News & Stories

Being a nurse can be exhausting for Anna Grosse, RN, BSN, but the knowledge that she is helping people and families during a time of need keeps her motivated and passionate about her work.

Grosse is a care coordinator at the Adult Chronic Pain Clinic at the University of Minnesota Health Clinics and Surgery Center. She has been in nursing for almost eight years now, and wears numerous “hats” as she meets with a patient, learns about them and then uses that knowledge to tend to their physical and emotional needs.

In honor of Nurses Week 2019, we sat down with Grosse to ask a few questions about her passion for nursing, her day-to-day responsibilities and the philosophy she takes to her work.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I originally went to school for child education, but I learned quickly that it wasn’t the right fit for me. My brother, who knows me and my drive to help people, suggested that I look into nursing as a career—and I am so glad he did!

Tell us about your nursing role and your day-to-day responsibilities. How do you work with patients to improve their quality of life?

My role at the University of Minnesota Health Clinics and Surgery Center is to coordinate all aspects of patient care, which includes clinic nurse visits, scheduling for patients, completing medication refills, patient education and so much more. I often wear numerous hats, as many care coordinators must do. I work in a “nurse-driven” environment and I feel that it is my responsibility to care for the patients’ emotional and physical needs, and to translate their care information to them in a way that makes sense. Nursing support staff members are the front line of care in a majority of patient interactions. 

In the spirit of the #WhatIsNursing hashtag online—what is nursing to you? How do you personally define the field and why are you passionate about it?

As registered nurses, our first priority is to be an advocate for the patients that come for care. Everyone is different, and it’s part of the job as a nurse to really learn about each individual in order to provide a holistic and individualized approach to the care they receive here.

What do you love about your nursing community?

The University of Minnesota Health nursing community is truly driven to discover. We are encouraged by the collective culture at our workplace to share insight and create progressive and positive change in the medical field. Whenever I feel drained by the emotional toll that comes with being a nurse, I remember that it is a great privilege to be present and able to help in someone’s time of need, or even during their last breaths. While it can be exhausting at times, I know I am in a position to make a difference for patients and their families, and that is truly an honor.