Her Story
About Mary
Mary Strickland is an Associate Instructor in the LPN Program at Baptist Health College, where she has educated future nurses since 2022. With more than 35 years of experience in healthcare and practicing as a nurse practitioner since 1999, she brings extensive clinical expertise and a passion for developing the next generation of nursing professionals. Her teaching emphasizes respiratory care, pulmonary medicine, gerontology, and compassionate patient-centered practice.
Prior to entering nursing education, Mary dedicated 15½ years to serving veterans as an Advanced Practice Nurse with the VA Health Care System in Little Rock. During that time, she specialized in pulmonary medicine and home-based primary care, managing a COPD clinic, coordinating home oxygen therapy and lung transplant services, and caring for geriatric patients in their homes. Earlier in her career, she also spent ten years teaching in the public school system, further strengthening her educational foundation.
Mary earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She maintains a strong commitment to compassionate care, professionalism, and lifelong learning. Guided by her Christian faith, she is passionate about serving others through nursing, education, and medical mission work while inspiring future healthcare professionals to lead with empathy and excellence.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my unwavering dedication to serving others, my passion for caring for veterans, and my commitment to teaching future nurses with compassion and empathy. My Christian faith has also been a constant source of strength and guidance throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was, "Hang in there—you'll get through this." That encouragement helped me persevere through difficult seasons, including the loss of my husband after 46 years of marriage, and reminded me that resilience and the support of others can carry you through life's greatest challenges.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you're entering the nursing profession, truly love caring for people because it is both rewarding and demanding. Stay dedicated, work hard, remain compassionate and professional, and never lose your empathy. Your willingness to make a difference—even during someone's most difficult moments—is what will define your career.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges facing nursing today is the ongoing shortage of qualified nurses, which results in higher patient loads and increasingly complex care needs. At the same time, this creates tremendous opportunities for compassionate, well-trained nurses to make a meaningful impact and help shape the future of healthcare.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My Christian faith is the foundation of both my personal and professional life. I value compassion, empathy, integrity, professionalism, strength, and perseverance. I believe in being present for others, especially during life's most difficult moments, and treating every person with dignity, kindness, and respect.
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