Each Tuesday, The Citizen features a health professional from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks:

This week, we spotlight Laurie Nagell of Auburn Memorial Hospital.

Laurie Nagell

Age: 35

Hometown: Waterloo

Family: Son, Christopher

Education: Two years nursing associates degree at Cayuga Community College.

Occupation: Nurse in the emergency room at Auburn Memorial Hospital

Hobbies: Camping, traveling, reading

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A. Knowing that you're part of a team that helps people.

Q. What is the most challenging?

A. Dealing with grieving people and feeling helpless.

Q. Describe your ideal patient.

A. A person who enjoys some humor.

Q. When you're sick, would you like someone like you to be your doctor?

A. I'm not sure, it depends on how sick I am.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you could give someone to stay healthy?

A. Take nothing for granted. Try to exercise and just be happy.

Q. What is the most common misconception you hear from patients about their health?

A. That a prescribed pill is an instant cure. There is no such thing as an instant cure.

Q. If you weren't in the health care field, what career would you be in?

A. Law.

Q. For someone considering a career in the health industry, what advice would you give them?

A. Finish what you start and get as much education as possible.

Q. What is your ideal cure for the common cold?

A. Tylenol, a warm blanket, my remote control and a quiet kid.

Q. If you could select anyone in the world to be your next patient, who would they be?

A. Oprah Winfrey. She's a remarkable, well-rounded, cultured and kind person.

Q. Despite being in the health care field, people would probably be surprised that when I'm off the job, I_______.

A. I don't follow the advice that I dispense to others.

- Maddy Van Horn-Manitta