Jamie Agront, RN, is a Methodist College alum and Registered Nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at Carle Health Proctor Hospital. Inspired by the grace and support she received from healthcare professionals and community members during a challenging period earlier in life, Jamie is driven by a deep calling to care for others. She brings empathy, personal connection and kindness into every patient interaction.
Q: What experiences or influences led you to choose nursing as your profession?
A: God has blessed me with a spirit to take care of people, help them heal, and love them where they are. I was shown a lot of grace and love from many medical professionals, social workers, and community volunteers who helped me through a difficult time in my 20s, which also inspired me to reach back and care for others who felt lost.
Q: In what ways did nursing school and your career help you discover your sense of purpose?
A: Nursing school provided me with an opportunity to care for people during my clinicals who were having a difficult time in their lives. This reinforced my belief that I wanted to care for people and help them get back to a good place. So far in my career, I have realized that taking a few extra minutes to connect with patients on a more personal level by learning a fun fact about them seems to put them more at ease and trust me more. I feel like part of my purpose in caring for people is to make them smile and feel just a little better, even if just for a moment.
Q: How have your personal and professional experiences shaped the way you care for patients today?
A: One very important experience in my life that shaped the way I care for patients today was my personal journey through drug and alcohol addiction, which has allowed me to develop compassion and empathy for people who are facing the same struggles. I have also been able to use those skills across the board with all of my patients, and it makes a world of difference to them when they feel seen and heard.
Q: What advice or encouragement would you offer to students who are facing obstacles on their journey to becoming a nurse?
A: It is a long, hard journey, but before you know it, you will be walking across that graduation stage with your degree and an amazing future. Ask for help when you need it and give yourself grace, because you will absolutely cry and question your decision to become a nurse - but please don’t quit. And when your day comes to take care of “the difficult” patient, the patient “who doesn’t really need to be here,” the “frequent flyer,” or the “addict who has done this to themselves,” please don’t forget that your kindness can change their life. Good luck - you’ve got this!
Follow along throughout Nurses’ Week for more inspiring Q&A spotlights featuring the students, faculty and staff who make Methodist College and Carle Health exceptional.