Her Story
About Alicia
Alicia Ngubane serves as Assistant Director of Nursing at Nexus Healthcare Management, specializing in healthcare leadership and education. She entered the field of long-term care and long-term acute care in 2014 after working as a certified nursing assistant for about nine years. Seeking to teach and coach, she obtained her registered nursing license and bachelor's degree. Within six months of her first nursing position, corporate leadership recognized her potential and offered her the Assistant Director of Nursing role. Ngubane is a registered nurse and former CPR instructor. She attributes her professional success primarily to her spirituality and the support of her parents. In her personal time, she volunteers monthly with the Mental Health Coalition in Chicago, focusing on homelessness and hospital readmissions, and periodically at an elderly community center. Ngubane emphasizes values of veracity, honesty, boldness, and authenticity in her work and life, advising aspiring nurses to begin at entry-level positions to build respect and empathy.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alicia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would first, before all others, I would say God. I'm not very religious, I'm more spiritual. I would also say, of course, my parents. I mean, they... I'm still a brat right now. I still call for everything.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Well, I would say, start low and end high. You have to start at the bottom, or else no one will respect you, and you won't understand where they're coming from. I've met nurses that have never been CNAs, and you can tell.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
For opportunities, I would say, because I'm a bit younger, I think there's a chance for us to reform healthcare if we really stick together. The challenge is there's a huge thing in healthcare right now... You have to leave some... I just say half and half. Leave half of your heart at home.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say Veracity, and just be vivacious, be bold, be yourself. Just being honest, being honest with one another, being honest with ourselves... Just understanding why you're doing what you're doing.
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