Justin Yang, BSN, RN
Justin Yang is a cancer survivor and a registered nurse working in Infusion Services at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. An infusion nurse is responsible for administering infusion (intravenous) therapies to patients. For Justin, this means working with cancer patients to administer chemotherapies, biotherapies, and immunotherapies. He also administers blood transfusions to patients who have critically low levels of red blood cells or platelets, which can result from a disease or a side effect from chemotherapy.
"The reason I chose nursing was because I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma when I was in high school, and being a cancer patient for three years connected me to bedside nurses. It made me see the difference one can make from building a therapeutic relationship with a person in need."
— Justin Yang
Justin's Story
Growing up in Yueyang, a small city in mainland China, Justin's mother worked at a bank and his father owned a construction materials company. At the time, Justin didn't have clear career goals. He considered being a writer or an interpreter, or perhaps working within the film industry. But in high school, he became sick and was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system of the immune system. After his diagnosis, Justin's family moved to Houston, Texas so he could receive treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. After six months of intensive treatment, Justin's cancer went into remission (as it remains today!). Justin's experience as a patient helped to crystalize his career goals. He wanted to stay in the States, study to become a nurse, and work with cancer patients.
As a cancer survivor himself, Justin has the unique perspective of being both a patient and a care provider. Justin reflected on his time as a patient noting, "I was deeply affected by my care team when I was a cancer patient, the way the nurses treated me not only as a cancer patient, but as a human being." He remembered the importance of his nurses' bedside manner, reflecting on the importance of "checking in on my emotional and spiritual needs, chatting with me like normal friends catching up, addressing my concerns. The experience I had as a patient influenced my practice as a nurse today."
Educational Pathway
Justin's educational path toward a career as a registered nurse includes:
- Completed nursing prerequisite courses at Houston Community College in Texas
- Achieved a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Seattle University
- Passed the NCLEX nursing board exam
- Earned his registered nurse (RN) license
Justin noted that both his parents are high school graduates but did not attend college, so they were especially eager to see him succeed in college. Justin explained that when his nursing curriculum became more and more challenging, his parents' hopes for him were part of his drive to finish college and graduate with his bachelor's degree.
Travel and Photography
With a passion for travel and photography, Justin appreciates that his schedule as a nurse offers a lot of flexibility. He explained that nurses in out-patient clinics typically work 8-hour or 10-hour shifts, while those at in-patient settings tend to work 12-hour shifts. Justin usually works three to four days a week.
Since many healthcare facilities are open seven days a week, including Infusion Services, that means that nurses are needed on weekdays, weekends, evenings, and holidays. When he wants to travel, Justin is able to group his shifts in order to work a longer stretch of days in a row, and then have an entire week off without having to use up any of his allocated vacation days. Justin noted, "In the pre-pandemic era, I have utilized this a lot to travel, and I cannot wait to get back to it once we return to normalcy."
A Day in the Life
A typical day on the job begins at 6:45 am when Justin reviews his assignment of five to seven patients who will be visiting Infusion Services throughout the day for treatment. His job is to assess each patient and administer the treatments that have been ordered by their physicians. After working an 8 hour shift, Justin's workday usually ends at 3:15 pm. Justin explained that while he prefers the morning shift, other nurses work the evening shift.
Time management is a big part of his job, as Justin often juggles the needs of three to four patients at the same time, each who needs different things on different timelines. This requires skills in strategic thinking, planning, and puzzle solving. Justin explained that he must "make sure I can arrange my tasks so there wouldn't be any delay, especially for treatments that are time sensitive, as some infusion medicines and blood products have very short expiration times." He noted that "if you have played the [video] game Overcooked, you can sort of understand!"
Nursing is a Team Sport
Justin explained that there are five nurse stations on the floor where he works, with each station staffed by three to six nurses. "We work together to create a supportive and safe environment, where if one nurse is overwhelmed with their workload, others can step in and help out," he explained. In fact, it is these kinds of relationships that Justin most appreciates about his job. He noted, "I have the fortune to work with the most supportive and kind people I have met."
The COVID-19 Pandemic Takes a Toll on Nurses
Like most healthcare facilities during the pandemic, Justin's department has experienced staff shortages, yet the patient load remains high. He also took on additional duties working at the Fred Hutch COVID Command Center. In this role, he helped to assess patients with COVID-related symptoms and possible exposures and performed PCR tests to detect infections. Justin noted that the pandemic takes "a toll on physical and mental well-being" and that it is important to "recognize this fatigue and keep in mind to also take care of one's self so I can take better care of others."
Video: Infusion Services
Watch the below video to learn more about infusion services at Fred Hutch Cancer Center.
Advice for Students
Are you interested in a career in nursing? Justin has this to say to you: "Congratulations! You have opened yourself to a future of endless job opportunities, stable income, and ever-changing adventures that leaves not a single dull moment."
But what if I am uncomfortable around needles or blood? Justin has heard this concern before, but he has good news. "You might not have to work with needles throughout your career," he explained. "I have plenty of coworkers who are not a fan of needles as well, but we also have a number of nurses who have honed their IV skills and are always up for helping." He reflected that "teamwork within nursing is what keeps the job alive and fun."
"A lot of infusion treatments are recurring on a weekly, even daily basis. So as an infusion nurse, I have the privilege to get to know patients on a personal level as I accompany them during their treatment progression."
— Justin Yang
U.S. Wage Information
According to the 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median wage for registered nurses in the U.S. is $86,070.
Additional Resources
Credit: Thank you to Justin for graciously sharing his story. Career profile written by Dr. Kristen Clapper Bergsman.