It makes me feel really good to say that "I work for Mayo Clinic." A lot of people look up to the Mayo Clinic. It makes you feel good to say you are a part of it and in our area, we run into the same people over and over; we get to see their progress ... that means a lot to us.

I transport patients using wheelchairs or cart throughout the campus. It involves taking them to and from their clinic appointments or if a hospital patient, it involves transferring them from the bed to a cart or chair and taking them to their appointment. We work with wheelchairs, hospital carts, IV poles and oxygen. We also work with monitor carts, which requires us to work with a nurse as we move the patient. I see part of our job as a public relations person. We meet several people daily, and many times, we are the first person they see. I really enjoy meeting and talking with the patients. I enjoy meeting people from all over the United States and other countries. Everyone is so different but it is so easy to find something in common to talk about. I also enjoy being out and about; one thing about our position, we move around a lot and see the whole campus.

This is a job that someone could be hired right out of high school, as I was. It is on-the-job training; they do a terrific job of training and working with an employee until they feel they are ready to go out on their own. I think you have to be very aggressive, very outgoing, and need to be understanding and caring as you are working directly with sick people. You are going to have patients that are crying or are very upset, you have to be able to comfort them and actually take the time to talk to them. You have to be very understanding. A lot of people are quite a ways away from home and a lot of people come by themselves, you have to take your time and help each individual person; sometimes be willing to go the extra mile to improve the patient's day.

Some growth opportunities exist in our department, but not a lot. One thing about our department is that you are exposed to other areas of work; you may learn about a new career you would like to try. If there is an interest, that option is always available to you.