Nurse Heroes—Health Professionals Change Lives

Where would we be without nurse heroes? Because of their tireless efforts on the front lines of emergency care, lending support to other medical professionals, and helping communities to achieve their health goals, we all benefit from their dedication and tenacity. 

WGU offers a variety of degree programs that aim to prepare nurses to make a difference in the communities, whether they're navigating critical emergencies or helping with regular preventive care. In honor of the nurse heroes who impact our lives, we’re highlighting four WGU graduate nursing heroes who have made a big difference in the communities they serve.

As a result, Hope stepped into the role of Director of Patient Care Services for Shriners Hospitals for Children, where she oversees radiology, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and—as she put it—“Anything that would involve patient care services; I oversee all of those touches for each child that enters our building.”

How does Hope feel about her position? “Being a nurse makes me get out of bed each morning,” she said. “This position is the equivalent of a Chief Nursing Officer at other hospitals. I just love the career choice, I love being part of the medical team, I love being part of a child's experience—just knowing that somewhere along my path each day that I can do something good for someone and to be able to help and to provide care. That's what keeps me going.”

He also trained as a combat medic, where he served as support to hospitals and ambulance companies. Andrew banked 22 years of experience before retiring. He now works at the Indianapolis VA Hospital as a registered nurse, where he cares for fellow veterans and helps them optimize their medication regimen, gives them dietary counseling, connects them to other care services such as physical therapists and psychologists, and even makes house calls as needed.

It’s a role that Andrew finds incredibly rewarding, even through the challenges of navigating COVID-19. “For me, the rewards have been being part of a team that goes out and gives vaccinations to patients who are stuck in their homes and can't get out to hospitals or clinics—and they are so thankful,” he said. 

“I can walk into a veteran's home, and we may come from vastly different worlds. Our upbringings may be different, we might be from different parts of the country, but because we have both served our country, we have that commonality. And as a nurse, that can be a very powerful thing because it helps build that nurse patient relationship,” Nagel added. “And they'll chat your ear off. They're just happy that you're there and they're so thankful that you brought this medication out to them that's going to help them save their life hopefully.” 

And if you ask Nagel how he feels about his role, he’ll tell you that, without a doubt, now is a great time to be a nurse.

And once her daughter’s test results came back positive, Michelle faced even more challenges as she cared for her daughter at home and led her nursing team temporarily on a remote basis. 

Even though Michelle was experiencing hardships and pressure due to the pandemic, she still found the inner strength she needed to pull through. “I am more equipped to face the many challenges brought by COVID-19 because of the skills I acquired as a nurse leader, which allows me to contribute to the organization by looking at things from a systemic perspective,” she said. “I was born a leader and a degree from WGU validates that I am doing what I was made for.”

Working in an isolation unit, Robbie experienced unprecedented challenges as he managed a delicate balance of administering medications to help patients keep their blood pressure and heart rate up but also keep their temperature down. In some instances, he had to employ an approach called proning, which required turning a patient on to their stomach to ease pressure off their distressed lungs and remove built-up fluid.

While he worked in North Carolina in 2020, Robbie found it difficult to be away from his family, but still he managed to stay motivated and keep his spirits up. He found inspiration in his patients, who strived to get better under his care. He’s since gone back to work at the University of Louisville Hospital and reunited with his family. But as he looks forward to the future, he also has some advice to offer. 

“Take care of yourself. Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally. You’ve got people, even though [there is a] six-feet rule, but you’ve got people there that can listen," Robbie said. “And don’t give up, don’t get discouraged. Keep going. And don’t let COVID-19 be what determines your life. Don’t let it define you. Because the only person who can define you and where your future is going is you.”

These are just four out of thousands of stories from nurses who are putting their lives on the line to keep us all safe and healthy during the pandemic. As you honor the nurses in your community, remember the sacrifices they’ve made, the courage they’ve shown, and the heroism they’ve displayed over the past year. We owe so much to our nurse heroes. Let’s make sure they know how much we appreciate them today—and every day.