Grace Yee, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Profession:
Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse
Alma Maters & Graduation Years/Degrees:
Simmons University (2020, Masters in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner)
Boston University (2017, Bachelor of Science in Health Science)
Preferred Pronouns:
She, her
Hometown:
Brookline
Where do you work, what are your main responsibilities, and are you working with a specific population?
I am currently working at Boston University’s Occupational Health Center (OHC) as a Nurse Practitioner. I directly support Boston University’s employees. My main responsibilities include supporting functions related to non-occupational injury and illness, and the return-to-work program. Evaluating, diagnosing, and treating work-related injuries/exposures, and evaluating patient care outcomes. In addition, I perform health promotion and case management.
Can you share your journey about how you became a nurse? Have you always known you wanted to be a nurse? Is there a specific moment/experience that solidified your career choice?
I have not always known that I wanted to be a nurse/nurse practitioner, but I did know that I wanted to pursue a profession in the medical field. My interest in nursing started with my grandmother who had Alzheimer’s Disease. I spent a part of my childhood caring for her until she was admitted into an assisted living facility and then skilled nursing facility. When I participated in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Medical Career Exploration Program (BWH MCEP), I observed the bedside care that Registered Nurses were providing and enjoyed it. I also noticed that as a RN, there is always an opportunity for lifelong learning as there are multiple specialties, departments, and areas in which RNs can work in. While looking for programs for Registered Nurses, one of my friends introduced me to the Nurse Practitioner (NP) role and I loved it. I thought it would be great to have the flexibility and option to work as both an RN and NP.
I do not think there was a moment that solidified my career choice. The more I learned about nursing, the more I grew to enjoy the profession. Volunteering, participating in the BWH MCEP program, and attending nursing school information sessions helped me to make a decision to pursue a career as a NP. Working as a patient care assistant, participating in clinicals, preceptorships, and working as a RN and now NP, all have confirmed that I have chosen a profession that I enjoy and love.
What does a typical day look like for you? Who do you work with most closely or collaborate with frequently? What does your work-life balance look like?
On a typical day, I am making phone calls to check-in on employees who I am following for their care. In addition, if any incident reports come in for occupational (work-related) injuries, I triage the employee and we make a plan for an evaluation at the office, or a referral to an outside facility. I also perform any physical examinations and immunization reviews that are scheduled for me that day. I collaborate frequently with external providers, specialists, insurance adjusters, and multiple departments within the University. Regarding work-life balance, I am grateful to be where I am today. In my previous nursing positions, I often had to balance school and work, and took on overnight, evening, weekend shifts. With my current position, I work 9a-5p Monday through Friday, and since starting in September, I have weekends to spend with my family and friends after 4 years!
What are some challenges in your profession that you did not expect while you were in undergrad/nursing program?
Challenges in my profession that I did not expect while I was in my nursing program was managing work life balance. While working as a registered nursing and completing my Masters in Nursing (MSN), I often had to work weekends, holidays, evening, and overnight shifts; however, it also depends on the area of nursing and facility one works in. There were also times when I had to stay past my typical 3p-11p shift, and had to return home after 2:00am, take a quick nap, and leave for my 7a-3p clinical. As challenging as this was, it was all worth it, and my colleagues were very supportive.
How has COVID affected you and others in your profession?
COVID has had a significant effect on myself and those around me in my profession. I still remember leaving my weekend shift as a RN in a skilled nursing facility, and then returning the following weekend being told that I will be working in the COVID Isolation Unit without warning. Seeing many of the residents I had been caring for pass away was heartbreaking. Graduating as a NP in 2020 was challenging, as many employers were looking for nurse practitioners, but particularly those with prior experience. I do think that COVID did open the doors for nursing though, and helped create new public health nursing positions that did not exist prior. Because of COVID, I could be a part of BU’s new organization, Healthway, and help support the BU Community during the COVID crisis.
