Hello? This is me.

Me! BSN Kelly! May 5, 2013

I was born and raised in a small southeastern Ohio town a minute later than my twin sister and 2 and a half years later than my older brother. Growing up, my life consisted of good grades, marching band competitions, games of Pickle in the backyard, playing outside until it got dark and a myriad of thrilling family vacations from the beach to the great 2002 out west trip. My parents were both teachers, and though us kids didn't get everything we wanted, we always had everything we needed. My career goals fluctuated as a child, I think at one point I wanted to be a farmer...no idea where that came from. I believe it was around 8th grade when I decided I had a heart for helping others, so I decided nursing was a good choice for me. Graduated high school 9th in a class of 79, said a mini speech and had a graduation party on a 92 degree June day. That fall, along with my twin sis, we packed up and left for college to Berea, Kentucky.

My years in Kentucky as a college kid were full of ups and downs, but so much joy and triumph followed. I rediscovered Christ, met a wonderful group of friends and in between all that learned how to care for those less fortunate than myself. And after being on the 5 year plan, I marched across Berea College's stage in May of 2013 with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, all the while it was 50 degrees and pouring rain outside. While in school, I developed a passion for mental health, and thus began a journey of working with the mentally ill and addicts. I was living the dream...literally, the dream. The place, the clientele, and it was grand!

I spent the first 18 months of my career working evening shifts on a psych unit, where I grew, made a lot of mistakes, cried a lot but gained so much wisdom and experiences that I cannot comprehend. It was shortly after where I discovered a second passion for addiction/alcoholism. So after 18 months, I left psych and evenings and moved to day shift where I spent a little over a year working on a chemical dependency unit.

Perhaps it was my heart for traveling that has led me to the point in my career I am in now. In my young life, I've been to Nicaragua, New Orleans, Scotland, Peru and Chicago, just to name a few places. It's amazing what happens in one's life to make you realize you need a change. While on a leave of absence from my job, I made such realization, and I started from scratch. It wasn't until a few days later that I got a phone call that could ultimately change my life. A few cases of phone tag, some long conversations, 4 contracts submitted, a resignation letter to my current CEO later and I began my career in travel nursing.

My first assignment had me a bit close to home; only about 2 hours away in Ashland, Kentucky where I worked a split adult psych/detox unit, occasionally pulled to work geri psych. I extended until the end of January due to staffing needs and while finishing there I signed on to complete a 13 week stent in Gallipolis, Ohio, very close to where I grew up. It was nice to be closer to my folks, but it was nights on geri psych, which took some adjusting. After Ohio I traveled the farthest I've ever been down south to beautiful Virginia, where I remained for the entire summer up until the first week of September. I wanted to extend, but staffing needs had reduced and an influx of full-time hires removed me from the equation (along with the other travel nurses there too). All along this travel nursing I have been so blessed to work alongside some really wonderful healthcare workers, and I have been additionally blessed to call some of these folks some very dear friends.

Strolling through Central Park in Ashland, KY. Winter 2016

1st night shift in Gallipolis, Ohio! Feb. 2017

Hiking through the beautiful Natural Bridge while living in Salem, VA. August 2017

Virginia came and went and from Virginia I found myself at home for a bit before sending off to the Midwest to the Prairie state, AKA Iowa. In Iowa I worked on a much higher acuity unit and a new population, the Intellectually Disabled. A very challenging, frustrating yet fruitful and rewarding experience, but 3 months was enough for me. After only a few days back home and dreaming of ending up in Boston, my dream came true and in December 2017 I got the dream call; adventure #5 would have me in Massachusetts, about 20 minutes outside of Boston! My dad drove up with me and I've been here since January. In early May, I felt a stirring inside that was thinking maybe perhaps it was time to settle down somewhere. After a somewhat emotional (but wonderful) conversation with a friend of mine, I heard "stay," so I did. I finished up my final contract position in the end of July and decided to hang up my travel nurse shoes to pursue permanent employment in Massachusetts.

Attended the Ohio State and Iowa football game. October 2017. 

In between permanent nurse employment at the same hospital, I had a brief stint working per diem in long term care. I lasted 6 months, but I felt I could not perform the job safely. Soon after, I found another per diem job working in inpatient detox. I LOVE it! It's challenging, it's hard, it's stressful, but I really feel like I get to have some meaningful conversations with the patients. I'm training in the other programs too, like the residential program, which is just been an amazing experience. In the beginning of 2020, I found myself in a rock and a hard place; working in a difficult area of work, a hostile work culture, a myriad of other things and I found myself starting to get burned out and worn out. That coupled with a lack of support from management, I interviewed in the end of February for an entirely new area of nursing all together; case management. 2 interviews later and I got the job; I handed in my noticed beginning of March, finished my last day at inpt psych on a Sunday and started my new job the next day, where I've been ever since. I LOVE what I do; every day we are changing lives and making a difference. I work in a MAT OUD/AUD clinic, and it is the most rewarding job. Words cannot describe. 

Then the coronavirus pandemic struck, a week later after I started my new job. While I was still learning the job, others were turning to me for questions, answers and guidance. Still we're making changes to modify the changes caused by the pandemic, but in this time we've all learned to lean on each other. Sure there are some challenging days, but like I said; we're making a difference, every day. Isn't that what nursing is about? 

Cape Cod Lobsta! July 2019