into that sort of thing, I mean. awesome. Anything about your extended family? Do you have any healthcare workers in your family at all? actually I am like kind of first generation healthcare. will say my great grandmother was actually a nurse in the army. And I actually didn't even know that until I think I applied and got into nursing school. And then my grandma just happened to be like, Hey, like, did you know that grandma Collins was a nurse in the army? And I was like, no, it did not. So I've never really heard much about it, but, I am the current only healthcare worker in the family. for multiple generations and I'm like the go-to person that people text and ask questions to. That is my family job. Even though my dad, his heart, doesn't hardly listen to me. He goes on WebMD all the time. So we joke with him that he's WebMD educated. So, yeah, exactly. Excuse me, cousin Brittany, I've got this rash on the inside of my elbow. What do you think this is? Yeah, I've definitely had family members like drop their pants and like show me something to get an opinion on stuff. And I'm like, I mean, this is what I do. But yeah, you should go get that looked at. Is that your standard? Like, I feel like the standard answer. Hey, by the way, nursing students, if you don't know, this is what awaits you in your future. This is one of the rewards. it off like say, yep, I think you need to go follow up with your doctor. Go get that looked at. Yes. Yes. am not allowed to comment on that. oh, that's awesome. So anyone who wants a good time, go to the Sleger's Holiday Dinners. You just let us know where those are at and we'll all show up, because wow. All right. So then, I mean, a nurse, you're a nurse. What, why nursing? How did you get into nursing? Why that field? Yeah, actually, so I don't have one of those like glorious stories that's like, I've always wanted to be a nurse. I actually wanted to be an architect for the longest time. And then I hit high school and was starting pre-calculus and was like, no, no, I don't want to do all the math. Nope. I don't want to do that. And I was like, you know, I really like sciences. So maybe I'll go like the healthcare route. my grandmother really wanted me to go to med school. So it was much to her chagrin that I became a nurse instead of going to med school, but just a nurse. Right? I know. my goodness. But I actually at first was like, you know what, just like a lot of like people who women that become nurses, they love the babies, although you love the babies too. So but I was like, I want to see the babies on the screen. So I was actually thinking radiology. And that's what I started as when I started at Boise state. but being young and naive and not knowing how college worked, I did not meet with my advisor. Here's another plug for nursing students. Stay connected to your advisors. so I did not sign up for anatomy and physiology one, my freshmen followed my freshman year. And you had to have that done and be in anatomy and physiology too, to get accepted into the radiology program if you were accepted. So I remember meeting with my advisor, you know, after like the first semester is almost over and he was like, Ooh, like you can apply, but I don't think you're going to get in. And I was like, okay. So I applied. did not get in and I was very upset. And I was like, shoot, like, I don't know what to do with my life now. And my dad's like, what about business? And I was like, study business. Like, I don't know what to do with that. So no babies in business. So I'm just like, okay, I'm kind of hanging out, you know, your freshman year, you're just getting all your pre-reqs out of the way. So I'm just finishing those up. And I get to the end of my second semester. And my dad was like, you know, have you ever thought about being a nurse? And I was like, ooh, like, no, actually, I have not. And he was like, you would make a really good nurse, you're super empathetic. And then, you know, being a dad, he's like, there will always be a job for you. And I was like, that's, mean, that's true. But dad, you know, if I want to like, apply to the nursing program on time and not be in college forever to like, you know, wait for that entrance thing again, to come around. I have to take this one specific class this summer and registration has already been open for a few weeks, like I don't know if it's going to happen. So I go and I get on BroncoWeb as it was called. And I look up these classes and no joke, there was one spot left in the class that I absolutely had to take that summer. And I was like, okay, like this is obviously divine intervention. I'm supposed to be a nurse. So I signed up for that class and that's how I got into nursing. my gosh, To me that is incredible because, and again, my episodes are about you. Every once in while I'll throw in my little stories except for the 17 minute long rant we did about Wham! But other than that, it's just eerie hearing you tell your story because mine followed a very similar path. I've talked about it before in the podcast, dovetailed into the ministry, blah blah blah blah blah, was actually going to become a doctor, dovetailed into the ministry, came out of the ministry knowing full-time ministry was not for me. Then you get into it and I was like, man, so my wife was like, well, what are you gonna go back and try and become a