“Brandi is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all those around her,” says her supervisor, Kathy Helmbrecht. “She had a great idea to pursue a grant for helmets, and now she is seeing through the process of getting them into the right hands. We are happy to have her as part of our team at Grand Itasca.”

In honor of Nurses Week 2019, we sat down with Brandi to ask a few questions about her passion for nursing, her responsibilities, and the philosophy she brings to her work.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I love the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment that requires me to use critical thinking and empowers me to help patients better their lives.

Tell us about your nursing role and your day-to-day responsibilities. How do you work with patients to improve their quality of life?

I work in the emergency room at Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital, which means that I can encounter any — or sometimes all— types of patients on a given day or night. My role in their care might be as simple as applying a Band-Aid or as complex as a time-sensitive, life-saving intervention.

In the spirit of the #WhatIsNursing hashtag online, what is nursing to you? How do you personally define the field and why are you passionate about it?

I think it is a great privilege to be present during some of the most critical times of my patients’ lives. I am able to work on a team and save lives, and that is exceptionally rewarding.

What do you love about the Grand Itasca nursing community?

Teamwork! I have worked at other facilities and can say without a doubt that the sense of teamwork exhibited by my coworkers is unparalleled. My colleagues are what pull me through the hard shifts and keep me coming back for more.

Explore the nursing opportunities at Fairview.