Woman Starts Job As Nurse In Same Hospital Where She Worked As A Janitor

Aug 11, 2022 by apost team

A Massachusetts woman began her career at Baystate Medical Center in 2010 when she was nineteen years old, not knowing the journey she would embark on over the next decade. Jaines Andrades had been working in a fast food restaurant when she landed an interview for an opening working as a janitor in environmental services at a local hospital. Young Andrades dreamed of working with the patients and saw the job as a chance to begin her life as a health practitioner. "Even if it was cleaning, as long as I was near patient care I'd be able to observe things. I thought it was a good idea," Andres accepted the position with Baystate Health, believing it would in a way supplement her education. 

Over the course of the next four years, Andrades earned her nursing degree while working in environmental services. While juggling a job and classes is an accomplishment enough, Andrades still had even loftier goals in mind. "Once I start something, I have to see it through, so if I'm going to be a custodian and then be a nurse, it only makes sense to be a nurse practitioner there," she later told reporters.

It was clear that Andrades saw a greater future for herself at Baystate, but she waited until the right moment to assume her new role. "I stayed, actually, in environmental, despite being a nurse because I didn't immediately get a nursing job at Baystate, so I wanted to keep my foot in the door," she explained, touching on why she didn't immediately accept an RN position elsewhere after graduating. She continued working in environmental services until she could transfer onto the nursing staff.

Reflecting on the nature of her work, Andrades said, "It's tough to be the person that cleans." Andrades eventually got her RN position with Baystate. She then again returned to school, graduating as a Nurse Practitioner. Andrades hoped to one day join the trauma surgery team at Baystate. Remembering her ambitions, Andrades later recalled, "At one point, I dreamed of the position I have today,"

Her hard work and dedication eventually paid off. In 2020, Andrades posted a photo to Facebook, showing her progression at Baystate and showcasing her newest title: Nurse Practitioner. She wrote in the caption, "10 years of work but it was worth it! I'm a provider at the same place I used to clean." 

In speaking to reporters about her journey and how it struck a chord with people, Andrades said, "I'm so appreciative and like in awe that my story can inspire people... I'm so glad. If I can inspire anyone, that in itself made the journey worth it."

She continued, speaking about the often unsung role of auxiliary hospital staff. "Nurses and providers, we get the credit more often but people in environmental and phlebotomy and dietary all of them have such a huge role. I couldn't do my job without them,"

While Andrades now enjoys all the credit and admiration as a Nurse Practitioner. "As a human being," she reminded viewers, "I'm still that girl who used to clean." Andrades continues to help people, as she has for the past decade, this time with a new title and badge. She then added earnestly, "If I had to go back and do it again. I would."

apost.com

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