doctor? Like, no, we already had our first son at that time. And I'm like, I don't want all that time away from you guys. And she said almost same thing. Well, what about being a nurse? And it just, takes that moment, right? And I've always called it like, maybe that was just like the Holy Spirit talking through her, like whatever. Or it was just her beautiful, brilliant brain. And you know, any of those combination of things, hey, my gosh, like. It was eye-opening. It was an eye-opening moment. And so when we decided that was the case, and I had one foot out the door of the ministry yet, wasn't done yet, and I wasn't gonna leave our church at a lurch, we had, I was, know, our children's events and VBS and all the things. And so I promised I would stay through all of those. On the last Sunday that I taught, we had, the car was packed, and we drove over to Spokane, and that's a whole different story in and of itself, why we went to Spokane from the Seattle area. but drove to Spokane to look for, to get registered for my first class, find a job, and find somewhere to live. Similar thing. Our stuff was still back in the Seattle area, but we had a week to get this done. And I was like, okay, God, it's a week to find all these things. We're temporarily shacking up at my dad's house. And same thing, I go to SCC, Spokane Community College, for those that aren't local here, and I'm going in and the advisor's like, good luck. you you need these pre-reqs. I mean, because at this point, we're talking early September, late August, early September. So of course, everything's, know, people have already registered and all things. And this was a few years ago, so I could still check online, but it wasn't quite the online process you had here, right? I think my dad still had dial-up at that time. And I'm like, okay, all right. So. They're like, you you can, good luck, but you're not gonna probably get into a class this quarter. You're gonna probably have to wait till next quarter, because I can only do a class at a time, working full time. I got to my dad's and I just was like, okay, I know what he said, but I'm gonna check anyway. Like it doesn't hurt anything. One slot, Brittany, one slot. Got in there, met the incredible Margaret Miller. I'm shouting her out. She and I go way back. She's amazing, amazing human being. Works at a local hospital here and was an educator for a long time. And she was my first, she taught, I think it was psych? Was it psychology? Anyway, whatever course it was, it was one of those pre-req courses that wasn't a science course. And she's just an amazing human being that I'm still in touch with to this day. So I just love the parallels in that story. Enough about me. Getting back to you, because you were talking about your dad, and I have a hunch that this might lead us into the answer to the following question. Who are your heroes or who is your hero? Who inspires you in life, my friend? Yeah, that would definitely be my parents, my mom included this time. Yeah, so my dad inspired me to be a nurse. And then my mom was right there with me when I got my acceptance letter. That was crazy, because that was back in the day where they mailed you your acceptance letter. And you could always tell, right? Mail, what is that? Not email, like, you know, mailbox, they have these things. weird. All right. Yeah. And you can always tell if you got in, because if you got the really thin letter, it was a no. But if you got the big letter, it was all of the paperwork you had to do because you were in. So I remember calling my mom. was so I was in Boise. I lived on campus and she was in Nampa at her house and I called her and I was like, Hey, my friend here in Boise just got her acceptance letter. So I think that it's probably coming today. And she was like, okay, the mail hasn't come yet. And I was like, I'm coming. Like, hang on. Like, so I got in my car and I drove to Nampa and like, we're both like sitting there by the window, just waiting and the mailman comes by and she's like, I'm gonna go get it. I'm gonna go get it. And I was like, okay, okay. And she like goes to the mailbox and I'm just like watching her and she like lifts it out of the mail and she's like holding it up like, yes. And I was like, it's a big envelope. Noooo And she brought it inside and like we jumped up and down together and it was just so fun. But I just, love and adore my parents. They are just wonderful human beings. They've, they got married young, they got married at 19. They've been together ever since. But they have just been such a wonderful example of hard work and dedication. Both of them grew up with absolutely nothing. But they just, they forged their own path. They have been such an example to me for a work ethic in my faith, just totally relying on God and just trusting that he would provide. I've really, and they're amazing grandparents too. They just love and adore my kids and they put up with so much, especially when we go visit them. They followed us up here to Coeur d'Alene, but they're snowbirds now. So they're half, half time here, half time at a residence they bought in California. which is, yeah, they live in La Quinta. about 45 minutes from Palm Springs. And it's one of my favorite places to go, know, sunshine palms and palm trees. So great. Yes, yes. And they just, they've been, they've just been