Laboure Alumni Spotlight: Shelly Masters, RTT, ASN graduate, BSN student

Shelly Masters, RT(T), RN has a passion for nursing and radiation therapy. Find out how she plans to merge her love for two different departments in healthcare into one reality.

You’ve earned Associates Degrees in both Radiation Therapy and Nursing from Labouré College. Tell us about why you chose to do both.

In 2012 I graduated from the Radiation Therapy program. After becoming a RT(T), I made a decision to go back to school in Nursing at Labouré. I loved, and I still do [love], radiation therapy, however I wanted a career path that allowed me to spend more time with patients. Luckily, I was able to find that in Nursing. I graduated in 2014 with my Associates in Nursing from Labouré and I am now enrolled in the BSN program at Labouré. I hope to complete my BSN by next summer.

Where are you working now?

In the fall of 2014 I was accepted in to Boston Medical Center’s New Graduate Nurse Residency Program. During the program I was able to complete extensive training and preceptorship. I still work at Boston Medical Center as a Registered Nurse on the trauma/surgical floor.

What is your background? Have you always been in health care or was this a career change for you?

After graduating from high school in 2009, I enrolled in Labouré’s Radiation Therapy Program. I did not have previous health care experience, but after shadowing radiation therapists at multiple hospitals, I knew I wanted to have a career in healthcare. Throughout my clinical education in the Radiation Therapy program, I began to realize that I wanted to be more involved in direct patient care. I loved caring for patients [with cancer], but I wanted to spend more than just ten to fifteen minutes with them per day. I truly have a passion for both professions and I hope to someday combine my knowledge of both fields.

Why did you choose Labouré to start your career in healthcare?

Labouré is one of the few college’s that offers a program in Radiation Therapy in Massachusetts. After high school I did a lot of research on Labouré’s program. After doing a site visit to the school and meeting with the Department Chair of the Radiation Therapy program, I knew Labouré was the right fit for me. When I decided to pursue my career in Nursing, I stayed at Labouré because of the smaller class sizes and the great relationships students have with their instructors. Labouré offers great resources to their students and it was nice to know going into the nursing program that these would be available to me.

What experiences did you have at Labouré that helped you prepare for your career in healthcare?

In both the Nursing and Radiation Therapy programs, the instructors prepared me very well for my boards. I went into the nursing and radiation licensing exams confident because [of the] support and expertise of instructors during my time at Labouré. In addition, as a new nurse, I have found the BSN courses to be very helpful. So far, some of the classes I have taken cover topics such as delegation, bullying, technology, and leadership. Learning about these topics as a new nurse has aided me in becoming a confident nurse and has also helped with my leadership skills.

Tell us about a typical day as a nurse on the trauma/surgical floor at Boston Medical Center.

The best thing about my job now, is that I never know what to expect; anything can happen. I work twelve-hour night shifts and I typically have 5 patients assigned to me during each shift. When I first come in, I spend some time looking up my patients so that I am familiar with their history and current situation. After taking report from the day nurse I make my rounds and do my assessments and administer medications to each patient. Overnight anything can happen. Most of our patients are traumas which means they could have been in a car accident, fallen, or they could be victims of gunshots or stabbings. Each night is always different. The fast pace and high acuity definitely keeps me on my toes.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

My dream job is to work as an RN in Oncology, preferably within a radiation therapy department. Working with patients [who have cancer] is challenging and at times very emotional, however it is a passion of mine and I hope to fulfill my goal of becoming an oncology nurse.

Wondering if a career in healthcare is right for you?

Join us on campus Wednesday, October 28, 2015 from 6-7 PM in room C112 to hear directly from professionals in the fields of Nursing, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring, EEG Technology, Radiation Therapy, Nutrition, Medical Coding, Clinical Documentation Improvement and more. Ask specific questions about these careers and find out if they are right for you.