Janice Koziatek: She has landed her dream career

In May 2007, Janice Koziatek walked down to the podium to receive her nursing degree from UM-St. Louis.

Choosing to become a nurse was not an easy task for Koziatek. Throughout high school and her freshman year of college, she debated between becoming a pre-med major or an education major.

Once it came close to graduation, she knew that she had to make a final decision on a major and began focusing on the option of nursing.

After much research and study, Koziatek realized that nursing would be the perfect career for her. It combines both of her passions of caring and teaching into one. Not only can she treat her patients, but she can also teach them how to cope or handle changes that they may encounter.

UM-St. Louis has provided Koziatek with the knowledge to become a successful nurse. She remarked that the University's nursing program is "Fantastic!" In fact, the nursing board's pass rate is number one in the state.

The professors for the nursing program care for both their profession, as well as their students. In turn, this helps future nurses think on their feet as well as resolve dilemmas that they will come across in a hospital.

Clinical experience came easy for Koziatek. Out of the 151 hospitals in the St. Louis area, she was able to train and work at Barnes Jewish Hosptital, DePaul, St. Johns Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis Children's Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.

The nursing program was "incredibly challenging" at times, but once all of her course work was completed, she was very proud of herself.

She states that after being a part of this "dynamic University" she has become one of UM-St. Louis' biggest cheerleaders. She feels very lucky to have been able to graduate from such a "wonderful school of nursing at such a great institution."

Once Koziatek made the decision of working in the Labor and Delivery unit as a nurse, she applied and interviewed at several hospitals around the area. She received several job offers and had to make the tough decision of where to work. She chose the hospital that would offer her the best experience as well as paramount learning experience as a new nurse.

Koziatek has landed her dream job working at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on the Labor and Delivery unit working three 12 hour shifts per week.

On the hospital floors, Koziatek states that "nurses run the show."

In fact, she uses the word "multi-tasker" to describe a nurse. While spending time physically caring for patients, she is also on the floor documenting and coordinating her care with physicians, families and numerous other hospital services.

Although this unit is one of the most intense in the building, Koziatek is happier than ever. Some outcomes may be heartbreaking, but overall, she loves being able to be with families during the most gratifying and life changing moments.

On April 11-12, Koziatek will be participating in her sixth year volunteering with Relay For Life. This event is held around the country and designed to raise money to support the cause for cancer.

"The Relay For Life motto is 'Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back,' which really describes what the community volunteers will accomplish," Koziatek said. She is very passionate about this cause .

"We celebrate our survivors and their triumphs. We remember those we've lost, and we fight back in hopes that one day cancer will be eliminated and we won't need to Relay anymore," she said.

This year, the UM-St. Louis community is trying to raise more than last year's $50,000. Koziatek said, "We are incredibly excited and can't wait to see what the UM-St. Louis community will pull off this year!"

Aside from being a nurse and being involved with Relay for life, Koziatek is heavily bonded with her parish at St. Martin de Porres in Hazelwood. She works with the Youth Ministry by coordinating and supervising youth events as well as teaching sixth grade religion classes.

When she is back at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, working, Koziatek said, "I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off." She mentions, although it is a difficult career, "it is incredibly rewarding and satisfying for me."

So, one may ask, "Is being a nurse as hard as it seems? "Not really, being a nurse is incredibly rewarding and satisfying" for her. She gains joy from being with people; teaching, talking and helping them in anyway possible.