My Working Life: Carol Ann Oragano

"My Working Life" profiles members of the team at Blackrock Health. This segment features Carol Ann Oragano, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Hermitage Clinic.?

What is your role at Blackrock Health?

I am an Advanced Nurse Practitioner working within the Acute Cardiac Assessment unit at Blackrock Health.?The service provides rapid access to our team of cardiology specialists for cardiac patient care.

What time do you wake up in the morning?

Twice a week I start my day with a swim in the sea or my local pool and arrive into work between 7.30am and 8am.

How long have you been in this role?

I started working in the Hermitage Clinic in June 2022. I like the way that it’s small enough (relative to some other huge hospitals that I have worked in), so that you get to know people very quickly; it’s also a lovely environment to work in with lots of windows and light. The CEO and management get involved which I think is great; it’s a good feeling that they, and the cardiologists that I work with, appreciate the work that I do.

I qualified in 1994 and worked in Germany and the UK before returning to Ireland to work in ICU where I became interested in cardiac monitoring. I then did a post-grad in cardiac nursing and worked in a cath lab before I got a job as a specialist in acute cardiac care.

As an Advance Nurse Practitioner, I assess patients, undertake tests and bloods and make an initial diagnosis which I then discuss with the cardiac consultant who decides on the action plan in each case.

The types of patients that I see tend to present with chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath and high blood pressure. Males tend to present a bit younger, mid-40s with chest pain, and women tend to be a bit older with symptoms related to hormonal changes caused by the menopause.

What is the most rewarding part of your job at Blackrock Health?

I love looking after and interacting with patients. I spend on average 30-40 minutes with them and it’s great that at the end of their tests and consultation with the cardiologist they generally have an answer and that really puts their mind at ease. Now there is a same-day clear pathway in cardiology for patients to get easy access to get their symptoms checked and to meet with a consultant cardiologist as well as me.

What is the last thing you usually do every day?

When all the patients have left, if I’m on my own I put on music – opera or classical – and go through my database of patients and get my charts ready for the next day. The music helps me to relax.

What is the greatest piece of advice you were ever given?

Believe in yourself, listen to your gut, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.