Her Story
About Grace
I've been working as a registered nurse for 4 years in the Central Valley of California, which is a pretty big ag community. I work at a children's hospital as a pediatric ICU nurse, taking care of some of the community's sickest children. This job is super, super rewarding, and also can be really heartbreaking at times. It's kind of funny, because I didn't really ever think that I would be a pediatric nurse - I kind of just fell into it. My roommate at the time when I was graduating worked at the hospital that I work at now, and there were rapid interviews that they were doing. I ended up interviewing, and I really loved the management who was interviewing me. They have a very supportive culture for nurses where I work, and really, it's the people that I work with - the most collaborative, uplifting, and supportive team that I've ever experienced. Even travelers that come to our hospital are like, 'This hospital is the best place I've ever worked at, in comparison to other children's hospitals.' Now I'm so happy that I've chosen pediatrics, because it truly is something I'm so passionate about, but it kind of was a passion that developed over the years. I'm also in nurse practitioner school and will graduate in October, hoping to work with families in the future.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Grace
01What do you attribute your success to?
Really, being grounded through my faith, being hardworking, and just doing good work of integrity. I think it's important to do the best work that you're able to do and maintain integrity in everything you do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is from one of my mentors, who challenged me to just take things slow. Otherwise, you will have to go back and redo it. So, being very methodical and intentional with your decisions and choices, so that you don't make any mistakes and have to go back. It just reminds me to be more aware when I'm doing something, be very intentional, and just not be kind of rushing through things, but really taking my time and being present.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be okay with starting small. You don't need the big, massive job to be successful, and it's about the small wins - the little, little actions of hard work over time that really build your career. So don't be afraid to start small. You don't have too much pride to do the quote-unquote small job that you are afraid to do. You just kind of dive headfirst.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think that integrative medicine is a big opportunity. So, focusing on preventative measures, working on changing people's diets and lifestyles to promote health, and really getting to the root causes of disease, rather than prescribing medications for their symptoms, but really getting to the origin of the issue. I think that's a big emerging field in medicine that's super exciting and something that I want to be a part of. As for challenges, when you're working really hard for something and you don't quite see the results, you just have to keep pushing. I've seen that, juggling so much, and I'm not really seeing the end results of all my hard work yet, so it's hard, but you just have to keep continuing on because you know that the end is in sight, and that it'll all be worth it.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
A big value that's important to me is integrity, and just doing the best work that you're able to do. Being grounded through my faith is also really important to me, as well as being hardworking and doing good work of integrity.
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