Cedars-Sinai Blog
Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Patient Transporter Narkie Opong
Patient transporter Narkie Opong in her favorite thrift store find.
Narkie Opong might log in 13,000 steps during a typical day as a Cedars-Sinai hospital patient transporter.
With a friendly smile and a wheelchair in hand, Narkie is ready to strike up a conversation with patients as she moves them to different areas of the hospital.
Her favorite place to take them? Their car, after they've been discharged.
In her spare time, the LA native runs an online clothing thrift shop and studies to become a nurse practitioner.
We caught up with the 28-year-old to talk about how she juggles all her passions and what inspires them.
What led you to become a transporter?
Narkie Opong: I was working at Cedars-Sinai as a food service technician, but I wanted to use my degree in child and adolescent development and applied developmental science.
My manager was very supportive and found me this part-time job as a patient transporter. It was the perfect transition to the hands-on experience I need for my future career as a pediatric nurse practitioner.
What's the most exciting aspect of your job?
NO: When I get to hang out with a kid, my world lights up. I always make it a point to ask them fun questions about their favorite foods, movies, or what they want to do when they get home.
Most kids are scared of being in the hospital, so it's my job to make them feel as comfortable as possible within the limited time I have with them.
Why do you want to be a pediatric nurse practitioner?
NO: My goal was actually to become a pediatrician, but sometimes life takes you in a different direction!
A friend of mine was on his path to becoming a nurse and told me about it. I already knew I wanted to work with kids and being a nurse would still allow me to do that.
I started by shadowing a pediatric nurse practitioner who I met at Cedars-Sinai. After that experience, I knew being a pediatric nurse practitioner is exactly what I was meant to do.
How do you juggle working, studying, and running a business?
NO: I make sure to have a lot of conversations with family and friends, and I write everything down.
My faith also has kept me grounded as I apply to nursing programs, build my business, and work with patients. Even when times are tough, it has helped me stay aligned and focused.
Where did you get this drive to be a clothing entrepreneur?
NO: Before I started my business venture, my mother had consistently provided real-life business advice. She had an African clothing shop in the late 1980s and a couple of years later, she opened a beauty supply and salon.
The salon taught me a lot about retail. I've also gained social media experience through this because I run the salon's Instagram account.
What is your best thrift find?
NO: The red cardigan/jacket that I'm wearing. You can dress it up or dress it down. You can also button it or unbutton it. The transparency of the jacket is what attracted me to it. Plus, it's fun and colorful—just like me.
Narkie's facts of life
- Life lessons learned: "Be content with where you are, work with what you have, and have patience."
- What her name means: "Prosperity in the language spoken by the Gaa Adangbe tribe in Ghana, West Africa—where my parents are from."
- What her business name means: "TwentySix4 is my birthday and my business partner's birthday combined."
- Inspiration: "My family. They're always encouraging me."
- On her nightstand: "Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie."
- Favorite hiking trail: "Eaton Canyon in Pasadena."
- Favorite place to eat in LA: "Bossa Nova, a Brazilian restaurant."
- Bucket list: "I've got an itch to travel to Asia. I can't wait to see the clothes they have there!"
