Nikki Weatherford
McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Regional Medical Center, and Guardian Ambulance Service
Job: Medical Surgical Technician, Emergency Medical Technician
Q. How long have you been a healthcare worker?
A. I’ve been a Nursing Assistant/MST for almost 3 years now. I started at a nursing home and then got my job in Obstetrics at McLeod Dillon, and now work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Q. Why did you want to pursue the field?
A. At first I wanted nothing to do with healthcare, I always got the impression bedside was terrible…and some days it can be bad, but the good days make up for it. My twin brother also played a big role in it, he was always getting hurt growing up…from breaking his arm, cutting his leg open and almost bleeding out in front of me, to detaching his lip from his gum, we were always making ER trips and watching him get stitched up. ❤️
Q. Are any other members of your family current or past healthcare workers? If so, who and where? If yes, did this influence your decision to become one and how?
A. My late uncle Kim Daniels was an EMT for Dillon County EMS. He and my mentor, the late Mr. Donald Foreman, who was a paramedic for Dillon County EMS, had a lot of influence in my decision to go into EMS. I never wanted to do bedside, but was placed in the nursing assistant course in high school. I didn’t like the nursing home so I tried OB…I fell in love with labor and delivery and got interested in the NICU when the NICU team came to pick up one of our babies. Now, I’d like to eventually pursue a career in neonatal transport. I love my babies. ?
Q. Education/Special Training?
A. Car Seat Safety Technician
Firefighter 1
Former Lifeguard
Q. What do you love about being a healthcare worker?
A. I love being a listening ear. I know what it’s like to have a provider not listen to you, and I never want to be that for my patients.
Q. Hobbies:
A. I like to go fishing and I love listening to live music.
Q. What advice would you give or what would you say to someone who wants to become a healthcare worker?
A. Don’t underestimate yourself or sell yourself short. Advocate for your patient even when it causes you to be uncomfortable.
Q. Fun fact about yourself.
A. I was born on Friday the 13th, so I’ve been a black cloud since the day I was born. ?
Q. Favorites?
A. I love The Golden Girls, fishing, and being outside in the summertime.