Can you share a memorable story or patient interaction during your time in your nursing program or your profession?
I have several memorable patient interactions, but it is the small ones that always put a smile on my face. Lily was an elderly resident at a SNF, who I cared for. All the names in these stories have been changed for patient confidentiality. Lily often enjoyed eating hard candy Lifesavers, particularly the purple grape-flavored ones. Whenever I entered her room to give her care or perform a medication pass, she would always take out her bag of Lifesavers and say “this purple one is for me, and these red and green ones are for you!” Now every time I eat a purple lifesaver, I always think of her.
The other memorable patient-interaction I have is of Joseph. Joseph always came out of the room requesting I call the kitchen for grilled cheese. This happened for every dinner! Eventually, the kitchen started delivering extra plates of grilled cheese and his face always lit up whenever he saw be bringing in a tray of grilled cheese to his room. During a busy shift where I am caring for 25 patients, and constantly up on my feet trying to complete the nursing tasks for the shift, it is these small patient-interactions that bring joy to my heart and remind me to slow down sometimes.
What are some specific things you remember doing to prepare for applying to your nursing program? Did you take a gap year?
I decided not to take a gap year, as I wanted to go straight into nursing after graduating from BU. I was worried though, because I only applied to three nursing schools in Boston, as I wanted to stay local. I also did not have any clinical experience besides my time at the BWH MCEP program and shadowing a NP for my Health Science Practicum at Sargent. I tried to strengthen my candidacy with research and community volunteering experience.
Specific things I remember doing to prepare for my nursing applications, are attending information sessions. In my Sophomore year, I attended information sessions for the nursing schools I was interested in applying to. This helped me to plan the rest of my Junior and Senior year course schedules. In my Junior year, I attended the information sessions again in preparation for my applications. I also worked with the Pre-Professional Advising Office on my personal statement, applications, and resume/cover letter.
What resources at BU did you find most helpful or want to spotlight that others might not know about?
A resource at BU that I found very helpful was the Pre-Professional: Pre-Health Clinical and Service Experiences website page (Please find the link below). Through this particular web page, I discovered FriendshipWorks and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Medical Career Exploration Program (BWH MCEP). I volunteered with FriendshipWorks as Friendly Visitor to help assist with reducing elder isolation in the community, and the BWH MCEP Program solidified my decision to pursue nursing. There are multiple other opportunities highlighted on the website as well.
https://www.bu.edu/prehealth/experiences/volunteer-opportunities/
The Pre-Professional Advising Office was the most helpful. Michelle Sherman was my pre-nursing advisor, and she assisted me with questions and concerns I had with my candidacy and the nursing school application process.
Another resource I find helpful is the Alumni Mentorship Program at BU. During my time at Simmons University, I utilized the BU Alumni Mentorship program to find a preceptor for one of my nurse practitioner clinicals.
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun?
I recently started personal training and am loving it! It helps me to wind down after work. I also enjoy reading; especially, in the evening before I go to bed. I also started gardening and growing my own grape and sun gold tomatoes during the summer. I also received a sourdough starter from a friend and have been baking homemade sourdough bread. Over the weekends, I spend time snuggling and sitting in a sunny spot in my room petting my 2-year-old Chow Chow Yogi. He is like a fluffy teddy bear or lion. But most of all, what I love to do for fun is eat all sorts of food! I love to explore unique and unusual foods. I have had ostrich burger, bison chili, deep-fried alligator, stingray, and more.
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with our pre-health students?
A piece of advice that I strongly recommend is having a mentor(s). Starting from high school and throughout my time at BU and Simmons, I have always had a mentor. I currently have maybe six or more mentors, who have helped me during various points of my personal life and career, and continue to do so even now. They do not need to be in your field of interest either. One of my mentors who helped me while I was at Simmons is an Engineering Manager, and she gave me lots of insight into building my career, conflict management, professional development, leadership, and more. My mentors have all helped me develop into the individual that I am today.