May 6, 2024, is National Nurses Day, and we’re tipping our hats to frontline heroes like Allison Kindle, nurse’s assistant, CrossFit athlete, and inspiration to Team O2.
Team O2: Allison Kindle, how are you?!
Allison: I’m great! So good to talk to you.
TO2: So, you’re a nurse’s assistant in Florida. Can you tell us what that’s like?
I work the night shift, and have done that for two and a half years now. I do everything a nurse does except give medicine and assess patients. I work on the surgical floor. We give people new backs, new knees, new hips …
Night shift is one heck of a shift - 12 hours of a good time!
TO2: And, you’re also a CrossFit athlete! How and when did you get into CrossFit?
It’s all because of a Groupon! Remember those? Ha ha. And, my former job [as a talent agent] - because my client opened a gym after the first one closed. I’ve been at his gym ever since - been doing it for nine years. Butterfly effect!
I’ve been competing since I started, but didn’t start going after it until two years ago. I do about 3-4 competitions a year, and am now doing more out of state.
TO2: We wish you luck in your next competition! So, National Nurses Day. Do you observe it, as a nurse’s assistant?
It’s a thing within the hospital. I know that nursing assistants have their own week, but I couldn’t tell you what it is. It’s nice to be associated with Nurse’s Day, but I think it should all be together!
TO2: What’s your favorite thing about being a nurse’s assistant?
The relationships I form with my patients. It being night shift, you really do get a lot of one-on-one time. In making my patients more comfortable, I get to learn about them - I get to see the dynamics between people.
It brings me so much joy. I’m a big softie. I can get stuck in a patient’s room for 30 minutes because they’re telling me how they stayed married for 60 years.
TO2: Aw. Thank you, Allison! Readers, please click here for Part II of our interview.