Her Story
About Jessica
Jessica Decker serves as an emergency department nurse in Janesville, Wisconsin. With nearly 25 years of nursing experience, she spent 10 years in intensive care before transitioning to emergency nursing 14 years ago after relocating from the East Coast to the Midwest. She earned a master's degree and holds certifications in emergency nursing and trauma nursing. Decker is a member of the ENA and was previously a member of the Society of Trauma Nurses. Her career path began with an interest in law before she became a volunteer EMT, which led her to nursing. She has a passion for mentoring and teaching at the bedside and previously worked as an emergency department educator, where she partnered with local police to address violence in healthcare settings. Decker is preparing to transition into a role in medical evac and critical care transport. She attributes her success to her parents' emphasis on education and hard work, her faith, and her desire to set an example for her daughter.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jessica
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents who instilled a strong work ethic and encouraged me to get an education and work hard to be the best. I am very rooted in my faith in Jesus Christ and pray often for strength, guidance, and intelligence. My daughter is also a big inspiration as I have always wanted to set a good example for her.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Strive to be the best. And if you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room. As you get later into your career with a wider body of knowledge, it's helpful to remember that everybody in the room has something to contribute and brings new information and ideas.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Strive for balance in your life. Make sure you have something that grounds you. Make sure you keep yourself healthy. Check in with yourself frequently throughout your entire career. And strive to be strong clinically.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunities abound as nursing is expanding into new roles with more education and autonomy, and we are entering an AI arena which is an exciting new horizon. Challenges include integrating new technologies and ensuring they are well-tested with evidence for best practice, as well as social media leading to self-diagnosing which can skew the balance between listening to experts and objective data.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Autonomy of my patients is number one, and that life matters. We always choose life. Their autonomy and voice is valuable at every age, even the elderly, because just because folks get old does not make them incompetent or children.
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