Her Story
About Rosina
Rosina Zhelezny is a critical care registered nurse with over 11 years of professional experience. She currently holds a staff position at Greenville Memorial in Greenville, South Carolina, where she works as a critical care nurse for adults. Earlier in her career, she spent eight years as a travel nurse, and was amongst the first set of nurses to go NY (her home state) during the pandemic.. Rosina earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina in 2015 and her Master of Science in Nursing in healthcare administration or leadership from the same university in 2026. She maintains a chemo certification and is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, the American Nurses Association, AONL, and the American Association of Critical Care Nursing. Her background also includes oncology nursing, and she has consistently been active on hospital committees, with her current role being Unit Council Chair.
Last year she embarked on the IVF journey and this May welcomed a beautiful baby boy. She plans to complete the process again for a baby girl. Besides juggling work and motherhood, she is also an absolute animal lover with 5 dogs, 2 birds, and 2 axolotls. Rosina plays soccer, coaches children’s soccer, skydives, surfs, and is an avid reggae music concert goer. She enjoys being out in nature via backpacking/hiking, and deeply enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and quality time.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rosina
01What do you attribute your success to?
My upbringing. Childhood was not ideal, and it propelled me to want to create a stable life for myself—something that no one could take away. No matter how old I am, there is this constant desire for more: growth, knowledge, experiences, opportunities. There is a drive in me, and now that I am a mom, I want to push myself to succeed more and set an example of what a strong woman is.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
There are so many, and I use them throughout life. “Methods are many, principles are few” was said by my first ever clinical instructor, and it resonated with me all through travel nursing. Geralyn McDonough, who is my mentor, shared these with me: Remember why you started. When you get there, remember where you came from. Never let yesterday use up today.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, address everyone with eye contact and by their name. This especially speaks volumes to the staff.
Try to always have an outlet for stress, a solid support system, and take care of yourself, because nursing takes a toll mentally and emotionally. We spend so much time caring for others in all facets of life, that we often forget to care for ourselves. Keep a healthy work-life balance, and say yes to learning opportunities and experiences! As a young female entering this career, older nurses and male doctors are often seen as intimidating—but I promise that the fear to communicate will quickly pass. Remember, we all started in the same place and you made it here for a reason!
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The national nursing shortage continues, and since the pandemic I have witnessed an abundance of novice nurses burnout much quicker, wanting to leave the bedside or quit nursing all together. As a seasoned nurse, I whole heartedly believe that we must nurture our youth and mentor them, since they are the future of healthcare.
Also, I believe the 2026 data show that 1 in 4 nurses have reported assault by a patient while in the workplace. Statistics show that nurses are five times more likely to experience physical workplace violence injuries than other industries. Laws, regulations, and nurses speaking up on a National level are major opportunities to combat this unfortunate reality.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, accountability, altruism, autonomy, honesty, empathy, and compassion are the top values. Dealing with people's lives means striving to do what is right, and admitting when I am wrong. Diversity is a major core value, as it encompasses cultural humility, inclusion, and massively improves outcomes. One value that brings me immense joy is celebrating the successes and wins of others.
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