Story by: Ryne Dunkelberger on October 3, 2023
In the world of health care, where science and compassion converge, Brian Tran, R.N., a registered nurse at Norton Audubon Hospital, stands out as an artist at heart. His career journey to critical care nursing, marked by dedication and compassion, is a testament to the transformative power of care.
“Nurses, patient care associates — we all feel this art in what we do. The creativity and flexibility in the words we choose to use with patients, in the execution of our tasks,” Brian said.
From a young age, he dreamed of being on an ambulance crew, offering comfort during life’s most difficult moments. The memory of EMTs helping to reassure him after a car accident in his childhood helped set him on his career path into health care.
“I can’t imagine the fear and uncertainty that patients feel during emergencies. Those who step in to help truly make a difference,” Brian said.
Throughout high school, Brian’s desire to be a support for people in their most vulnerable times only intensified.
“I fell in love with it all. There’s a unique humility and honor in being able to care for others,” he said.
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Brian’s journey took him to Bellarmine University for his undergraduate studies, where he immersed himself in nursing preparation classes. In spring 2019, his path led him to Norton Audubon Hospital, where he began working as a patient care associate on the orthopedic medical/surgical floor. Over two years, he gained invaluable exposure and hands-on experience working with patients, solidifying his passion for nursing.
He joined the Student Nurse Apprenticeship Program (SNAP) in January 2022, a unique opportunity for nursing students to spend the final year of their degree program working alongside experienced nurses.
He credits his time as a patient care associate and being in SNAP as expanding his perspective.
“I can’t fathom stepping into these roles without prior related experience,” he said. “It’s like training — the best way to improve is through exposure and practice. Transitioning to SNAP allowed me to hone my skills and extend that training.”
In his experiences with Norton Healthcare, Brian has seen the transformation that care and expertise can make for a patient — even in the span of a single hospital shift.
“There’s something beautiful about guiding a [postoperative] patient, intubated and anxious, through their recovery journey. I remember patients who, in less than 24 hours, had their chest cracked open, seeing them … on a ventilator, and by the end of the shift, they are up, talking to me about their family and eating a Popsicle,” Brian said.
According to Brian, his background as a first-generation American, a child of Vietnamese immigrants, informs his compassionate approach to patient care. He considers himself a good listener, and his philosophy centers on empathy and understanding.
“Sometimes it’s OK not to be OK,” he said. “No one wants to willingly be in the hospital, right? We are there in those moments to validate and educate them. Maybe it’s summed up in: Open arms, open heart.”
Brian’s journey reminds us that the practice of nursing is as much about the heart as it is about science — a symphony of empathy, expertise and resilience.
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