My Mother was the inspiration to become a nurse, but it was my experiences helping my elderly aunt and uncle navigate the healthcare system that inspired me to become a nursing entrepreneur.
As I prepared to graduate from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, I was ready to embark on a career in sports journalism. However, what usually is an exciting time darkened as my Mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Only four months later, she died.
I had already started a job at the Philadelphia Inquirer – but my Mother’s treatment and death profoundly changed my perspective on my life and career. So, a year after her death, I applied for nursing school.
Because I already had a Bachelor of Arts degree and wanted to get exposure to nursing as quickly as possible, I enrolled in a diploma program. A diploma program allowed me to be hands-on and participate in clinical training sooner. This would help determine quickly if I was cut out for the demands of a nursing career. Fortunately, I loved the work and completed the diploma program.
Diversifying My Nursing Education
After several years in clinical nursing as a staff nurse and a weekend supervisor, I pursued a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree. However, I knew I didn’t want to go into nursing administration or teaching, so I decided not to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Instead, I wanted to diversify my education. I thought an MHA would provide a blend of business, healthcare, and administration courses required for a healthcare leadership role.
The MHA ultimately led to a wide range of jobs that would shape my future. For example, I worked as a healthcare consultant on software systems – traveling across the country and presenting technology solutions to nurses and hospital executives.
As a hospital cardiology department manager, I learned how valuable it was to provide a high level of service to patients. As a nursing supervisor in several hospitals, I created an environment that would help minimize conflict between patients, families, and hospital staff. Even my experience as a writer was helpful since it honed my ability to communicate with patients, nurses, and administrators.
Again, my education was the strong foundation for these experiences. But as my Mom inspired me to pursue nursing, my experiences helping my elderly aunt and uncle navigate the healthcare system inspired me to become a nursing entrepreneur.
As a result, in 2003, I founded Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates to provide patients with a knowledgeable resource, empower them to ask more questions, and advocate for their care. Nurses know how the healthcare system works and can make the system work for patients. The nurse ensures patients receive timely, high-quality care. Predictably, that leads to better patient outcomes, which results in cost savings for the client.
Starting a business is risky and challenging, but my education, particularly the MHA, gave me the knowledge and confidence to not only get it off the ground but, over the past 19 years, grow it into a company of more than 50 employees who serve thousands of patients across the U.S.
