Felicia Spears knew early on working with kids was her calling. Growing up, she enjoyed babysitting and sought out opportunities during high school to work with children on the autism spectrum. She is certified as a registered behavioral technician (RBT).
Felicia always had a goal to work at Texas Children’s because it’s a hospital specifically for children. She persevered through a challenging job search during the pandemic and was offered an opportunity to become a patient sitter. In that role, she supervised individual patients, sometimes for eight to 12 hours a day providing emotional support and companionship before and after treatment. She also ensured the patient’s safety and provided relief for family members and loved ones.
“What a day as a patient sitter is like depends on the child,” Felicia said. “Some may be challenging due to mental health concerns while others are quieter and reserved.”
Proving herself from the start, Felicia was promoted within a year to Patient Care Assistant (PCA). The transition involved offsite workshops and hands-on learning from other PCAs at Texas Children’s designed to ensure our patients receive the most experienced care possible. She works in the float pool and is exposed to different units.
Felicia doesn’t have a favorite unit but appreciates working in the PICU for its many learning opportunities and said it’s the best part of her new role. She is enjoying more responsibility, plus tackling time management while attending to the needs of multiple patients. She’s not sure what the future holds, but is open to whatever comes next.
“I’m not sure I’ll pursue nursing certification, but I know at Texas Children’s the opportunity for advancement is there and, in the PCA role, I will never stop learning,” Felicia said.
Texas Children’s is not just a place to have a job; we want you to build your career with us. We’re always looking for great talent. Please feel free to refer people to our Texas Children’s People careers site to search for open positions.
Through our E.A.R.N. (Everyone is A Recruiter Now) program, team members can receive a $1,000 referral incentive for any candidate they refer who becomes a member of our One Amazing Team. Team members can also receive up to $5,000 for referring candidates who join our team in one of our featured jobs. To learn more about E.A.R.N., click here.
