Julie Sacharko M.S.N. '11
Honestly and Truthfully - Julie Sacharko, M.S.N. ’11, CCM, FNP-BC
Nurses as Truth-tellers
After 18 years in the health care profession, Julie Sacharko understands deep down what it means to be a clinical nurse. “You need to speak to patients and families with honesty and tell them the truth,” said Julie who earned her M.S.N. at Saint Joseph College last May. Her master’s thesis, Nurses as Truth-tellers, reflects this sentiment. “Dr. Renee Provost, associate professor of Nursing, was my thesis advisor,” said Julie. “She loved my topic and was both supportive and reassuring to me; we’re hoping to have it published.”
Researching and writing her thesis took about a year, but Julie enjoyed the entire process. She said, “Nurses are the health care professionals at the bedside. When a patient asks, ‘Am I going to make it to tomorrow?’ or ‘Is there a cure?’ the nurse needs to be aware that hospitalizations are never easy for those directly involved. Telling the truth can be as simple as answering ‘What’s that antibiotic for?’ to as difficult as ‘Am I really going to die in six months?’ These types of questions might be considered routine but often nurses choose not to respond or don’t know how to respond. Patients appreciate nurses who are sincere and truthful – Yes, you know you’re not feeling well but we’re going to get you and your family through it and we’ll be here for you. As part of my research, I interviewed a nurse at the bedside of a cancer patient who was failing - tube-fed, on antibiotics, experiencing repeated infections - and didn’t want her family to know she had cancer. The patient approached this nurse and asked for help in telling the family. In fact, this patient could have asked her doctor or oncologist for assistance, but instead turned to the nurse with whom she had a connection. This happens every day - nurses talk about this kind of patient connection amongst themselves or at meetings but the public doesn’t know. Much of my research points out that nursing is the most trusted profession.”
Background and New Professional Opportunities
Originally a diploma nurse, Julie graduated from New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1993. She then studied part-time for her bachelor’s degree while working and raising her family and earned her B.S.N. from the University of Hartford in 1997. Her experience encompasses hospital bedside nursing, case management and assisted living. Julie said, “At SJC, my master’s degree includes specialization as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) which means that I can treat everyone - from birth to death. This certification will provide many professional opportunities down the road.”
As Director of Nursing/Resident Services at Atria Greenridge Place, an assisted living facility in Rocky Hill, Julie currently works with geriatric patients. Since passing her boards in August, she is excited to be moving on to a new job as a hospitalist in a local hospital and nursing homes in October. Julie shared that job opportunities are definitely available for nurse practitioners: “I had maybe five to eight interviews and was offered every position that I went for; there are still additional opportunities coming my way! Nurses at the bedside absolutely know what patients need. It’s just a matter of having that confidence from within to take the time out to go to school, earn the degree and succeed in the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.”
Health Care Topics
Based on her experience working in geriatrics, Julie feels that one of the biggest challenges facing nursing today is the perception of some that the doctor is the boss. She remarked, “Many elderly patients prefer to see the doctor, not a nurse practitioner. There’s a whole education piece that needs to be brought to everyone’s attention. Nurse practitioners offer a tremendous depth of experience in working with and explaining health issues directly to patients. In terms of working with the elderly, it’s essential to understand that they are fragile and vulnerable. They need proper care right now and nurses have been trained to give this care.”
Again, this relates back to Julie’s master’s thesis of telling the truth. She commented, “I’m not going to lie - I can be honest with my elderly patients based on their lifetime experience. They understand my honesty and actually appreciate my sarcasm. I have a resident who comes to me every day and says, ‘I wish the good Lord would take me.’ I then respond, ‘You know honey, when the good Lord comes I’ll be right there for you but today is not the day!’”
Julie openly discussed a topic that many patients and families are reticent to face: “A patient is likely to have an advance directive (legal documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time); a living will (tells how you feel about care intended to sustain life); or a durable power of attorney for health care (a document that names your health care proxy - someone you trust to make health decisions if you are unable to do so). Very few patients have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status, which is a request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. Without a DNR, if someone is on the verge of death with me right here and now, I need to perform CPR. Well, if your days are limited, this issue needs to be addressed between the patient and family members in order to prevent unnecessary suffering at the end of life.”
What Matters Most: Excellent Patient Care
Most important in Julie’s daily practice is excellent patient care. She commented, “If we’re treating people with dignity, caring for them well, and if they have a peaceful death … I’m good. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t always see the things health care workers do, so I try to acknowledge my staff’s efforts - nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) - at every step along the way. For instance, if an elderly patient is admitted to a dementia unit, receives proper nourishment, gets stronger and gains seven pounds in a month - this can really make a difference in a resident’s life! So I recognize and celebrate these accomplishments, thanking the staff. Nurses and CNAs earn our respect through their care and commitment to patients. When we put our patients in the best position each day to be healthy for the length of their lives, then we’re doing a great job and those little things matter.”
SJC's Graduate Nursing Program - Positive and Supportive!
Overall, Julie’s experience in the graduate nursing program at Saint Joseph College was extremely positive. As the proud mother of three children (currently ages 12, 15 and 17) and while managing a full-time job, she began her graduate studies in 2006. “I always knew what my goal was,” Julie said. “But I’m going to get teary-eyed because what I needed most was a positive, supportive environment and that’s exactly what SJC offered. In particular, Dr. Pamela Aselton, director of the graduate nursing program was reassuring, positive and always had a smile! I did my clinical during the week and on weekends and so appreciated the small class sizes and collaborating with my nursing colleagues. My husband was a wonderful support to me. It’s really all about planning your time well and getting the meatloaf prepared to go in the oven!” When asked about her interest in SJC’s soon-to-be offered Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, Julie said it’s something she is interested in but she first plans to spend some time with her kids as they move through their teenage years.”
As for her proudest professional achievement, Julie’s lifelong dream was to become a nurse: “I wrote that in my eighth grade yearbook - my grandmother, who graduated from nursing school in 1942 inspired me! I dedicated my thesis to her … getting credit for my thesis was absolutely the biggest achievement. It has taken quite some time and perseverance to get to this point in my life.” Just prior to receiving her master’s degree at SJC, Julie was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Research in the field of Nursing. She is a member ofthe nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau International as well as a member of Connecticut APRNs.
One final point that Julie wanted to share with nursing professionals who are considering working towards a master’s degree concerns the subject of tuition reimbursement: “I took advantage of every opportunity for tuition reimbursement because I wanted to advance myself. Sometimes the financial consideration of a graduate degree is viewed as a barrier for nurses who have families. Many nurses are raising children and have real obligations – like paying the mortgage. However, every employer allowed me to earn my master’s degree without being financially strapped and avoiding student loans. Tuition reimbursement is something to inquire about with your employer since it greatly assists nurses in pursuing their graduate education.”
