Meet Sara Fung

Sara Fung's career has taken her far from the beeping monitors and tiny patients of the NICU where she started. Today, she's more likely to be found behind a microphone or crafting resumes than changing dressings or checking vital signs.

As I prepared to unpack 15 years of a nurse's career journey, I wondered what series of choices leads someone from the intensity of neonatal care to becoming an entrepreneur, author and podcaster. What inspires a nurse to dedicate herself to helping other nurses navigate their careers, finding fulfilling roles within a profession known for its challenges?

A Practical Path to Nursing

Unlike those who speak of nursing as a lifelong calling, Sara's story began with a high school career course and a personality test. "My mom was a nurse, my aunt was a nurse," Sara explained. "When I was graduating high school, I had taken this career course. After taking a bunch of tests, they said I'd be most suited for being a nurse or a journalist."

Sara struggled with the choice between nursing and journalism. She had always enjoyed writing but feared turning her passion into a job might strip away the joy. Her doctor's practical advice tipped the scales: "Nursing is a really secure career, and it's good pay."

Sara spoke about her early expectations of nursing, indicating an element of rose-tinted glasses that was quickly fogged up by the realities of shift work and the emotional demands of patient care.

"I was so naive when I went into nursing," Sara admitted. "I didn't even realise it was 12-hour shifts. It didn't even occur to me that I'd have to work nights, evenings, and weekends. My mom had trained as a nurse but never actually worked as one, so I guess I didn't realise in my head how demanding the hours would be."

Despite this initial reality check, Sara's enthusiasm for her chosen field wasn't dampened. She immersed herself in the world of maternal-child health, finding a sense of purpose and fulfilment in caring for new mothers and their infants.

The Shift to 9 to 5 

The seeds of leadership, planted during her years at the bedside, began to sprout and flourish. "I always knew I wanted something more," Sara reflected. "That's kind of why I went back to do my Masters of Nursing (Clinical) right away while I'm still in the school frame of mind." Her plan at that stage was to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Sara's decision to pursue a master's degree wasn't without its challenges. "I was probably the youngest person in my class," she admitted with a chuckle.

Despite her initial trepidation, Sara found herself thriving in the academic environment. 

However, the demanding nature of shift work had begun to take its toll, and Sara was looking for alternatives that would allow her to maintain her nursing career while achieving a better work-life balance.

"But I didn't know how to get there, and I didn't know how to really admit it to myself because I thought if I didn't work at the bedside, people would think I was less of a nurse. That's what I just kept thinking." During the first seven or so years, attempts were made to try many different roles in maternal-child health, including postpartum inpatient, ambulatory care, prenatal care, research, and the NICU.

Sara's perspective on her career dramatically shifted with the birth of her children in 2015 and 2017. Suddenly, the demands of shift work and the intensity of bedside nursing took on new meaning.

Listening to Sara, I resonated with how becoming a parent can change your career. It’s not that you feel forced to compromise; it's more that you often change what you want from your professional world. Your drive is simply altering direction.

The desire for a more predictable schedule and better work-life balance became paramount. "I was always after just a normal nine-to-five type job," Sara explained. "I wanted to be there for my kids, and I was always just rushing around. It was just insane doing the daycare drop-offs, trying to find time to cook."

This new reality as a working mother pushed Sara to seek roles that would allow her to use her nursing expertise while providing the flexibility she needed for her family. In 2016, between the births of her children, she landed her first leadership position as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Obstetrics.

"I ended up overseeing labour delivery as well as postpartum," Sara explained. "I was doing things like creating high-risk care plans for patients with complex medical conditions who were pregnant and then working on increasing the hospital's breastfeeding rates."

The transition from bedside nurse to clinical leader wasn't always smooth sailing. Sara found herself navigating new challenges, from managing complex projects to influencing hospital-wide policies.

Despite the challenges, Sara found the work deeply rewarding. She was no longer just caring for individual patients; she was shaping the care experience for entire departments.

Navigating Toxic Waters and Finding New Paths

As Sara's career progressed, she found herself facing a challenge that, unfortunately, is all too common in healthcare: toxic work environments. The excitement of her leadership role began to fade as she encountered situations that would ultimately reshape her career path.

"In the first hospital leadership role, it was mainly my colleagues. I had a good manager, but I was feeling very stressed and there was a lot of backstabbing and bullying." Sara shared.

As Sara recounted these experiences, I could sense the toll they had taken on her. The passion that had driven her into nursing and leadership seemed to dim as she spoke of the constant stress and negativity she faced daily.

Hoping for a fresh start, Sara made the brave decision to switch jobs. Her eyes lit up momentarily as she recalled the optimism she felt at the time. However, that hope was short-lived.

