From Caregiver to Creator
As a registered nurse with more than 15 years of experience under my belt, I have felt a shift in my career over the last few years. Although I have always planned on becoming an educator, I had never acknowledged the timing of the transition - when it was going to be the right career move for me. After working in a corporate setting as a clinical director and executive, I’ll be honest, I started to suffer from severe burnout and mental exhaustion. I was frustrated, unhappy, and no longer felt satisfied in my job. I know many of you can relate to a situation such as this. I worked hard for my degree and to become a knowledgeable nurse, so why am I not fulfilled at the end of the day? Climbing ranks and taking on more responsibility is a dream for some, but for me I had entered a nightmare. It took a lot of self-work and deep reflection to realize I needed to exit this “pinnacle” on my own before I summersaulted off of it. After leaving the corporate job, I transitioned back to bedside nursing to ground myself and prepare for a full-time educator role. A role that I believe I found quickly because it was in perfect alignment with my authentic self. I truly love teaching and am incredibly grateful for my new faculty role at a community college. A space I feel is an important one. Community colleges are incredible - accessible, supportive, and offer a high-quality education - and I am so proud to be part of it.
Recently, I began to feel a quiet pull towards something even more expansive - an education platform that holds space for students and nurses struggling not necessarily with content, but with the challenges this very demanding pathway can present. Through the years, I have discussed nursing challenges with my colleagues and I often hear a similar story - “I wish I knew … before I started nursing school, I likely would have made different choices”. My thought process is - what if I can be the one to share a bit of insider knowledge to the future of nursing. Maybe my experience can help guide future RNs to a more direct pathway. Perhaps my 15 plus years of nursing knowledge can have a positive impact on a new graduate struggling to find their footing. Thus, the LKB Nursing Education platform was born.
I am looking forward to this journey, and hope some of you will have a chance to participate in thoughtful conversation and collaborative action. Although my confidence in this new space didn’t come first, my commitment to a better pathway for future and new nurses certainly did. I want to remind you growth doesn’t need to be loud, rushed, or perfect. Steady, grounding steps will help you build confidence and navigate your own path forward. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!
-Lauren