The idea and goal of becoming a nurse for Olivia Marvel started when she was a patient at the hospital where she now works.
“A huge motivator for my wanting to pursue nursing is the experience I had as a patient in June of 2021 when I fractured my mandible. I was a patient at both Carle Richland Memorial Emergency Department and Carle Foundation Hospital for multiple jaw surgeries. I suffered through a long recovery, both physical and emotional – months of chronic pain and dental reconstruction, but I had such an incredible and diverse team of healthcare professionals helping me every step of the way.”
Marvel wants to provide the same positive, holistic, professional and judgment-free care to patients as she received.
In February 2022, when Marvel began her career at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital (CRMH), she took a slightly different route in Environmental Services (EVS) as a housekeeping attendant. When she told her leaders and team members about her goal, they listened and helped her to achieve it.
“She had a good experience with the nursing staff here and talked about wanting to be a nurse someday,” Drew Holdren, EVS manager at Carle Richland, said. At the time this conversation happened, Holdren knew Marvel would need some assistance to get this career goal off the ground. He mentioned that Carle could help continue her education while working in the EVS department.
“I enjoy finding ways to help people better themselves,” Holdren said. When she came to me with her story, I knew I wanted to help her reach her goal. She was very excited, and with those continuing education funds, she went to school and became a CNA (certified nursing assistant).”
Last summer, Marvel obtained her CNA license and began working part-time as a tech in the Emergency Department while still working some housekeeping hours. In February of this year, she accepted a full-time position as a CNA in the Medical-Surgical unit so she could go full-time as a CNA.
“I received the Nursing Education Award to help pay for school!” Marvel said. “Receiving that was honestly so
shocking and heartwarming. I am so grateful because even besides just tuition, the books and other fees add up and become overwhelming so quickly. I am still working as much as possible while I go to nursing school this fall, so anything extra to help cushion my finances during that time so I can focus on my education is a huge blessing.” Marvel is the inaugural recipient of the Nursing Education Award, made possible by donations to the Carle Richland Nursing Education Fund.
Holdren said that Marvel has been an example for EVS in showing how you can move forward in your career. “She has such a passion for helping people, and I love seeing that happen for her,” adding, “other EVS team members have also been behind her, cheering her on as she moves forward with her nursing goals. They hated to lose her as a team member but know she will be successful in her nursing career.”
In a short time, almost three years, Marvel is doing what she set out to do, and it’s because of her family at Carle Richland.
“So many different leaders of departments and my colleagues have inspired me and helped me along this journey to nursing school,” she said. “Drew Holdren, Evelyn Miller and all of the CRMH EVS team first and foremost listened to me debate and encouraged me for months, questioning whether nursing school was even something I could achieve. Sam (Samantha) York, the head of the Emergency Department at CRMH, and her entire team welcomed me with open arms as a new CNA. The nursing managers, coordinators and my unit leader have assisted me in reaching out for scholarships, scheduling around school, as well as just offering emotional support and being a sounding board whenever I need it.
“There is not a single CNA, LPN or RN that I work with that has not offered support, words of encouragement or just a listening ear on my journey, and I am so grateful for that.”Categories: Culture of Quality, Community
Tags: Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Richland Memorial Hospital, housekeeping, nursing