such an awesome example. And they've been like my biggest cheerleaders. You know, I still, I'm 36 years old now, but if I have a bad day, I can, I call them. So, I mean, I try not, I- I try not to burden them, but they just, I love that even me being in my thirties, there's still that support for me. So yeah, it's, they're awesome people. well, let me, and at the risk of sounding like I'm taking it to a darker place, and I don't intend that, but a question that comes to my mind, nursing student who's listening now and is like, man, I wish I had that, you know what mean? I'm not close with my parents, or my parents died years ago, or whatever the case may be. What would you say to them? I would say that there is somebody out there that can be a mentor to you. mean, even moving up here, like we didn't know anybody. And like, it was hard because my parents and my sister and her husband had just moved back from Sacramento. But they were all like within five minutes of us, my in-laws, my parents, my sister, my sister-in-law and her family. Like it was so hard to move up here and I just immediately was like, you know what? I need to get plugged in. I need to get connected. I need to meet some people and I need to like find somebody who can be a mentor to me in person if I need someone to go talk to. And for me, that person was, there was a gal at our church and then there was actually my daughter's preschool teacher. I just, I really, she was a wonderful person. And I just felt like, you know, she was older than me. Her sons were in high school. So she was, you know, a step above me. So I felt like I could talk to her and bounce stuff off of her. And then I also still had some nurses that I worked with in Boise that I kept in contact with. And I just really, yeah, I would say go find yourself a mentor. There's someone out there that is a step ahead of you in life that would just be more than happy to help you out in some way, shape, or form. Yeah, and I love that you bring up the one, you know, one of the ones you found. It's in a unique place, something you don't expect, right? Like your daughter's preschool teacher. it's just, what I love is meeting new people. That's always been a thing of mine. It energizes me at everything else. I love getting into just like, my gosh, like what makes you tick? What and I guess that's part of the reason why this podcast exists, right? Just a selfish little thing for me, but meeting new people and talking to them. And so just the idea that, like you said, I like the way you phrase that there's someone out there for you, you know, that's usually in the relationship context, right? But in this case, it is a relationship of sorts. It's. And it could be within the walls of wherever you're attending school. It could be outside of those walls, but keep your heart and your mind open and those eyes open. to those opportunities to like, hey, like, my gosh, you seem amazing. Like, can we get to know each other? Any chance we can go out and do coffee or something? Like, I'd love to pick your brain about life, whatever the case may be. I love it. Well, I think that we're touching on what is pretty much the theme of your episode, things being not quite as they seem. You know, not the unexpected maybe, I don't know, you know. So on that note, as we've already teased this, then just jump into your career path. So you became a nurse and so you love the babies. Everybody's going, well, I know where this is going. Brittany ended up becoming a labor and delivery nurse. So what did you do with your beautiful nursing license? I became a neuro nurse. I did, I did everything in my power. It's so funny. Cause when I hit like clinicals, I was like, yes, mother, baby, I can't wait for this. Like I used to beg my instructor because the way we did things, you know, mother, baby, labor and delivery, NICU and PEDs were all in the same clinical. So I would beg her like, please, can I go to labor and delivery again? Please can I go? And she would be like, Brittany, we have other people in this group who need to go to labor and delivery. You have to go to peds at least once. And I was like, but I don't want to. But so I was like, please, please, please. So she, but there was one day she sent me to labor and delivery and they were so mean to me. And they were so mean to every student that was there. They were just, they were mean. Here we go, our young, right? Like they were just, oh my gosh, I couldn't do anything right by this one lady that I was following. my instructor came around to check on me and she like pulls me into a conference room and she's like, how's it going? And I was like, I don't want to do this. And she was like, what? Like you wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse? And I was like, no. this is, this lady is so mean to me. She won't let me do anything. Like she wouldn't even let me spike up a fluid bag. She wouldn't let me do anything. She did not trust me. And like, and I didn't know what I was doing with, know, checking cervixes and stuff like that. So I didn't mind that she didn't let me do that, but I knew how to spike a fluid bag. And I was like, I mean, I've never, I was like, Amy, I've never even started an IV. Like, and she was like, you haven't. And I was like, no. And she went and got an IV kit and let me start an IV on her right there in that