HOUSTON (May 6, 2020) – In light of National Nurses Week May 6-12, one Prairie View A&M University nursing graduate is sharing how her educational experience has shaped the career path. Tyrhonda Bradley, BSN, RN, C-EFM, a native of Houston, graduated from PVAMU in December 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She currently works as a labor and delivery nurse in Houston.
Tyrhonda Bradley, BSN, RN, C-EFM
As a labor and delivery nurse, Bradley’s primary responsibilities include preparing a mother to successfully deliver her infant, whether that is via induction, cesarean section, or naturally.
“I am the mother and spouse’s liaison, advocate, teacher, listening ear and leader — it’s vital for me to also be emotionally supportive, as labor and delivery is not an easy journey,” Bradley said. “Being in labor is a moment that a woman will never forget, so it is, therefore, my duty to create the best experience possible for my patient and her family.”
Bradley prides herself on the fact that she is widely recognized as a “people-person” and someone who can successfully relay health information to her patients in an understandable, yet realistic, manner.
But, like everyone working in healthcare, Bradley’s work has been affected because of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s incredibly overwhelming to wear numerous pieces of protective gear that is difficult to breathe in,” she said. “It is saddening that my patients will never get to become familiar with their nurse’s appearance, as we are covered, from the lower eyelid to the chin. Moreover, it is frightening when a patient presents with the common COVID-19 symptoms, as we are all are questionable of the unknown.”
Bradley noted that she became involved in the nursing field because of her mother and father, who, when she was four years old, asked what she aspired to be when she grew up.
“As a little girl, I had no clue, but my mom and dad responded, ‘You should be a nurse! You are always caring for your baby dolls, placing bandages on their bodies, and listening to their hearts with your toy-stethoscope. When you get older, I believe that you should give it a try,’” she said.
When she reached high school, Bradley joined the Health Occupation Students of America, where she was introduced to patients and nurses in different types of health units. She participated in clinical rotations and eventually accepted her first internship in a cardiology office. Through her numerous clinical experiences as a teenager, she became intrigued by the art and physiology of getting patients back to their normal well-being and being an advocate for patients in need. Her grandmother, who served as an adult care nurse in the 1960s, also inspired her.
“I enjoy being involved in organizations that are purposeful and make a difference in others’ lives,” she said. “It is rewarding when mothers and their families mention that I made their laboring experience delightful and meaningful. Being at the bedside for assistance throughout all of the hardships that labor brings provides satisfaction in my life. It’s great to make a bond with multiple families each shift.
She went on to say, “Nursing in the healthcare field is truly a ministry – not only do we assist with providing safeness and health to patients, but we are also teachers, spiritual guides, moral supporters, advocates, and the main leader of the plan of care at the bedside. The fact that we wear multiple hats is why I constantly advocate that self-care is vital amongst those within the nursing field. We must take care of ourselves in order to successfully fulfill our duties to take care of others.”
The 2020 theme for International Nurses Day, which wraps up National Nurses Week on May 12, is Nursing the World to Health, a topic that is important to Bradley and her work.
“The theme is an incredibly fitting motto for any nurse in any department. Nursing is not is only a career, but a mission. A mission to serve, a mission with purpose, and a mission to inspire,” said Bradley. “Just a little over 365 days ago, I made one of the best decisions in my life, thus far, as I pledged under oath to provide the utmost care possible to any human being, no matter the condition, nationality, origin, or economic status. Our planet is more diverse than ever before, in terms of people and foreign illnesses. As a registered nurse, and for nurses everywhere, we must work diligently to care for every single patient within our contact wholeheartedly.”
Bradley noted that she chose to attend PVAMU because of the College of Nursing’s profound significance.
“The nursing program started in the year of 1918, with only five students enrolled. To be an alumna from the program in 2018, exactly 100 years later, is astonishing,” she said. “I will forever be proud to announce that and share my testimony. The diversity of people and the complexity of technology and medicine are impeccable. Not only has PVAMU made me more appreciative of my background as an African-American, but it has molded me into the woman that I am today. I am always seeking to strive for higher education opportunities and share my knowledge with the next nurse-to-be.”
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By Emilia Benton