Michele Rice, senior nurse manager at AdventHealth Winter Garden, recalls her mom saying, “Don’t be a nurse. Do anything else.” Her mom spent 33 years as a nurse and knew well the challenges of the profession. However, Rice knew she wanted to be in a helping profession, so she initially pursued social work.
Then came her “ah-ha” moment, when she witnessed the compassionate care a nurse gave her mom during a hospital stay.
Now, she says, she would tell those considering a nursing career, “It’s a great profession. You get to feel just proud of yourself at the end of the day. You get to take care of patients and you do get to make a difference. And even if the patient outcome isn’t what you expected, you’re still making a difference with that family.”
Becoming a nurse, Rice says, is a great way to honor her mother. As one of AdventHealth’s 17,000-plus nurses, Rice says she has the opportunity to meet amazing people to work with, learn with and grow with.
Hear more about Rice’s journey by clicking the video above.
