Featured Nurse Profile Linda Brumfield, M.Ed, RN, MICN Senior Nursing Instructor, Los Angeles County Fire Department Air & Wildland Division / Forestry Division

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Where do you live? 

I live in Altadena California, which is part of unincorporated Los Angeles County. It is located just north of Pasadena at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Altadena has a homey country feel with few paved sidewalks and plenty of horse property. It is the most racially and economically mixed area there is and truly the patch work quilt of America's culture.

What do you do for fun? 

At one time, I was a bodybuilder and won “Miss Venice Beach” contest. Currently, I practice QI Gong, garage sale shopping and gardening.  I’ve created a serenity garden at my home with a deck, pond and waterfall.

I go to estate sales and rescue plants that someone must have cared for and nurtured for many years. I place them in my serenity garden and try to provide the same love and attention I think their previous owners did. I also spend 5 nights a week supporting my 9 year old son in Tae Kwon Do.  My latest hobby is attending end of life care classes and seminars, hoping to pursue hospice nursing once I retire from emergency nursing. 

Why did you decide to be a nurse? 

When I graduated from high school, I wanted to be a teacher.  My mom was a teacher and felt that teachers didn’t get the gratitude they deserved. She encouraged me to be a nurse. I trained at a county hospital and among other things, learned how to make house shoes out of newspaper for my patients.  I learned how to be loving and compassionate to those in need.  During nursing school, I’d hang out in the Emergency Department and worked as an EMT.  I’ve been in Emergency Medicine for 35 yrs.  For 25 of those years I’ve taught and trained firefighters, EMTs and paramedics.

What about your education? 

I went to St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing and graduated in 1976. My undergraduate work was at Chapman University and graduate studies at Pacific Christian College.  My Master’s Degree in Education focused on integrated curriculums and transcultural education.

Where do you work? 

I am blessed to work for an “exemplary organization”, the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  I am responsible for EMS Continuing Education and Quality Improvement for the Air and Wildland Division and Forestry.  The Air Operation’s Section provides 24/7 Air Squads to Los Angeles County and are equipped for multi-missions.

The Wildland Section is responsible for managing fire suppression camps and heavy equipment.  The Forestry Division is responsible for conservation and protection of natural resources through its forestry programs. 

All sections fulfill a significant role for California wildland fires and are utilized throughout the state. My students include EMTs or paramedic firefighters, pilots, foresters and heavy equipment operators. I have the greatest nursing/teaching job in the world.  The gratitude I feel is beyond measure.

What’s the most important issue facing nursing or healthcare in your mind?

As any ED nurse would say, overcrowding of emergency rooms due to inadequate access to healthcare and insurance is a big issue.  People come to us who are suffering and need help. We can’t turn them away. In the long run, everyone suffers. 

Who your biggest influence is in life and/or career?

My biggest influence in life is my mother.  She was proud of her profession as a teacher and managed to overcome the neglect and lack of resources in public schools.  She never made house shoes out of newspaper, but she would copy materials from my privileged school to help teach her students, who didn’t have adequate resources. I know that their lives were better because of my Mom’s love and compassion.  Now, I get to follow in her foot steps as a nurse and teacher. 

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