Her Story
About Stephanie
Stephanie Oden serves as Executive Director of an assisted living facility in California, overseeing operations for a community of up to 182 residents since 2018. She began her healthcare career in 1991 as an LVN, progressing through roles as a floor nurse, charge nurse, and nurse supervisor in skilled nursing facilities and mental health nursing before transitioning to assisted living. Oden holds certifications as a Certified Dementia Practitioner and RCFE administrator. Her advocacy work has earned her the Advocate of the Year award in both 2019 and 2020, the first recipient to achieve this consecutively, along with a 2022 nomination for Woman of the Year by a California council member and a Healthcare Impact Award. She volunteers as an educator and walk committee member for the Alzheimer's Association and previously served on the board of directors for Meals on Wheels. Oden attributes her success to family support, personal determination, and a desire to make a difference in helping others, values instilled early through her mother's work as a certified nursing assistant.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stephanie
01What do you attribute your success to?
The support of my family and my determination, along with wanting to make a difference in helping people. My mom was a certified nursing assistant who took me on cases as a child and had me volunteering at senior centers, which instilled the value of helping others.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Just be you, just do you. Don't let anything take you out of who you are, whether it's stress or things at work. Always stay true to yourself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Make sure this is something you really want to do in your heart. Don't go into it for money. This industry is a bear and it's changing all the time, with days of burnout but also days where you feel it's the best because of the difference you made.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Staffing is a big challenge, especially since COVID as people don't want to work in healthcare anymore. But opportunities exist because there's always a need for people in healthcare, with seniors needing assisted living.
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