Nurse Ashley Cameron shares her experiences and what drives her at Akron Children’s

Our nurses make a difference in the daily lives of our patients. They’re nearby for the family visiting hours and the hugs; they’re there for the inside jokes and the inside scoop on cartoons. The impact they have on kids and the community is invaluable—let’s shine a light on what inspires them to be extraordinary.

Meet Nurse Ashley Cameron, who credits an open mind and an open heart to new learning opportunities and experiences. She knows getting herself in the right mindset is the first step. A long day begins with a morning commute and a quick call to a loved one: “My typical day at work starts with talking to my grandparents on my drive in. Getting to spend time talking to the people I love puts me in a good mood!”

Getting her mind right for the day also includes organizing. After receiving an update on what she missed from the previous night, she dives right in with a positive attitude. “I always like to update families once they’re awake about the plan for the day. Throughout the day, nurses wear many hats, like coach, therapist, waitress, liaison, teacher, cheerleader and many more,” Ashley shares. “We are a bridge between the families and the other members of the healthcare team. Ensuring concerns are communicated is important. Building a trusting relationship all around is key. Sometimes, we can be pulled a bunch of directions, but prioritizing, time managing and delegating set you up for success.”

Preferring to stack her shifts so she can see a patient through treatment, and, ideally, until they go home, Ashley believes building rapport not only benefits the care she provides to young patients but helps her connect and relate to them. “I am a big kid at heart; I love talking with patients about their favorite princesses, superheroes, etc. Incorporating the patient into their care helps build that trust. My favorite is making sure my patients take care of something, whether it’s using a stethoscope to listen to teddy or finding ways to bring laughter/lighten the mood to seem less scary.”

Standing by to advocate for patients and families is something Ashley cares about deeply. It's this level of compassion and empathy that drives our nurses in the mission to care for every child as if they were their own.