Major: Nursing
Class of: 2014
Job Title: RN, BSN
Hometown: Brecksville, OH
Currently Located: Cleveland, OH
1) What is your job?
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
2) What has life been like post-graduation?
Life is good, I promise. Otterbein was undoubtedly some of the best four years of my life, and nothing will change that. Admittedly, joining the adult/real world is tough, especially after leaving Otterbein. My job brings challenges every day, constantly switching back and fourth between night and day shift, and working overtime often is difficult. However I’ve recently married my high school sweet heart, and I work for the #3 ranked NICU in the US. I have been in the NICU for over a year now and some former patients come back for visits; seeing how I’ve made a difference in their lives is indescribably rewarding.
3) What advice do you have for current students?
I really recommend for all students, nursing majors and otherwise, to apply for an intern or
externship. With excellent training from the nursing department and career preparation from the Center for Career & Professional Development, I was fortunate enough to have an externship with UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s hospital the summer leading into my senior year. The externship allowed me to experience different specialties in nursing, which lead me to find my passion in nursing- the NICU. I loved working for University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s and when it came to find a job after graduation, my previous externship experience gave me the competitive
edge to land the job in the NICU.
4) How has your vision of your future transformed or changed since starting college?
When I left Otterbein, I was convinced that I would eventually go back to school and become a
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. However after working very closely with our NNP in the NICU, I’ve
realized that I love bedside nursing too much to leave that position any time soon. I also found
that I love teaching nursing students who shadow me, and maybe I will get my masters and
teach nursing someday.
5) What are the most important skills students in your field should start to develop now?
Communication skills. I say that because Otterbein teaches you plenty of nursing skills, but one
of the most important skills that is not always associated with nursing is communication;
Communication between you and your patients, coworkers, and the medical team. You are
your patient’s medical advocate, and you need to be able clearly communicate to the medical
team, whether it be 5pm or 3am, in order to ensure you are giving the very best care for your
patients.
6) What are your plans and goals for the future?
I plan to further my nursing career at Rainbow Babies and Children’s for four years at least.
My husband is in medical school and once he starts a residency program somewhere, I will look
into going back to graduate school for my masters. Who knows, maybe we will end up back in
Columbus and I’ll come back to Otterbein for graduate school.
7) What Otterbein experience has benefited you the most in your career?
That’s a tough one, because Otterbein has shaped so much of who I am. I would say my
experiences as a Cardinal Corps Leader (CCL) through the Center for Community Engagement
(CCE) strengthened my leadership skills and the importance of helping others in the community.
My job as a healthcare worker is founded on helping & healing those in our community and from
all over the world.
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