Science Heroes Home Page > Colleen Casey

Colleen Casey - Critical Care Nurse / Doctoral Student

OMSI: Where did you grow up?

CC: I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. I lived there (in the same house) until I left for college at age 17. I spent most of my 20s living in Montana, though, and very much consider the Helena-area my home.

OMSI: What three words best describe you?

CC: Motivated, thorough, loyal.

OMSI: As a child, did you have any hobbies, interests, or experiences that helped prepare you for success in science?

CC: Playing piano for 9 years helped me to learn how to pay attention to details, even the finest points. Playing sports, like softball, soccer, and basketball helped me to learn teamwork and how to look at the smaller picture within the bigger picture.

OMSI: Please tell us about a mentor or teacher who helped to inspire your interest in science.

CC: Linda Felver is a nurse scientist/professor who brings a lot of energy and intelligence into her teaching of pathophysiology to undergraduate and graduate nursing students. She uses regular classroom techniques, as well as long-distance technology and CDs to reach more rural students. She also regularly uses storytelling, puppetry, and humor to teach and inspire interest in human physiology and pathophysiology.

OMSI: What's the worst trouble you ever got into in school? Have you ever blown anything up?

CC: Never got to blow anything up, but I sure got to make things smell!

OMSI: What is your favorite class this year?

CC: Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology.

OMSI: What year did you participate in the science fair, and how did you place?

CC: When I was in grade school, probably 6th or 7th grade; I won at my grade school and advanced to the Monsanto-sponsored metropolitan science fair.

OMSI: Describe a difficult situation that you were in and how you handled it.

CC: Potentially, we face difficult situations every day or at least every week. I like to think that I handle tough situations by taking some deep breaths, really putting the issue or problem in perspective, and then responding. I recently heard a quote from an elder who said he "likes to think about 'problems' in terms of whether they will really matter in a year." I think that's a great, although sometimes hard, way to think about difficulties.

OMSI: What is your dream? What do you most hope to accomplish in your career?

CC: My dream is that everyone is paid the same amount of money regardless of the job/occupation they have. This equality of pay means that everyone gets to choose the job that they most want to do regardless of the pay.

I hope to learn the research techniques I need in order to study the ways in which we provide care to older adults in the ICU-setting and how we can improve upon the care we provide that takes into account an older adults' unique physiology, psychology, and sociology. I also hope to continue to work as an ICU nurse and to teach students in the ICU setting.

OMSI: How do you feel about the current state of science education in the U.S.?

CC: I think students have more access to technology than ever before. I hope, though, that this technology does not replace the "hands on" experiments that make science fun. Unfortunately, I think the current move is away from this hands-on type of education because of the time and resources required. The more students can learn at an early age that science can be active and applied to their everyday lives, the more exciting it is and the less it seems out of their reach.

OMSI: What do you like to do in your free time?

CC: My husband and I enjoy hiking, cooking dinner, gardening, and staying in touch with friends.

OMSI: What do you consider your very best skill?

CC: I believe that my best skill is my ability to think critically, both as a bedside nurse and as a graduate student.

OMSI: Please tell us about your science fair project. How did you come up with the idea for your project? How did you go about researching and building your project? What was it like to participate in the science fair, and what do you remember most from the fair?

CC: My best science project involved testing how well grass seeds grew at different pH levels as a way to explore the effects of acid rain. My childhood neighbor had his own greenhouse and his niece was getting her doctorate in biochemistry at the time. Acid rain was a very common topic of conversation at that time. They helped me formulate my hypothesis and design my experiment. I even used his greenhouse to grow my seeds. Going to the metropolitan science fair was very exciting. I clearly remember hundreds of displays set up one after another.

OMSI: Please tell us about your educational plans and goals.

CC: I plan to complete my Master's in Nursing as well as my PhD as part of the MS/PhD program at OHSU's' School of Nursing. In addition to completing my Master's, I will also be certified as Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. I hope to continue working in the surgical ICU and plan to conduct research in order to further our knowledge and skill in the way we care for elders in the ICU.

OMSI: Have you had any on the job training or science related work experience?

CC: To the extent that ICU nurses must have a thorough understanding of the technology within that setting as well as the pathophysiology underlying the various disease processes in our patients, along with the interventions and outcomes related to these interventions, I enjoy science-related work experience each day I work.