Milken Alumni Scholar Work Visit: Continuing a Tradition of Service at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center

Published 09/26/2024 in Alumni Features

Written by Linda Chan | 09/26/2024

Linda Chan was a biology major at the University of Pennsylvania aspiring to become a pediatrician or primary care physician. “Life’s twists” led her to switch to nursing during her sophomore year. Now, almost 2 years into the field, Linda is a licensed nurse, enjoying the support she offers her patients and their loved ones at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles. Here, she offers a behind the scenes look into her life as a registered nurse.

Tell us a little bit about your work. What does “a day in the life of Linda Chan” look like?

I currently work as a nurse in the Surgical/Transplant ICU often referred to as the liver ICU or LICU due to our patient population primarily consisting of individuals waiting for or having received liver transplants. I usually work 3 days a week. My night shift starts at 7pm and ends around 7:30am. My main responsibilities are to ensure that my patients are safe and comfortable. I perform frequent neurological assessments, monitor heart and lung function, and watch for any significant changes that might require intervention. This includes titrating medications, drawing lab tests, and occasionally taking patients on a trip around the hospital for an MRI CT scan.

On day shifts, my day will also include giving a report to the team of doctors, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists to figure out my patients’ plan of treatment. In the case of emergencies, I participate in procedures such as intubating patients and assisting doctors in the insertion of invasive IV lines. Ultimately, my goal every shift is to make sure my patient gets all the rest and medication they need to ensure recovery, and monitor for changes because brain bleeds, internal bleeding, and neurological changes are common with our patients. Additionally, I have joined our unit’s practice council, so during my free time at work, I also work on my mini projects such as educating other nurses on our unit practices/policies, reviewing nursing skills with them, and updating our communication boards with fun themes to brighten up the hospital environment.

What led you to this profession? What do you most enjoy about it?

I chose nursing because not only does Penn have the best nursing school, but I also liked the amount of time spent in school and the community. Plus, many of my friends from freshman year were nursing students who would always practice their assessment skills on me. As a hands on and visual learner, I was interested in learning the skills they were learning, and I realized that maybe nursing was a profession I could consider. As I contemplated transferring into Penn’s nursing school, I realized that my passion for healthcare was not about being a physician - it was about making a tangible difference in people’s lives. My experiences as a caregiver for both my grandmother, and my brother with Down syndrome exposed me early on to the role of nurses and the impact of compassionate care. It was the nurses who I saw physically taking care of my family and emotionally supporting us and I want to take part in this essential role. Over the past 1.5 years, I have found it to be very rewarding to be a transplant nurse because I have witnessed patients overcome severe health challenges and regain control of their new life with a new organ, all while providing support to their families through the highs and lows. I also enjoy nursing because of how dynamic and unpredictable each shift is, keeping me on my toes. While my job is physically and emotionally demanding, being a nurse has been exciting and fulfilling.

What is a memorable moment that was either frightening and/or exciting that you’ve experienced?

About two months, I was called by my charge nurse to comfort a mother whose son had been a long-term patient of ours. The mother was crying in the hallway outside her son's room, intubated and sedated, and I was asked to speak with her in Cantonese. During our conversation, I learned that her son had asked her to give up on him because he didn’t want to endure any more suffering. She was devastated, torn between her son’s plea and her own unwillingness to lose him. What struck me most was her statement, "If he were to die, I would have to die before him." As I consoled her, trying not to cry myself, I was deeply moved by the realization that many parents of patients on my unit face similar heart-wrenching moments. The fact that we were speaking in Cantonese made the situation even more significant, as it resonated with my own family background. I am grateful that I could offer her emotional support through comforting words, a listening ear, and communication in her native language. This experience underscored the profound love a mother has for her child and made me reflect on my own family and appreciate my own health more deeply.

What would you tell a Scholar that is pursuing interests in the health field, that you wish someone would have told you while you were in college?

As Jane mentioned in this year’s Summit, Milken Scholars are river people, and we should let life take its course. Stay open to exploring different careers and specialties because healthcare is not limited to just being a physician. The health field holds many diverse roles both patient-facing and behind the scenes. In fact, healthcare relies deeply on teamwork and this team consists of doctors, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, care coordinators, social work, and so much more! Don’t be discouraged when a direction change occurs because you never know what new discoveries about yourself you may find along the way. Try and figure out WHY you are interested in the field/ specialty and reach out to talk to people to hear their journey and why they chose the careers they have chosen. Don’t limit yourself to what everybody else is doing and find what fits you and your lifestyle. You got this!!