Sam's Evolving Nursing Journey
For team members like Sam, a career at UNMH is marked by learning, growth, and making an impact. From the very beginning of her time here, Sam embraced opportunities to follow her own path in building a rewarding career. Starting as a patient sitter and tech in the float pool, the supportive environment at UNMH helped Sam find her calling in nursing. With a particular passion for serving vulnerable populations, Sam finds deep fulfillment in supporting patients and families in her current role in surgical care. Hear more about Sam’s journey in her own words.
What inspired your healthcare career, and what drew you to UNMH?
I initially wanted to go into Pharmacy school—nursing sounded like a job ONLY extroverts could do, and that isn't me at all. But after gaining some experience, I realized Pharmacy wasn’t what I was passionate about. My family recommended UNMH, and I came here as a tech in the float pool. UNMH welcomed me with flexible hours and encouraged me to have good work-life balance, something I’d never had before. After seeing what nurses do here, I realized that maybe I COULD be a nurse…so that’s what I did!
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
Well, there's a lot! Working in surgery, I feel like there’s nothing better than seeing the relief on a patient’s face when they hear things went well. And if things are more challenging—say they are here for a trauma—I like being there to support them and help them get better. I also really like helping the vulnerable populations that rely on UNMH for essential care that maybe they can’t get anywhere else in the state. Those kinds of patients are why I love coming to work.
How has UNMH supported you in your time here?
In terms of my education, I came in with just an Associate’s degree, and UNMH helped me to get my Bachelor's in Nursing. And it’s good to know that in the future, I can get reimbursed if I want to keep going in my education—and I very well might!
On the personal side, when my father passed away unexpectedly in 2021, the mental health resources UNMH provided—including free therapy sessions—were really the only resources I could access during the pandemic. I’m forever grateful that I had that option.
How would you describe the workplace culture at UNMH?
The PACU is a great place to work—you learn so much. I've learned about L&D patients, IR patients, GI, cath lab…you name it! I feel like the work culture here promotes education and growth. It’s made me a much more well-rounded nurse, and I’m forever grateful for that.
And the teamwork is amazing. Nothing—NOTHING—beats my coworkers and how we lift each other up during the tough times. And I really appreciate the interdisciplinary relationships we have with our doctors, therapists and more. I absolutely love UNMH because the people ACTUALLY care.
Discover what you can become at UNMH
Follow the path that Sam and countless others have taken and build your bright future as part of our team. Explore opportunities to learn and grow at the state’s only academic medical center.
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