Today we’d like to introduce you to Zahra Adan.
Hi Zahra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1990; shortly after the Civil War began, in which my family fled. My parents always wanted to provide the best of opportunities for my brothers and I, so we eventually immigrated to Canada, where I spent most of my life growing up. With the hardships we faced in adjusting to our new life, we were able to triumph through those challenges. My motivation to become a nurse came from my parents; they’ve always instilled in us the importance of having faith in humanity, being individuals with standards and morals, and having respect for others beyond their status and/or circumstances. Also, a healthcare career was inevitable for me, as my father is a retired doctor and my mom is a retired registered nurse. After a year into my nursing career, I moved to Minnesota and started doing local nursing assignments within the Twin Cities. My focus has always been to work at facilities and hospitals that have higher rates of ethnic patients, primarily Somali patients. I wanted to be able to provide that extra effort in providing quality care and support, to make them feel comfortable, aware, and fully educated regarding their health condition(s). Working with people from diverse backgrounds has always been a rewarding opportunity for me to give back.
In addition to my care towards minority groups, I also became mindful of individuals who are blind and/or deaf; I’ve personally trained myself to learn sign language and ways to guide and effectively communicate with them concerning their unique health needs. Along with that, being knowledgeable of various traditional healthcare rituals aids as a great impact on the experiences and health outcomes of patients.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The insight into the reality of nursing was far from what I expected when I first started back in 2014. As you can imagine, nursing is not the easiest career. It takes a toll on our physical, mental, and emotional health. The one thing that we continuously struggle within the aftermath of our shifts is our attempts to not bring home with us. Nursing has its fair share of difficult times and heartbreak as you care for people in the rawest and most vulnerable times of their lives; but there are also many moments of hopefulness, inspiration, and motivation, and these moments are so essential to cherish and be proud of. I’ve acquired a sense of emotional detachment, to be able to be their strength and be selfless, and focus on patient-centered care. I also learned the hard way to advocate for myself within this role when it comes to my safety and health, and to avoid burnout Nevertheless, nursing continues to be the most humbling, challenging, and rewarding experience; it’s my passion and has become very second nature to me. I wouldn’t trade it for any other career path.
We’ve been impressed with Pro Vital Care CPR, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
During my time here in Minnesota, I realized that there was a lack of health education being provided to minority groups, besides the stigma and “white coat syndrome” that they encounter. We have seen consistent evidence of the rise of worsening health conditions and higher mortality rates in our communities; and in all honesty, I have not once met a patient who wasn’t scared. When the coronavirus outbreak began, it certainly opened my eyes even more because there was a larger gap in healthcare literacy being more prominent; as well, patients had to deal with isolation and strict precautions. Therefore, I decided that I wanted to do more than work frontline, and I felt that I was obligated to do so. It was clear to me that many families weren’t aware of the signs and symptoms of respiratory and cardiac distresses and how to care for not only themselves but their children, and as a mother myself, I could only fathom how frightening that could be.
With the compassion and understanding I have towards those adversities, I started my own business called, Pro Vital Care CPR; where I not only teach and certify healthcare providers and businesses within the community as an authorized provider through American Heart Association; but I have now geared my main focus on an initiative to teach and advocate for minority and ethnic families within their communities; these are individuals who are not being supported with these essential educational health services; that everyone deserves and should be cognizant of.
I’m currently working with District 191 encompassing Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, in providing my services, skills, knowledge, and experiences, to teach effective and proper life-saving techniques of emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), AED, and First Aid. This initiative will be provided to approximately 500+ individuals from marginalized backgrounds, which they will then be certified to use for future emergencies and employment credentials.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My commitment to providing these services matters to me because I want to make a difference in alleviating healthcare disparities in our communities. The impact that educational health services will have can save lives. I’ve come to acknowledge a long time ago that the scope of my career is based on human connection, in providing quality care, evidence, and scientific-based practices. I always say, “I don’t treat my patients like patients, I treat them like humans”. And it makes a world of a difference.
