Donate to Linda Aug's Scholarship for Nursing!
Many nurses enter the nursing profession because they want to help others, take care of those in need, or bring a smile to those who are needing comfort during a difficult time.
I was drawn to nursing from another angle. I loved nurses! My first experience with nurses were actually two of my mother’s friends. When they weren’t at home making dinner or chasing kids home to dinner - they were working in a doctors office and at the local hospital. At ten years old one was at my side when I needed stitches and another at my bedside when I had my tonsils out. As a ten-year-old little girl, these two nurses made me feel safe. Not only because they were my mother's friends but they were nurses!
At 31 years old I found myself surrounded by nurses once again. A routine gallbladder surgery resulted in a ten-day hospital stay. It was a turning point in my life. The nurses told me to walk the halls as much as possible. I was an honor student in getting out of bed and ambulating while pushing my IV pole. Little did the nurses know my driving force behind being such a good patient was them! I wanted to watch them work, listen to them talk to their patients, hear them on the phone with the doctor, listen to their laughter and watch their close teamwork. By the time I was discharged from the hospital, I said to my husband “I want to become a nurse.”
I started college for the first time at age 32 with the support of my husband and three small children. It took me 5 years to achieve my AA degree in Nursing. St. Rose Hospital was the hospital I chose for my preceptorship. My choice again was driven by the nurses who worked there. Not only were they wonderful mentors and teachers- but more importantly it was clear they loved their profession and had a passion for working together. I was jumping for joy when I was offered a full-time job at St Rose Hospital.
My nursing career at St Rose Hospital was a succession of opportunities where doors opened for me leading me towards more nurses. After 11 years as a bedside RN in the Medical/Surgical Department, I had an opportunity to work in the Education and Training Department where my main job was to train newly hired nurses and monitor on-going competencies. This position was my first clue that working with nurses was my calling. I thrived on mentoring the newly hired RN and watching them achieve a successful preceptorship. I was inspired by those nurses who were dedicated to their profession and stimulated by their need for ongoing education and training.
More doors opened which led me back to the Medical/Surgical/Telemetry Department as a Nursing Supervisor for 8 years, which led to the manager position for the last 6 years of my career. It was through these positions I had the pleasure and honor of being involved in the FACES for the Future program. I was able to welcome FACES students onto the hospital floors and give them an opportunity to explore the climate and culture of nursing in the hospital setting. The program offered these young students an enormous and valuable opportunity to discover and explore healthcare as a career path.
I have fond memories of having FACES students in my office sharing their hopes and dreams of entering the medical profession. Little did they know how much they fed my heart to continue to share the value in becoming a nurse.
I am a nurse who loved nursing because of nurses. It is my complete honor to participate in the FACES for the Future scholarship program. Nurses helping Nurses. Just like my mother’s two friends.
Linda Aug