Maria Weinstein, MSN, BS, RN, NE-BC

I attribute much of my success to the example set by my parents. My family immigrated from Chile when I was five years old. My parents came to the United States as educated professionals, yet they had to begin again with very little. I watched them work countless hours to ensure that my brother and I always had a roof over our heads, food on the table, and, most importantly, a home filled with love. Although we did not have much materially, I remember my childhood as incredibly happy and full of love.

My parents taught us that education could open doors and create opportunities that circumstances might otherwise limit. They encouraged us to pursue our education, become professionals, and use what we learned to contribute meaningfully to society. But their message was never simply about earning a degree or achieving professional success. They wanted us to find something we were genuinely passionate about. They believed that when you build a career around something you truly love, work becomes more than a job, it becomes a purpose.

That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life. For me, nursing is that purpose. It is more than my profession, it is a mission and a privilege. Even on the most challenging days, I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve patients, support nurses and healthcare teams, develop future leaders, and contribute to improving healthcare. I still come to work with a smile because I recognize how fortunate I am to do work that I genuinely love.

My parents taught me the value of hard work, education, perseverance, gratitude, and service. Those values have shaped not only what I have accomplished, but also the kind of leader and person I strive to be.

The best career advice I’ve received is to not react solely from a place of emotion, but instead to remain curious, ask questions, and seek to understand where others are coming from. We are all human, and emotions are naturally part of how we experience situations. But some of the greatest opportunities for growth come when we take the time to listen before responding.

I’ve learned that meeting people where they are is one of the most important qualities of an effective leader. Leadership is not about me or my individual success; it is about the impact we have on others and what we can accomplish together.

Collaboration has been essential throughout my career. In healthcare, we work alongside people from different generations, cultures, backgrounds, disciplines, and experiences. We may not always see things the same way, but I believe there is almost always common ground to be found. When we approach one another with curiosity, respect, and a genuine desire to understand, we can find that common ground and build something meaningful from it.

Ultimately, I’ve learned to listen first, seek to understand, and recognize that the greatest successes are rarely achieved alone.

Work hard, stay focused, and never allow anyone to put out your flame. Your journey will not always be easy. Along the way, you will encounter people who believe in you, encourage you, and genuinely want to see you succeed. You may also encounter people who question your abilities, challenge your confidence, or are simply not as supportive of the path you have chosen.

What I would tell every young woman is to remember that this is your journey, no one else’s. Do not allow someone else’s opinion to diminish your passion or determine what you believe you are capable of achieving.

If you have found something that gives you purpose and you truly believe in the mission behind what you are doing, keep going. There will be obstacles, setbacks, and moments when you question yourself, but those moments do not define your potential. Stay passionate, continue to work hard, surround yourself with people who help you grow, and keep your eye on the goal.

Most importantly, protect that flame. Let it evolve and grow, but never allow someone else to extinguish it.

I believe one of the greatest opportunities for nursing right now is strengthening our voice in advocacy and healthcare policy. Nurses are uniquely positioned because we see firsthand where the gaps exist, not only at the bedside, but within our communities and across the healthcare system. We understand the barriers our patients face, from being uninsured or underinsured to lacking access to primary and preventive care. With that knowledge comes a professional responsibility to be part of the solution.

I would like to see more nurses recognize the influence they can have beyond the bedside by becoming involved in advocacy, policy development, research, and decisions that shape healthcare delivery and population health. When nurses have a seat at the table, we can help ensure that policies reflect the realities and needs of the patients and communities we serve.

At the same time, one of our ongoing challenges is ensuring that the full scope and value of the nursing profession are understood and recognized. Nursing has evolved tremendously. Today, nurses serve not only as caregivers, but also as advanced practice providers, researchers, scientists, educators, innovators, and healthcare executives. We have doctorally prepared nurses and advanced practice nurses providing highly specialized care and practicing with significant autonomy.

Our opportunity now is to continue advancing the profession by ensuring nurses are empowered to practice to the fullest extent of their education, training, and expertise. Nursing has an incredibly powerful voice. We need to use that voice—not only to advocate for our profession, but more importantly, to advocate for our patients and the health of our communities.

Integrity is number one for me because everything begins with trust. Whether in my professional or personal life, I believe people need to know that your words and your actions align, that you will do what you say you are going to do, and that you will make the right decision even when no one is watching.

I also deeply value passion, understanding, and compassion. In healthcare, clinical knowledge and technical expertise are incredibly important, but how we treat people matters just as much. I often tell my leadership teams when they are hiring, “We can teach the skill, but we can’t teach the heart.”

Someone can have 20 years of experience and an impressive résumé, but if they do not genuinely care about people, that is much more difficult to overcome. Skills can be developed. Knowledge can be gained. But compassion, kindness, and the desire to serve others come from within.

That philosophy has guided me throughout my career: I hire heart, and I teach the skill. I believe that when you bring together people who have both the heart to care and the commitment to grow, you create teams that can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.