Her Story
About Mariana
I've been working in healthcare for 33 years, and it's been an incredible journey. I originally wanted to go to medical school because I've always loved helping people heal and trying to make things better when they're going through hard times, especially health crises. I started medical school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I was born, but after three years I realized it was too intense for me. So I transitioned to surgical tech school, finished that, and then went on to nursing school. I moved to the United States in 2002 and worked for 10 years at Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, New Jersey. After the pandemic hit in 2020, which was a traumatic experience at the hospital, I decided to try something different and moved to Florida where some of my nurse friends had already relocated. I had bariatric surgery in 2023, but developed complications with malabsorption of vitamins and minerals that led to neuropathic issues, so I wasn't able to return to the OR. Now I work as the assistant to the nurse manager of the OR at Advent Health Celebration, helping with assignments for our 28 employees, onboarding, orientation, and education. I'm also involved in the SkillBridge program with the Department of Defense, which helps transitioning military surgical techs get positions in civilian life. What I'm most proud of is being able to work full-time and go to school at night to graduate as a registered nurse. I'm currently working on getting my license endorsed here in Florida so I can contribute even more before retirement, possibly in education.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mariana
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
To trust in themselves. That will be the best thing they can do, because every knowledge, every education, every part of life that you go through, the best that you could do is acknowledge that and put it into work when you need it. Nobody else can help you go through any situation but you. You can go through anything in life, and then you can adjust the best way that you can for whatever feels for you, that is the best outcome that you can get. My only advice is to try to be truthful, always truthful. Don't hide anything that goes wrong. It doesn't work like that.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.