Full of love for everything!
A M E R I C A N N U R S E | Jane-Jung
Q. Among many cities
in the United States,
what led you to work at VCU
(Virginia Commonwealth University)
Medical Center in Virginia?
Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia,
is a city that offers a balanced lifestyle.
It is close to Washington,
D.C., allowing one to experience
a vibrant urban atmosphere,
while also being near the ocean and mountains,
making it easy to enjoy quiet,
personal time as well.
For me, it is a place that truly
aligns with the quality of life I value.
Coincidentally, the largest
university hospital in the area,
Virginia Commonwealth
University Health System, is located there.
As a teaching hospital, every moment
of work becomes an opportunity for learning,
which was a major reason
I chose to work in this environment.
Q. As a nurse in Virginia,
a place that beautifully combines
historic charm, beaches, and mountains,
what is your work-life balance and welfare like?
When I request time off in advance,
I am able to take up to two or three weeks
off and still receive my salary.
There is also no expectation to be called
in outside of my scheduled working hours.
During a morning huddle,
which is a short daily meeting
where all nurses gather with the ward manager,
I once heard something
that left a deep impression on me.
The manager said, “If any of
you are feeling burned out or exhausted,
please take a break. Your mental well-being
is essential for you to take good care of your patients.”
That message, delivered with such humanity,
deeply moved me and made me appreciate
the culture of support and understanding in my workplace.
Q. As a Christian, how does your
faith support you in your life and work?
Life, for anyone, can feel like
a quiet form of crying on the inside.
For me, Jesus has turned those tears into joy.
That sense of hope gives me strength
that no hardship or pain can take away.
At the age of 20, I was involved in a serious
car accident that even made the news
on ABC in the United States.
I was unconscious and underwent
multiple major surgeries.
Even now, six years later, I continue to live
with physical limitations and pain.
However, rather than being defeated by it,
this experience has become the very source
of strength that allows me to serve patients
with dedication as a nurse for the past four years.
My faith has become a profound foundation
that carries me through both suffering and service.
Q. You mentioned that the scars
from your accident are now something
you describe as “marks of grace.”
What do you think is the source of this gratitude?
After the car accident,
I was unable to walk for four months
and spent that time confined to a hospital bed.
During that period, many Bible verses
that I had previously only understood intellectually
began to speak to my heart in a deeply personal way,
and I came to encounter the goodness
of God in a very real sense.
This experience allowed me to long
for a life filled with joy, gratitude, and love
in the present moment a kind of “heavenly”
mindset that I feel I must embrace fully while I am alive.
Because of this journey,
the scars that once represented pain
have now become what I proudly call my
“marks of grace,” reflecting every part
of what I have been through.
Q. We heard that you have received
multiple nominations for the Daisy Award,
which is a recognition given to nurses
who provide exceptional care.
Could you share a memorable story behind it?
It was a patient who was widely known
among staff for having a very difficult
and challenging personality.
At first, I approached the situation
after the patient had calmed down,
and I made sure to sit down
at a lower level to meet him at eye level.
I then spoke to him, expressing
that I truly wanted to understand his pain
and help him feel as comfortable
as possible during his stay in the hospital.
Over time, I believe sincerity made a difference,
and his attitude gradually softened.
After he was discharged, that same patient
personally nominated me for the Daisy Award,
which became one of the most
meaningful moments of my career.
Q. If you were to plan a meaningful trip
with a close friend,
where would you recommend?
Recently, my answer to this question has changed.
This past summer,
I spent one of the most enriching
and fulfilling weeks of my life at a private
estate located in Long Island,
spanning about five acres.
Although it is not a place that
is easily open to the public,
it has become somewhere I truly wish to
bring only my closest and most cherished friends.
On a different note, I am also planning
to travel to France and Switzerland next week.
These have always been countries
I personally longed to visit,
so I am already looking forward to
recommending them in advance as well.
Q. Your wedding photos are truly beautiful.
Through the journey of marriage,
how have you influenced each other?
My husband has taught me how to
keep moving forward and face life
with direction and clarity.
In return, I have taught him the importance of rest
how to find shade and pause when needed.
He is like a forest, seeing everything widely
and embracing it with a broad sense
of understanding and acceptance.
I, on the other hand, am like a single tree
focused deeply on one thing at a time.
With these different strengths and weaknesses,
we came together and learned from one another.
The forest learns from the tree,
and the tree learns from the forest,
and in that balance, we continue to grow together.
Q.What kind of nurse do you hope
to be remembered as by your patients?
I hope to be remembered as a nurse
who comes to patients not only through care,
but through heart and life itself.
A nurse who is present beyond treatment,
offering genuine understanding, comfort,
and companionship throughout their journey.
