Kelly L . Hunt , DNP , APRN , FNP-C NSNA President 2014-2015 Family Nurse Practitioner MedFast Urgent Care
I grew up around healthcare as the daughter of a neurologist , I think most people expected me to become a doctor . I ’ ve always loved helping people , but at the dinner table I often heard the constraints my dad had to navigate around as a physician ; arguing with insurance companies to cover patient ’ s visits and cutting through red tape to get his patients the care they needed . Much like both of my parents my heart has always been for the underserved , people who didn ’ t have access to healthcare , or social services . I wanted to help the people who needed me the most in the most direct way I could , and that meant becoming a nurse .
I ’ ve had many mentors along the way who have helped me throughout my career from student nurse to nurse manager , in particular Sally Morgan who has truly helped shape me into the public servant I am today . I feel privileged to work for The Ohio State University Hospital Wexner Medical center as a nurse manager of an incredible unit where we get to take care of everyone that walks through our doors , as well as reach into the communities that need us to meet people where they are and provide them the high-quality healthcare we are known for .
I hope to continue to grow in my career and use my knowledge and experience to help shape health policy to maybe one day eradicate health disparities . If I had to give advice to the next generation of nurses , I would say chase what you truly love , find good mentors , stay true to yourself , and work at an institution that tangibly reflects your values . n
Jennifer Kalenkoski Nagele , DNP , RN NSNA President 2017-2018 NSNA Breakthrough to Nursing Director 2016-2017
As for many others , my journey to becoming a nurse starts with a story . I was working on my undergraduate degree for a different major when my Aunt Maire became sick needing more extensive care . The decision my family had to make was between caring for her as a family or finding a nursing home / service that could provide her with the care and attention she needed . I decided that I would step back from my undergraduate degree at that time and care for my aunt in a full-time capacity .
I always tell people that , although I was helping her , it was she who helped me to find my way . Caring for someone at their most vulnerable time left me feeling not only gratitude , but pride that I was able to provide her comfort . It was this feeling that led me to discover that nursing was what I was meant to do .
I began nursing school while caring for her and often she helped me study , let me read my papers to her or even try new things I learned such as wound care . In the fall of 2015 , my aunt passed away before she was able to see me graduate or become a nurse . I keep her in my mind whenever I care for patients and remember that every patient is somebody ’ s loved one . My aunt is not only the reason I became a nurse , but the reason I continue to grow and evolve into the nurse my patient ’ s need . n
34 NSNA IMPRINT • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023 • www . nsna . org