conference room. But she was so devastated for me that they were being so mean to me and that it had like changed my trajectory. But I still when I graduated, I was like, no, I want to like, I still want to try and do like mother, baby something. My preceptorship had been we call it preceptorship. They call it practicum now. But it was in the NICU actually. And I loved it there, but they had told me they're like, no, we don't hire new grads, like not here at this hospital. And I was like, dang. Okay. Well, you know, I'll figure something out. And it's funny because when I was, I can very vividly remember one of my med surge classes, we had this one professor, she was from New York. So she had this awesome accent, but she was like a take no BS kind of lady. And she was sitting there telling us, she loved to tell us stories. And she was talking about how neurosurgeons are some of the worst people that you can ever work with. Like they're just so terrible, like don't ever work with neurosurgeons. And then the first job I got was on the neuroscience floor. And I was like, my gosh, like I'm so scared of you. You know, they have what we affectionately called a God complex, but you know, as my dad says, and I agree with him, if they're going to be fiddling around with your brain, like I want them to have that complex. want them to be uber confident. So, yeah. yes. Like somebody, my wife's life, digging into my brain matter? Oh yeah, please, go right ahead. Yes. And that was so very much the case. Like I remember I got pulled in by one neurosurgeon one time at 7 a.m. I had like literally just started my shift and he pulls me into a patient's room. And I was like, he's like, can you, are you his nurse? Can you come here? And I was like, yeah, sure. Like I had literally just got done with report and I go in there and he's like, can you tell me why he hasn't pooped yet? And I was like, I, I, I don't know, I just got here. And he was like, yeah, he needs to go home today. And he can't go home until he poops. Like, why haven't you given him something yet? And I was like, I just got here, man. Like, I will go get it right now. Like, I'll go get it. But that's, mean, that's the kind of people he started working with on that floor. bed for last six, seven hours and driving here couldn't stick anything in his rectum, sorry. Gosh, I was just, but that was, that was how neurosurgeons were. So I ended up on the neuro floor and you know what? I was really upset at first. was like, I didn't get my mother, baby job. Like all these people in my class got mother, baby jobs. and I was like, dang, like what am I supposed to do on neuro? Like these people are terrifying and these other people are like, you know, have all these issues. But it ended up being one of the best things for me. I remember meeting someone and they were like, my gosh, like once you do neuro, you can do anything. And I really felt that way after my time there. I felt pretty like strong in my med surge skills because we would get med surge overflow, you know, in addition to like our strokes and our spinal surgeries and our brain surgeries and all that kind of stuff. And then we'd get some detoxers too. So I knew. fairly well how to deal with them. We did have one pregnant person once on our floor, which was super strange. I don't remember why she was there, but we were all kind of like, we don't know what to do with you. We'll call the baby doctor to come and check on you, but we don't really know what to do with you. my gosh. So you say that that built your confidence. How long did that take? How long were you a neuro nurse? I was a neuro nurse for about three and a half years. I felt pretty confident in my capabilities, but in those three and a half years, I had my son. And then I went down to part time. And then I got pregnant with my middle daughter. And we had a patient on the floor who had been there forever. And he just, he couldn't find placement. We couldn't find placement for him. and he was just completely out of it. I don't even really remember why he was there, but he had attacked a few of our nurses. And I just remember being like, okay, like I got a baby in my tummy now. Like I can't, I can't, I can't have this happen. And one of our, one of the gals that I worked weekends with, she actually transferred down to, we called it the surgical prep and recovery department. I call it the best kept secret in the hospital. because I didn't know one that it existed and two, it was such a cush job. So I actually, she got a hold of me. She's like, hey, my mom works down here. She was a nurse as well. She's like, she is retiring and her job is open. I think you should apply for it. So I remember I showed up, I was like ready for like an interview. Like I was, I had squeezed into my like interview clothes. I was pregnant and I remember being like, like, yeah, I can come in, but I fine childcare and the lady was like, no, just bring him. And I was like, he's like almost two, you don't want me to bring him. And she was like, no, just bring him. And I was like, okay. So I brought him and my friend Lisa like kind of watched him a little bit in the nursing area, but like she, I brought her my resume and she's like, no, you already got the job. Like, and I was like, this is the coolest interview I've ever been a part of. So. of it all, we're like, well, we're