Mija Lee | Women in Construction

Note: After this article was published, TexasBit became Texas Materials. 

“For any nurse that wants to get out of the hospital setting and try something new, it’s so much fun.” – Mija Lee

Texas Materials is home to many construction jobs for women. Mija has been a nurse for 40 years, but this is her first time working as an occupational health nurse in construction. At first she wasn’t totally sure what she was getting into, though she quickly fell in love with the job. Watch her interview to learn more about what she enjoys about the role.

English transcription: Hello. My name’s Mija Lee. I’m the Occupational Health Nurse for TexasBit. I’ve been here for about seven months. It’s my first time with the construction industry, so, but I’ve been a nurse a long time, 40 years. The most important thing I’ve found at this time is just to get to know all the foremans, and then, you know, the superintendents, and just have good communication with them so that I need their support. You know, when I go out into the field, I didn’t really know what I was getting into. When I came for the interview, I just knew it was a construction material company. I sent a picture to my friend with me with the hard hat, and this truck where the tire was as tall as me. But, like, I tell the new nurses and I’m like, you’re gonna love it, it’s amazing because you’re out, and talking to people, getting to know them. Think like any nurse that wants to get out of the hospital setting and try something new, it’s so much fun.

Spanish transcription: Hola. Mi nombre es Mija Lee. Soy la enfermera de salud ocupacional de TexasBit. He estado aquí durante unos siete meses. Es mi primera vez en la industria de la construcción, pero he sido enfermera por mucho tiempo, 40 años. Lo más importante que he encontrado en este momento es solo conocer a todos los capataces, y luego a los superintendentes, y tener una buena comunicación con ellos por que necesito su apoyo. Cuando salgo al campo… Realmente no sabía en lo que me estaba metiendo. Cuando vine a la entrevista, solo sabía que era una empresa de materiales de construcción. Le envié una foto mía con el casco a mi amigo, y este camión donde el neumático era tan alto como yo. Pero, como les digo a las nuevas enfermeras “Os va a encantar, es increíble porque estáis fuera, y habláis con la gente, llegáis a conocerlos”. Piensa en cualquier enfermera que quiere salir del ambiente hospitalario y probar algo nuevo, es muy divertido.