"I went from that job to a different job and it turned out that my manager at that job was the person who was toxic," she recalled. "What do you do when your manager's the one that's bullying you? Because really, in most cases, you're supposed to go to your manager for that type of support."

The stress became overwhelming, leading Sara to consider stress leave. However, she faced resistance from her workplace. "I tried to go on stress leave," Sara shared, her voice barely above a whisper. But I was told that I couldn't go off for stress leave and they weren't going to pay me. It was a lot of back-and-forth."

It was clear that Sara needed a significant change. In 2019, she decided to leave the hospital environment entirely. "That's when I left to try a different job in Home and Community Care," Sara explained. "It was more of an educator and quality improvement role."

This transition marked a significant shift in Sara's career. Moving from the intense, often stressful hospital environment to an educator role in Home and Community Care offered her a new perspective on healthcare and her own career path.

"It was a better job, I think, in every sense except for the pay," Sara reflected. "I took a 15% pay cut, but the workplace culture, the hours... it was worth it. We were already working from home one day a week before the pandemic, and that was so exciting to me."

The toxic environments she had endured were now in the rearview mirror, and she was embarking on a new chapter in her career.

The Seeds of Entrepreneurship

As Sara settled into her new role as an educator in Home and Community Care, she found herself with a bit more breathing room—both literally and figuratively. The change of pace from the hospital environment allowed her mind to wander, to dream, and to consider possibilities she had never before entertained.

In 2019, driven by her experiences and a newfound desire to create positive change, Sara launched The RN Resume. "At the time, I just felt like this is something I can do, at least with the resume stuff, for a little bit of extra money and feeling like I'm still helping people," Sara explained. "I never thought it would lead to anything because I didn't have any role models that were entrepreneurs, especially nurses."

As she spoke about the inspiration behind her venture, I could sense the passion reigniting within her.

What began as a side business offering resume writing and career coaching services to nurses would eventually grow into something far beyond Sara's initial expectations. But the road wasn't always smooth.

"For two years, I was doing this on the side, early mornings, late at night," Sara shared, a hint of exhaustion creeping into her voice as she remembered those long days. "I would do it after my kids would go to bed or before they woke up in the morning. A lot of very early mornings starting at 5:00 AM or working until midnight."

As her side business began to gain traction, the world was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the healthcare system faced unprecedented challenges, Sara found unexpected opportunities to expand her impact.

"Around the same time, I started the podcast with a coworker, and it's called the Gritty Nurse podcast," Sara shared. "That kind of took off during the pandemic. A lot of people started to wonder what nurses thought of everything during the pandemic."

The podcast's success has led to media appearances and speaking engagements, providing Sara with platforms to share her insights and advocate for nurses on a broader scale. It was clear that Sara had found her voice, and people were eager to listen.

The Leap to Full-Time Entrepreneurship

As Sara's side ventures continued to flourish, she found herself at a crossroads. The steady rhythm of her full-time job provided security, but her entrepreneurial pursuits indicated possibility and purpose.

In December 2021, after months of internal debate and careful consideration, Sara took a deep breath and made the leap. “There's no real good time to rip the Band-Aid off."

The transition wasn't immediate. Sara's employer asked her to stay on part-time, which she did for another year, gradually reducing her hours as her own business grew. It wasn't until 2023 that she fully committed to her entrepreneurial path.

As Sara shared her journey, I could see her pragmatic approach. This wasn't a reckless leap into the unknown but a carefully choreographed dance between security and aspiration. It was a strategy born of years of nursing experience – assessing risks, implementing safeguards, and always, always prioritising care, in this case, care for her own career and family.

As Sara's entrepreneurial journey unfolds, her definition of success has evolved. Beyond financial rewards, she now treasures the flexibility and autonomy her new career affords. The ability to create a work-life harmony that aligns with her values has become a form of success that transcends traditional metrics.

Today, Sara wears multiple hats: entrepreneur, podcast host, author, and advocate for healthcare professionals. Her recently released book, "The Wisdom of Nurses," and emerging speaking engagements mark exciting new chapters in her ongoing journey. 

Despite these new ventures, Sara maintains a connection to her nursing roots, working as a camp nurse during summers and exploring innovative ways to support her fellow healthcare professionals.

For healthcare professionals considering a similar transition, Sara's measured approach offers a masterclass in career change. It's a reminder that the path beyond bedside doesn't have to be a cliff dive – it can be a series of small, intentional steps, each one bringing you closer to your goal.

Sara’s Wisdom:

• You have more knowledge and skill than you give yourself credit for.

• It's okay to try something new; perfection comes through doing.

• There's never a perfect time - start now rather than waiting forever.

“The Wisdom of Nurses” - Book

The Gritty Nurse Podcast

The RN Resume

LinkedIn

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