Spotlight on Charles Drown, structural heart nurse navigator at the Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s Hospital

Charles Drown
Registered nurse and structural heart nurse navigator

Nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital since 1989; employed with the hospital since 1986

Education: Associate’s degree from Armstrong State College; Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University

SJ/C: Why did you decide to become a nurse?

Charlie: I started working at St. Joseph’s Hospital as an orderly, and then I moved into different positions – orderly to nursing assistant to monitor tech. But, even before I moved into those other roles, I always liked what I was doing, and I wanted to help people and see them get better. I found medicine to be interesting after I started working here, so I went on to nursing school.

SJ/C: What made you choose St. Joseph’s Hospital?

Charlie: It seems my whole family has worked here. It started with my brother-in-law. He met my sister here when she became a nurse. So, they were both working here, and they're the ones that actually helped me get my first job here. I still have a handful of family members who work here (including my wife, bother, sister-in-law and nephew).

SJ/C: What is the role of the structural heart nurse navigator?

Charlie: I work with patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis who may be candidates for TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement). So, we get a referral from a cardiologist or surgeon to work with somebody with aortic stenosis who may qualify for the TAVR procedure. I coordinate their testing, get all the diagnostic work done for the cardiologist and surgeon to review. So I kind of VIP them through the process. Then we make a presentation for the surgeon and the cardiologist. We review each case and decide if the patient is a good candidate for TAVR. If determined so, I help schedule the pre-op appointment and procedure. We also meet with patients a week, month and year after their procedure.

SJ/C: Why do you think this role's important?

Charlie: The process can get confusing. There’s a lot of testing here and there for these patients and many are in a new environment. I help streamline the process. I work with Latricia Reisert, the non-invasive cardiology team lead and structural heart coordinator, and we’re another face that patients can look at that represents St. Joseph’s Hospital. We create a positive atmosphere and make the process smooth and friendly, so patients feel at ease and appreciate what we do.

SJ/C: What do you love about being a nurse?

Charlie: My main thing is patient care. I like to see and help patients get better, and at the same time, make the family feel comfortable. But, my big joy is seeing patients come in sick; we give them the latest care, and then we see them walk out a different person. I enjoy seeing that.

A lot of folks (who get TAVR) can have severe breathing issues. Once they wake up from anesthesia  after the procedure, they notice an immediate impact; they can breathe easier. We see them one week after for a follow up and one month after, and then we bring them in one year after. So we get to see patients improve and most of them have great outcomes.

SJ/C: What does it mean to you to be a six time Magnet nurse?

Charlie: It means I'm part of a profession and organization that puts education and professionalism at the forefront for the nurses. They give us opportunities. For example, when I worked in CCU, we're encouraged to get our CCRN, critical care nurse certification.

SJ/C: What advice would you offer to new nurses or those considering a career nursing?

Charlie: I would encourage them to work in the hospital as an aide or shadow to be really sure this is the right career and environment. I think it's important that they know what they're getting in to and that this is truly what they want. This field, it's really about helping the people; it’s a calling.

Family: Wife, who’s a nurse practitioner at SJ/C Physician Network – Cardiothoracic Surgery; brother and sister-in-law, who are both nurses for St. Joseph’s/Candler, as well as a nephew, who works in CCU at St. Joseph’s. His sister and brother-in-law were former St. Joseph’s employees, as well as a niece.
Hobbies & Interests: Spending time with family