Member Spotlight: Monica Johnston

Welcome to the Member Spotlight, where we shine a light on the incredibly skilled and dedicated individuals who make up our community. Whether burn care is your full-time career, or a passion pursued alongside other endeavors, our members have valuable insights to share, drawn from years of experience.

Enjoy getting to know your colleagues from across the field who share your commitment to advancing burn care! (And fill out this questionnaire  for the chance to share YOUR story and insights in Member Spotlight.)

Monica Johnston, RN, BSN, CCRN

Title: Registered Nurse
Organization: Oregon Burn Center

How did you come into the burn field? How many years have you worked in burns?

My interest sparked during my 3rd year of nursing school after a nurse from the local burn unit gave us nursing students a presentation on burn and wound care. I spent my senior practicum in the burn unit at the University of Alberta Fire Fighters Treatment Unit and was hired on after graduation. Months later I was recruited by the Oregon Burn Center and started my career there in December 2001. I have worked as a bedside RN, Relief Charge Nurse, Wound Care Coordinator and am now a primary Charge Nurse who covers all positions as needed.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I absolutely love the teamwork that is unique to burn care. We cannot heal a patient without every team member actively working alongside the patient.

Tell us about a time that your involvement in the burn community had a significant impact on your career or life.

I was fortunate enough to take part in one of our aftercare programs. I got to spend 3 days and 4 nights kayaking with burn survivors whom I had taken care of over a span of 15 years. This was such a transformational experience. Connecting with prior patients, learning what their perception of their experience was, care that made an impact, care that did not have a positive impact and more. I presented my experience to the team upon my return.

Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t find on your LinkedIn profile.

I don’t have a Linked in profile. I love my career, where I work and what I do. I could not imagine doing anything else so I never felt the need to create a profile.