Nursing
Marguerite Davoren BSN, RN, CPN is a Staff Nurse III in Interventional Radiology. Marguerite shared her experiences at Children's with us.
When did you first decide to become a nurse?
I believe I was interested in the idea of helping people from a very young age and I know I was influenced by my mother who always had the highest respect for nurses. I do remember writing a composition in the fourth grade about future career plans and having a nurse sticker on the top of my composition because I wrote about becoming a nurse. I choose the science track in high school so luckily I was able to combine my interest in sciences with my desire to help people by pursuing a career in nursing.
What departments have you worked for?
I began my career at Boston Children's Hospital on Division 28 which was the Oncology floor. It was a very busy inpatient floor with patients who had many needs but it was a wonderful place to work because of the resilience of the children and the dedication of families and staff. I worked on Division 28 for two years and eventually transitioned to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit in 1986, which became Pavilion 6 when the Main Building opened in 1988. At that time, we cared for not only cardiac medical and surgical patients, but for patients who received liver and renal transplants and patients on ECMO for diaphragmatic hernia. I worked on Pavilion 6 for nearly fifteen years as it transitioned from an eighteen bed surgical ICU to a twenty three bed cardiac ICU with patients with increasing complex procedures and needs. I was a permanent Charge Nurse for eight years before I left to work in Interventional Radiology. I have worked in Interventional Radiology for ten years where I am able to use my experience and skills everyday.
I can?t imagine doing anything else or working anywhere else.
Is there a memorable moment or two during your career?
There are so many memorable moments to choose one is difficult. I cared for a seven year old boy on the Oncology floor from the day first day he was diagnosed with a Wilm’s tumor. I remember being in the room with the parents when the oncologist explained the seriousness of his illness and the treatment plan. He spent time in the ICU because he became very ill with tumor lysis syndrome but he survived and I was his primary nurse throughout his extended stay on Division 28. He is now in his early thirties and doing well and until recently I received a Christmas card from his mother every year.
What is the biggest change since you were hired at Children's?
The expansion in the physical layout of the hospital with the addition of the Main building in 1988 and the South Building in 2005 along with the improvements to the main lobby and the cafeteria. There is also more space for parents to sleep at the hospital compared to my time on Division 28 when parents had to compete for sleep space in the area referred to as “the penthouse”. There has also been a tremendous change in technology from the computers to the monitors and pumps and also advancements in the treatments of many diseases.
What is it about Children's Hospital that inspired you to work here through the years?
I would have to say taking care of the children and their families is the primary reason. I also enjoy working in a place where everyone is dedicated to providing quality care to children. I can’t imagine doing anything else or working anywhere else.
