Christina Bull is a nurse practitioner in WakeMed Heart & Vascular - Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. Take five minutes to get to know her in this inviting question and answer session.
Q: Tell us about your background and career.
I’m naturally curious, and I never want to stop learning. I grew up in New Hampshire, where I graduated early from high school and entered directly into a nursing program. Nursing was the perfect fit for my personality and interests because it allowed me to help others while studying biological sciences. I passed my nursing board exam at age 19 and worked for 10 years as a nurse before going back to school to become a nurse practitioner. While many career nurses choose to work in administrative roles over time, I wanted to maintain my focus on direct, patient-facing care because it’s what I love the most – and that’s why I chose to pursue my nurse practitioner degree.
Q: Can you describe your role and how you support heart surgery patients?
I support our Tele Heart Care program, which is a unique offering for our open-heart and heart-valve surgery patients. We’re able to address patients’ post-operative medical concerns as well as the emotional toll of their recent experiences by staying connected with them virtually in the days and weeks that follow surgery. It’s extremely fulfilling to help patients and families through this important time and a privilege I take very seriously.
Q: How has the Tele Heart Care program been received by patients and families?
They absolutely love it. They feel so comforted to know they have someone to connect with after their procedure. In many cases, it just gives them peace of mind, but in other cases, Tele Heart Care helps keep
patients from having complications that may land them back in the hospital or the emergency room. Overall, it’s improved the experience for patients and families and our entire team is so committed.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in the complex field of heart surgery?
I can’t imagine working in another area of medicine. While complex, caring for patients and families through cardiac surgery is wildly rewarding. The ability to see people through a medically and emotionally difficult time is a privilege that the whole team takes to heart.
Bull brings more than 20 years of experience to her role as a nurse practitioner supporting heart surgery patients. It’s through her work with the Tele Heart Care program that Bull connects with cardiovascular surgery patients to provide additional care.