Jini Valiaveetil Oral History Interview

DESCRIPTION
Jini Valiaveettil is a Malayalee American nurse based in Los Angeles. For many years, she resisted what she believed to be a "Malu trope" of becoming a nurse, but after years of working in human resources and with a desire to build her own family, Jini reassessed her career. She discovered a new appreciation for the impact and stability she saw so many Malayalee women, including her own mom, create for their communities. After completing her nursing degree at Chamberlain University, Jini worked in med-surge for 5 years before switching to intensive care.

As a nurse, she takes great pride in her patient care, awarding her countless Daisy nominations (an award that is based on patient submissions). Jini moved to California with her husband and two sons where she worked in a leadership role for the COVID units for all of the pandemic. When the pandemic first hit, Jini was scared but hopeful, encouraging her coworkers to stay positive. She shares the heartbreaking and gut wrenching reality of working in dire situations, makeshift units, chaotic shifts and personal loss. Jini lost her coworker and close friend tragically to COVID, and she candidly shares the mental toll witnessing so much traumatic loss has created for her own capacity to remains resilient. Despite the difficult days, Jini remained dedicated to her team and her patients, exemplifying the cultural and spiritual values she grew up with.

In this slideshow, you will see:
Jini and coworkers suited up at work.

Jini's favorite job as a Mom of her two sons. Becoming a mother inspired her to become a nurse.

AUDIO
Duration: 01:04:05

ADDITIONAL METADATA
Date: February 23, 2022
Subject(s): Jini Valiaveettil
Type: Oral History
Source: Archival Creators Fellowship Program
Creator: Roshni Shah
Contributor: Jini Valiaveettil
Location: Los Angeles , CA

PROVENANCE
Collection: Roshni Shah Fellowship Project
Donor: Jini Valiaveettil
Item History: 2022-06-17 (created); 2022-07-12 (modified)

* This digital object may not be sold or redistributed, copied or distributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media without express written consent from the copyright holder and the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. If you are the rightful copyright holder of this item and its use online constitutes an infringement of your copyright, please contact us by email at copyright@saada.org to discuss its removal from the archive.