just doing paperwork here now, this is what's going on. It was so great. So then I switched to surgical prep and recovery and I did that for two years. And I was, let me tell you, like I was devastated to leave that job. I cried on my last day, but we just, didn't have the childcare. So I had to, I had to, I had to go be a stay at home mom for my, you know, now two kiddos. And then when I found out I was pregnant with our third is when I actually had to leave the department. So I was like, okay, like, I guess it's time for me to be home. And I remember telling my boss, I was like, okay, but I'm going to be back in like a year. So like, just like hang tight for a second. And I was like, I was, you know, my mom always worked when I was little and she worked from home. So she was there, but I was like, no, like, I worked my tail off for this nursing degree. Like, So many tears went into it. Like, I want to be a nurse. I want to be a nurse. But it's funny how your mind shift can or your mind can shift because I remember a person in my class being like, you know, I did this before I became a nurse or nursing student. And, know, I just had that moment of like, yeah, this is what I was meant to be. And I remember being like, mean, I feel pretty good about being a nurse, but I don't know. But then when I became a mom, that's when I was like, my gosh, like, this is what I was meant to be. So I had to come to peace with it a little bit, but I, then I transitioned out of surgical prep and recovery to being a stay at home mom. And I actually, can I add, in some ways I imagine, was just as difficult if not more so. Yes. Yeah, your patients are a little bit more mobile and not as, well, I mean, maybe sometimes comparable to not as in control of their bladders and stuff, but I really guess you run into that. Yes, you can't leave them in their room and just take a breather. No, no. And there's no three days in a row and then you're off. for the rest of the week either. it was, yeah, it was definitely a job in itself. But it was, I actually applied to Gonzaga for their nurse practitioner program while I was off and I got waitlisted, which was a godsend because there's no way I would have been able to do that with a newborn. And then, yeah, we ended up moving up here. So like a year after my third child was born. So that worked out fine. And then I took a little bit of a detour, I guess you could say, did something different. COVID happened and I felt like super guilty that I was sitting at home with a nursing degree while all of you were out there like busting your tails and being heroes. So I was like, okay, well, I'm gonna try and go back to work here at the local hospital. one of my, ironically, one of my coworkers from Boise had moved up here as well. and she was working in the hospital in the transfer center. So she was like, hey, we've got this PRN job, like, are you sure? And I was like, yeah, I just want to get back into it and get like my foot in the door. So I did that for a year. And I am not kidding when I say it was the worst experience of my life. It was pretty terrible. it was, yeah, it was just, it was hard because you would have all these little tiny hospitals, outlying hospitals that would call you in a panic and be like, I got this patient, we're not set up for an ICU. Like they're tanking, like, can you please take them? And I would have to say so many times, like, I'm so sorry, like we're full. Like I'll put you on a wait list, but, you could just hear the panic in these doctors' voices. Like this person's not going to make it. And we were like, we have no beds. We have no beds. So try calling this hospital, try calling this hospital. And they're like, we've already tried. And it was just, It was not good for my mental health. I mean, I'm, think I'm way too empathetic to do that job. And I remember talking to my advice or my director and she was like, you know, you just have to know at the end of the day that you did all you could. like, they'll find something like they'll find something. And I was like, no, I don't have that feeling at all. I feel like I did nothing. And like, I'm like trying to figure out like, is there a room we can clean out and get this person in here? Like it was just, it was terrible. It was really, it was hard on my mental health. So yeah. know that. you have to, right? Like she's saying, well, you you just have to know they land somewhere. You're like, no, this is not how I'm ending my day. Like that's not where my heart goes with this. So on that extremely encouraging note, this extremely high point in your career, let's pivot for a second. If you don't mind, I'm looking at the clock. Can we turn you into a little two-part episode here? You've still got plenty to share. We're still gonna be well done before the time you've booked. Are you okay if we just book in this here and start episode number two? Ladies and gentlemen, the flexible, Brittany Slegers. All right, so, make the jump with us. You don't wanna miss this, because I promise, it gets better from here. We're not gonna leave Brittany in the depths of despair. We're gonna find out where she ended up, because as a little teaser, Brittany. Are you... you must have gone back inpatient then. You're in a hospital, right? WHAT?! Alright, let's find out where she's at everybody. We'll see you on the flip side.