Weight Loss Surgery Inspires Nurses Career Pathway
September 11, 2014
Weight loss surgery has been a life-transforming gateway for hundreds of thousands of people. New activities. New wardrobes. New relationships. The list goes on! Some of these victories wind up having more of a shorter-term impact. One transformation of longer-term significance, however, is that of attaining a new career. Katie Miskulin and Anna Hazinakis are two people who did this by becoming bariatric nurses. Each had been a nurse in an unrelated field prior to their WLS experience. Their way of paying forward their success is one of the things that make the weight loss surgery community special. Below, meet Katie and Anna whom we were able to interview.
RNY, July 26, 2012
Surgeon: Leena Khaitan, MD, MPH, FACS
Total Weight Loss: 115lb
ObesityHelp Username: RNMisko86
Katie Miskulin says that choosing WLS was the most important and difficult decision she ever made. At 25 years of age, she was 100lbs overweight and suffered from GERD and severe knee pain. She was tumbling through a mounting whirlwind of genetic predispositions to diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. She spent hundreds of dollars on diet fads and personal trainers. At some fateful point, she realized that enough was enough! She decided that she was ready to make a life-long commitment to being healthy, happy, and comfortable in her own skin.
Katie had been thinking of WLS for some time. She decided to take a chance on a next step and attended an information session at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center. She was blown away by the compassion and encouragement of the nurse coordinator and surgeon. She quickly made an appointment to meet with them at an office visit to learn more about their program and the different procedures offered. Upon arrival, her favorable impression only grew: she felt as if she were the only patient being seen. The doctor was engaged and interested in her story. For the first time she didn’t feel as if she was signing up for a “fad diet” or “gimmick.” In her surgeon-to-be, she sensed someone that was honestly interested in helping her have a healthier, happier life.
Fast forward two years, her favorite saying as a post-op is “You don’t realize how bad you feel until you feel really great!” She says “I never realized how much I was missing out on before my surgery; how many things I took for granted. Every facet of my life has been affected by my WLS.” There isn’t a day that goes by that she isn’t grateful for the new life she has been given. She says this was the best decision she ever made for herself. She is proud to be able to share her experiences with other patients.
With WLS she became more confident. One of the things this confidence led her to do was to apply for the job of clinical nurse. She got the job. She says “This is something I would have never had the confidence to seek out prior to my internal and external “transformations.”
RNY, April 26, 2012
Surgeon: Leena Khaitan, MD, MPH, FACS
Total Weight loss 150lbs
ObesityHelp Username: BariNurseNan12
Anna Hazinakis's story is typical of many. She had spent a lifetime of endless dieting and being fearful of the gym until eventually gaining so much weight that it negatively impacted her physical and emotional well-being. Along with weight gain, she developed health problems such as elevated blood pressure, polycystic ovarian syndrome, pre-diabetes and joint pain. She was in her twenties and had recently married. She wanted a family. She knew, however, that she was unfit to carry a healthy pregnancy. She says “I. WAS. DONE.! Done with the repeated, failed fad diets and the extreme guilt associated with eating poorly and not exercising; I was taking my life back and taking control of my future.” At that point she began her WLS journey. She tells people that while having surgery was definitely not an easy option for losing weight it was, for her at least, the best decision.
Anna is now just over two years out from her new “birthday.” Having weight loss surgery gave Anna Hazinakis a new lease on life. She strives to live life to the fullest, but in particular can better appreciate the small things in life, such as sitting in a chair with arm handles, bending over and painting her toenails, tying shoelaces without being a contortionist and fitting in a seat belt without feeling strangled. In particular, she adds “Oh, and the ability to cross my legs...I never thought that day would ever come!” Her bucket list is currently filled with new adventures, experiences and happiness--traveling to the ocean for the first time, taking her first flight, running her first 5k. She tries to exercise routinely to maintain her quality of life.
Today, she is paying it forward by working as a bariatric nurse coordinator. She enjoys working with patients through their personal weight loss journey. Managing obesity related illnesses interests her, as does guiding patients through the surgical weight loss experience... just as she herself felt kindly guided on her own journey.
Interview with ObesityHelp
How long have you two been friends and what best describes your friendship?
Anna: Katie and I have been friends for a little over one year now. I would say our friendship is best described as “long lost sisters.” We are two very different individuals, yet have so much in common! Katie: We have been described as “two peas in a pod”. We can finish each others thoughts and sentences at the bat of an eyelash.
Where did you meet? Support group meeting or otherwise? (Noticing your surgeries were just three months apart.)
Anna: “Katie and I met working for University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Katie had recently taken a position as a bariatric nurse coordinator and I managed a satellite office for the bariatric program at the Digestive Health Institute where Katie was training.Katie: We quickly began chatting and instantly developed a friendship-realizing we had so much in common and sharing our weight loss journeys together!
You both changed your existing careers to work at University Hospitals. Can you describe what your careers paths were previously and a little more of why you wanted to work at there?
