Health Care Hero: ‘I always wanted to be in health care’

The Dayton Daily News is profiling the people who work hard every day to save lives and take care of us. Nominate a Health Care Hero by emailing Rebecca.Mullins@coxinc.com.

Name: Jessica Woeste

Hometown: St. Henry

Job Title: Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center, Outpatient Oncology in Lima

COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Where do you Work: Registered Nurse

Describe what your day is like/what you do: We start our day with a team huddle where we discuss the patients on the schedule for the day. This includes diagnosis, treatment, special needs/considerations. We then start seeing patients. We first draw their labs and perform an assessment. If parameters are met, we start their treatments. We treat patients with cancer and other blood disorders. Our care includes administering chemotherapy, immunotherapies and other various drugs; supportive medications, IV hydration and blood transfusions; along with lots of education and emotional support.

What inspired you to get into health care? For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be in health care, first starting as a pediatrician when I was a kid and finally deciding to become an RN my senior year of high school.

Health Care Hero: ‘I became a nurse to make a difference’

What's a memorable experience you've had in health care? My most memorable experience working as an RN was treating a woman diagnosed with cancer during her pregnancy. This patient had a very aggressive type of cancer and would probably not live past her pregnancy if she had not chosen to receive treatment. Nobody knew exactly how the treatment would affect the baby. I took care of this patient often throughout her treatments and pregnancy, and became close to her and her husband. I've never felt more joy than the day that patient walked onto our unit with her beautiful baby girl. I have run into them a couple times since then and it is still such an emotional experience seeing that happy, healthy little girl.

What do you want readers to know about your job right now? Our job has continued at full speed during the pandemic, just with much more caution and safety protocols. Our patients often come in very nervous and frightened, and typically take much more emotional and educational support during their visits. Our staff work together very hard to support these patients through these uncertain times. It is often very hard on us to follow the social distancing guidelines because we just want to show them our affection and that we truly care.

Health Care Hero: ‘I really love my job’