They dedicate their lives to helping others. They're caretakers, educators
and sources of comfort to patients in pain and in need. Nursing isn't
just a career; it's a calling.
Present at birth, end of life and throughout so many moments in between,
nurses provide compassionate care, support, kindness and dignity, while
ministering to the whole person. In honor of National Nurses Week, St.
Joseph Health thanks all of our nurses for their commitment and dedication
to improving the health and quality of life for those in our communities.
We invited our nurses to tell us what inspired them to become nurses and
what they love about their profession.
Here's what they said:
"I am a nurse because I have always known that I want to help others and
serve those in need. I knew ever since I was 7 that I was going to be
nurse. Caring for others is very fulfilling for me. I tell people that
nursing chose me, I did not choose it. It is truly my life's calling.
I am proud to be a nurse and even prouder to work at St. Mary in the Wound
Care Center and Center for Hyperbaric Medicine. Wound care is challenging
and the patients are so appreciative. I love going to classes and seminars
to further my education. Being a nurse is so dear to my heart. I am proud
and thrilled every day to work side by side with other fantastic, dedicated
nurses. Saving lives and touching the lives of patients means everything
to me."
–
Kelly Lucero, licensed vocational nurse,
St. Joseph Health, St. Mary
"I grew up as a kid watching and sometimes helping my Grandpa check
his glucose daily. I observed his health decline. He was always in and
out of the hospital for multiple falls and hyperglycemia. After seeing
how fast his health declined and how short-lived his life was, I decided
to change my career from being a dentist to becoming a nurse. I could
have been a police officer like my dad but I thought to myself, nursing
is a lot more rewarding. I vowed to try and live by Bob Marley's quote,
'The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but
in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively',
and so here I am."
–
Jeffrey Egenias, licensed vocational nurse care manager, CAREconnect, Yorba Linda
“I am a nurse because I have been called by God to this vocation.
I believe God uniquely and divinely equipped me for this sacred work.
I love challenge and change. I am drawn to service and science. I knew
I had to spend my days making an eternal impact. I love connecting with
people. The blend of art and science in nursing in order to care for the
whole person - body, mind, and spirit - is a perfect fit for me.”
–
Jessica Maples, nurse manager, Palliative Medicine Unit,
Covenant Health
“I became a nurse because I was attracted to the mix of healing and science
from a very young age. I had a great health teacher in the eighth grade
who got me hooked on anatomy and physiology. In high school, I volunteered
as a candy striper at a nursing home, and I loved talking with all the
patients and hearing their stories. I was sure that I wanted to be a nurse.
I truly enjoyed my time as a bedside nurse and still call upon much of
the experience I gained from working with patients to this day.”
–
Deborah Proctor, president and CEO,
St. Joseph Health
“I want to make a difference in a person's life. I want to comfort,
console, and allow each patient the ability to heal in the comfort of
their cultural beliefs and practices. I can still remember a congenital
case where a mom was trying to wrap a rosary around her daughter’s
hand just before going into surgery and requesting a prayer for her and
the team. These are the kind of cultural beliefs that make our patients
unique, and this is why I am a nurse and love the community I serve.”
–
Sonia Valdez,
3N
medical manager,
St. Joseph Hospital, Orange
St. Joseph Health is grateful to the men and women of our nursing community.
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our patients each and
every day.