At Nursegrid, we believe in the power of community. To us, community means sharing experiences, offering support, and making connections. We created these monthly Spotlights for that reason – to showcase you, share your stories, and ensure your voice is heard.
Meet Patrick McMurray, BSN, RN, MSN student
Tell us about yourself!
I am 26 years old and have been a nurse for 5.5 years. I am a second generation nurse, my mom is also a registered nurse. I work, primarily, as a Float Pool Nurse, but also as am Adjunct Nursing Faculty Member, and a per Diem CVICU nurse. I am from NC. I am a huge and proud nerd. I love to read and loves museums, libraries, and bookstores. I speak 2.5 languages English, French, and a little Spanish….. ok….maybe more like 2.3 languages 😂 lol! I am currently in grad school at Western Governors University (@westerngovernorsu) pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), with the intent to become a nurse educator. I have plans to pursue my my Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) after completing my MSN.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
My mom is a RN. Outside of her example, I liked the variety and flexibility that nursing provided, while simultaneously allowing to feel like I was contributing to the well-being of others.
What do you love most about Nursegrid technology / Nursegrid app?
It makes accessing my schedule so much easier. I can access my schedule via my hospitals current online scheduling system as well, yet I have to jump through multiple hoops to accomplish this, and I must use a particular browser to access it on my phone. It’s annoying, haha! Nursegrid allows me to integrate the schedule from all of positions into one calendar. I like that I can set specific color for each position I hold, as it allows me to quickly find what I need when glancing at my calendar. I can also enter my preferred days off, so when signing up for new work schedules, I can have a clear view of what I’m doing, so I can make my schedule accordingly.
What is the best lesson you’ve learned as a nurse?
People just want to be understood. People want to know that they are important, at some moment and to someone. Also the things that patients really appreciate aren’t all of the advanced skills and procedures, but the simple things, helping them wash their face and brush their teeth in the morning and helping them eat, when they can’t themselves. The simple things are truly the things that endear people to you, as a nurse. Never forget the power of simple acts.
How do you hope to see the role of nursing change in the media?
I hope that one day, people will see that nurses are leaders, that we are multi-talented professionals. We are simply babysitters and mindless handmaidens, as we are often portrayed in the media. We make independent and interdisciplinary decisions everyday. We conduct research, we educate other nurses and other healthcare professionals, even medical students.
Spotlight Bio: Patrick McMurray is a critical care nurse and graduate student based in NC. He runs the blog and Instagram page PatMacRN. Patrick enjoys reading, traveling, and hiking in his spare time. You can follow Patrick’s journey on Instagram: @PatMacRN, Twitter: @nursePatMacRN, and at PatMacRN.com.
