Her Story
About Alecha
Alecha Palmer is a Perioperative Nurse at WellSpan Health in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, where she has served since January 2022. She prepares patients for procedures and surgeries, administers pre-operative medications, and starts IVs. After procedures, she manages pain and nausea, provides discharge teaching, and conducts pre-admission phone calls. She holds specialty certifications for each department in which she has worked. Alecha's nursing career grew from an unexpected beginning. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology/Animal Biology from North Carolina State University in 2012. Life circumstances, including a move back home with her mother, then led her to Fayetteville State University, where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2016. She began nursing in 2017 as a mother-baby nurse at Cape Fear Valley Health System in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She later worked as a registered nurse supervisor at HCR ManorCare and as a medical-surgical nurse in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, before moving into perioperative care. From October 2022 to August 2024, she also worked part-time as a Clinical Nurse Educator. In that role she created competency assessments and training materials and led sessions on evidence-based practice. Guided by hard work, integrity, compassion, and a commitment to avoiding shortcuts, Alecha has chosen to keep growing as a bedside caregiver. She finds meaning in helping patients understand their care and in supporting the development of fellow nurses. Outside of work, she serves in church and community ministry with her husband, enjoys crafting, and treasures time with her daughter.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alecha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and a refusal to take shortcuts. I began with a degree in Zoology, but life took me in a different direction, and I returned to school for Nursing after moving back home with my mother. Nearly ten years later, I am doing work I love. I have continued building my expertise through hands-on experience and specialty certifications, and I find real fulfillment in educating patients and fellow nurses. I measure my success by the quality of care I provide and the people I am able to help, not by titles or awards.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have followed is to work hard, stay focused, and not let distractions or unrealistic expectations derail my goals. My own move from Zoology into Nursing taught me to stay open to a different path when circumstances change. I believe success comes through consistent effort rather than shortcuts, and I encourage others to stay committed to their goals even when the healthcare environment becomes demanding.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Work hard and do not get lost in the politics and other distractions that can pull you off course. Remember why you entered the field and deliver the best possible care to your patients. Healthcare brings pressure and competing expectations, so keep your perspective, continue learning, and keep developing your skills. A fulfilling career can grow from an unexpected beginning, as mine did.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is the unrealistic expectations placed on healthcare professionals from every direction, including patients, management, and colleagues, which can make it hard to deliver the best care. The opportunity is to stay diligent and never lose sight of why we entered the field. Nursing also offers ongoing opportunities for specialization, continuing education, and professional growth. I have chosen to stay in bedside care, where I can help patients directly.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work, I value doing the best for my patients, being honest with them, acting with integrity, and being a good person. I take pride in being dependable and committed to those who rely on me. My approach to nursing is built on patient care, education, and service, and my church ministry reflects the importance I place on faith and community. The values that guide me are hard work, integrity, compassion, service, commitment, patience, family, faith, education, and dedication to others.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.