Vivianne Griffiths, adult nurse practitioner, primary care, Family Health Centers
What inspired you to pursue a career in health care? I wanted to be a nurse since I was 7. I had many bouts of tonsillitis and asthma. And my doctor’s wife was an RN and she helped treat me in his medical practice. Also, my mother was diagnosed with mental illness when I was about that age. So, I learned compassion and caregiving at an early age.
What would your advice be to someone considering pursuing a career in health care? Be compassionate, competent and committed. Treat patients holistically, regardless of their backgrounds. Be a life-long learner. Practice evidence-based medicine. Advocate for your patients and strive to be a change agent.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job? The most challenging? The most rewarding part of my job is being in an organization that is truly committed to the health and the well-being of the community, as well as their employees. It is rewarding work because it is my “calling” to help the underserved as well as the mainstream population. The challenge is having limited time with each patient.
What advancement in health care are you most looking forward to? I look forward to when quality care — and not just quantity — is rewarded, and health care disparities decline in vulnerable populations.
What makes you hopeful about the future of health care in our community? The caliber of women and men pursuing nursing gives me hope that the profession will positively impact the health of the community. Also, the movement toward population health is an important step in decreasing health care disparities.
Tell us about a gratifying experience with a patient/client. There was a refugee patient that I needed to reach to address abnormal lab results, and the patient did not speak English. Since I was not able to get a response by phone interpreter, I then decided to use Google Translate on my phone to write a letter to the patient. Then I mailed him the letter. The patient returned to the clinic after his wife gave him the letter written in their language. The patient explained that he had been working so he was unable to respond by phone. As a result the patient received the treatment he needed.