Katie: I started nursing in 2009 as a med/surg nurse caring for prisoners/inmates in Nashville, TN. I moved to Cleveland in 2011 and began working at a different hospital system in the area. My desire to pursue bariatric surgery encouraged me to seek out a program in the Cleveland area. I looked into the University Hospitals (UH) program but found out that my current insurance had bariatrics listed as an exclusion. I applied for a PRN position at UH and was offered a full-time position. Knowing bariatrics was a covered benefit within the UH system, I quickly accepted the position as an RN for a telemetry floor at Geauga Medical Center. I cross-trained into the ICU and fell in love with cardiology and developed a strong desire to advance within that specialty. Then I had bariatric surgery… The nurse coordinator at the time had also had the bypass and her story and experience inspired me greatly. When she accepted a management position in a different department she approached me and encouraged me to apply for the bariatric nurse coordinator position at Geauga Medical Center. I did and I got it! My passion has rapidly moved from cardiology to bariatrics and I am beginning to work towards my Master’s degree as a Nurse Practitioner with the hopes of continuing within the bariatric surgery specialty.Anna: Actually, I began my nursing career at University Hospitals in 2008. University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) as it is known is a medical teaching institution and has such an awesome reputation for supporting its employees and nurses that I knew I wanted a career here. I interviewed in several locations and ultimately took a position on the Inpatient Surgical Bariatric Unit. Although not even contemplating bariatric surgery myself, I connected with the patients and I knew it was the patient population I was meant to nurse back to health. During my career at UHCMC, I have fulfilled many roles as a nurse from working the inpatient clinical units in multiple specialty care areas to managing satellite outpatient clinics. Just recently in October 2013, I was approached with the opportunity to become the bariatric nurse coordinator for UHCMC, one of three locations within our program. I literally jumped at the opportunity as I knew it was certainly meant for me. It was as if my career had come full circle within five years working inpatient as a Bariatric Nurse, now to an outpatient Bariatric Nurse Coordinator. I connected both personally having recently started my own journey and clinically as a trained bariatric professional.
What about bariatric nursing did you both like the most?
Anna: Variety… Bariatric Nursing is diverse, exciting and ultimately rewarding. Patients come to our program, desperate for a better quality of life and I am there to support them along their WLS journeys.Katie: I love the positivity of this specialty. As a floor nurse we interact with very sick people. It’s not always a happy environment. With bariatric surgery, our patients are coming in for an elective procedure. They are so often excited and happy about having the surgery and eager to begin a new healthy lifestyle. There is always a good prognosis for our patients because they are taking THE step away from obesity-related health problems.
Did you support each other throughout your WLS journeys? If so, in what ways?
Anna: As you know, WLS is a journey, it is not a sprint and support is needed lifelong for success. Unfortunately Katie and I did not get to support each other in the beginning. Just a little over a year out from surgery we met each other. Most likely this meeting occurred at just the right time as we were approaching our maintenance and leaving our WLS honeymoon period and needed the support more than ever. Over the last year, Katie and I have experienced so many obstacles and adventures throughout our own journeys, that we were lucky to have each other. We talk almost daily, call each other for support during the rough times and celebrate together during our successes. We know what each other is going through and it helps to have someone who just simply understands!Katie: As Anna mentioned, we did not know each other at the time of our surgeries but I am so grateful for her friendship now. All WLS patients have a “honeymoon” period where appetite is decreased, cravings are gone, weight is dropping and it’s a wonderful experience. About two years after WLS the “honeymoon” is over. It is at that time support becomes even more important. As luck would have it, at approximately two years post-op, Anna and I have developed a friendship that will be lifelong; and it came at just the right time. We have at least a weekly evening phone call where we just vent to each other. This keeps us from making poor choices in our diet because we have an outlet for frustrations or stress.
Did you attend a support group meeting on a regular basis?
Katie: I did not attend support groups prior to taking on the role of nurse coordinator. I worked night shift at the time and honestly didn’t know how much I needed a support group. When I started hosting support groups for our program at UH I realized just how beneficial having that support is. My patients always look forward to attending our groups. It’s their time, and mine, to just be around others who’ve experienced the same. It’s also great because we have patients that are pre-op, fresh post-op, and all the way out to 10+ years. Everyone benefits in some way from the attendees.Anna: I did not attend our program support groups as I had a professional relationship with many of the patients in the group. I often turned to ObesityHelp.com for support as well as other online support groups and Blogs, especially “The World According to Eggface”.
What was your experience being a bariatric post-op working in a bariatric program?
Anna: My experience at University Hospitals was exceptional and holistic- and I am not just saying that- I truly mean it. The Bariatric team seamlessly escorted me through the approval and preparation process to streamline my pre-operative phase. Being an employee, I had very high expectations for the staff to uphold and they did just that, they exceeded my expectations. Julie, the nurse and also a bariatric patient who guided me along my journey initially was my biggest support; whether or not she truly knew at the time- she inspired me both as a nurse and as a patient. The personalized and dedicated service by the entire surgical team, made a world of difference in my journey. I felt as though I was a person in the program, not just another number.Katie: I had an amazing experience at UH as a patient. From the word “go” I was treated as a PERSON, not a patient. The doctors and nursing staff treated me with compassion and excellent care. It can be quite the humbling experience to come to a clinic and admit you need help with your weight. I never once felt uncomfortable in this program.
Any funny post op moments to share?
Anna: Posting a picture on a social media website and having it ask me to “tag” a different person because it did not recognize me as the same person.
Anything else to share?
Katie: There is not one thing I would change about my decision to have WLS. I took charge of my life after many years of having no control. My transformation was much more than external. I lost a lot of the outside and gained so much inside. I am thankful every day for the wonderful surgeons and nursing staff I had going through my journey and I feel blessed to be able to help others in the same way I was helped.Anna: I wouldn’t change anything about my personal experience or decision to have weight loss surgery- the only thing… I wouldn’t have waited so long to pursue a better quality of life!
Share Your Story:
What career changes have you made as a result of WLS? Don't underestimate the power of your stories to inspire and motivate others! Your current world might merely be the distant light at the end of other people's tunnel. Send your stories to: [email protected]
Click here to visit the OH Goal System and share your goals!
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Eric Klein is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ObesityHelp.com. He began by inventing the on-line physician review system in 1997 and built ObesityHelp.com the following year. When not occupied with fatherhood, Eric enjoys learning and sometimes writing about health and science. |
