Nicole Abbruzzetti

At the end of the day, it’s all about believing in yourself. I’ve always been driven, and I make it clear to my colleagues that I have even bigger goals ahead. Keeping those goals in mind and working steadily towards them is essential.

I also tell my kids to stay humble. Even the small, mundane tasks—or those outside your job description—offer valuable lessons. When I worked as a social worker in a skilled nursing facility, if someone mentioned the printer wasn’t working, I wouldn’t hesitate to fix it myself. Staying humble and willing to help wherever needed has been key to my success. People know I’m ready to take on any task with a positive attitude, and that’s helped me excel quickly in my career.

It’s about initiative, drive, and recognizing that all the small steps add up to where I am now. Even through uncertainty, I’ve trusted that things will work out as they should—and they always have. I have found true passion and joy in what I do and I know every day I am making small impacts in peoples lives for the better and that keeps me inspired to keep what I am doing and hopefully inspire others as well.

Always go after the goal. I remember when I started in home health, I had no experience but I remember telling the VP at the time I would be in his role one day. While I am not the VP yet I still strive for that. As long as you shoot for the stars you will never go wrong. My boss encouraged that type of mentality and it has lead me to grow steadily in my career.

Sometimes the path isn’t always clear, and healthcare isn’t always easy. But when find joy in helping others, a passion grows that drives you to keep going until you find the right sector for you. I never imagined I would end up in healthcare, let alone in health. Yet, the daily impact I have on people’s lives has truly committed me this field for life.

As women, we have the unique opportunity to provide nurturing care to those in need, and being able to do that is a true blessing. Whether you pursue a clinical or clerical role, we all play a vital part in making a difference.

Homelessness and drug addiction are major challenges today, especially where I live in California. Being able to offer opportunities for people to turn their lives around or receive services that help them on the road to recovery is incredibly impactful—not only for the community but also in the work I do.

Many individuals, especially after retirement, find themselves isolated when family and social connections fade. I have the privilege of working closely with these people, and sometimes, I am the only person they talk to until they receive further support.

Additionally, there is a coordination of supportive services that many people either don’t know exist or don’t fully understand. Helping bridge that gap is a vital part of my role.

At the end of the day, what really matters to me is how my work makes me feel. I know that I’m helping what I call the “forgotten population.” I get to work with people—many remind me of grandmas and grandpas—and sometimes, I’m the only person they talk to.

Juggling everything can be challenging, but it’s the way my work makes me feel that keeps me going. Knowing that I’m providing a meaningful service empowers me to push through the toughest days, even when I’m pulled in every direction.

Family is incredibly important to me. I’m grateful and blessed to have an amazing family. I have two teenage sons in high school, and I’m definitely a bleacher mom—I’m at all their games. My husband and I share a strong work ethic and have aligned our family and goals around being the best people we can be in the workplace and at home.

I also believe in staying humble. Even the small, mundane tasks—or those outside your usual scope—offer invaluable lessons. There’s wisdom in every step, and that mindset has made all the difference.