Building a Career Rooted in Teamwork & Service
Rebecca has cared for patients at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital for more than 23 years. Inspired by her mother, who was also a nurse, Rebecca entered the profession with a strong sense of compassion and purpose. For most of her career, she worked in critical care, helping patients and families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
Following the COVID pandemic, Rebecca chose to step into a new role in surgery as part of the prep and recovery team. The change brought fresh energy and a renewed love for nursing.
Rebecca’s Story: A Career Defined by Service
I chose to pursue a career in nursing because my mother was a nurse. She was a powerful role model of compassion, resilience and dedication.
Nursing requires the ability to understand the various emotions, thoughts and feelings of not just the patients that they care for, but also their loved ones.
PATIENTS have always been my inspiration! Every word, action and touch is meant to comfort them during some of their most terrifying and painful experiences. Over the years, my patients have taught me that nursing is a gift … In providing compassionate care and taking the time to understand the patients as individuals, I actually receive something so much greater in return. I think that patients and families walk away from some of the most trying, and often devastating, times in their lives and they don’t realize what impact the interaction has left on the nurse providing their care. Connecting with patients and families and being empathetic to their varied circumstances, emotions and specific needs is what makes nursing so wonderful. On the hardest days, nursing can bring such a heavy mental, emotional and physical load but those days are ALWAYS followed by an interaction that reminds you how valued and important the work that you do truly is.
Evolution of Nursing
Nursing, along with the entire healthcare industry, has evolved so much through the years. The advancements in technology has allowed for more complete care between departments, nurses, providers, patients and families. We have taken such great leaps in testing, equipment, monitoring and diagnosing. Healthcare continues to evolve in every way and for the betterment of patient care and outcomes. It has been a blessing to have experienced such a great evolution.
Health in Harmony
To me, Health in Harmony means that I am part of something bigger. There is an interconnection between every area of healthcare and the patient has the opportunity to be connected to their own healthcare in a much greater way than ever before. Our team works together within our unit and in close contact and cooperation with the rest of the surgery department, anesthesia, providers, nutrition, physical therapy, pastoral care, discharge planning and various other individuals and departments that are all responsible for making the patient’s experience and care complete and inclusive.
Caring for a patient involves far more than just meeting their medical needs. Caring for a patient’s emotional and physical needs and going above and beyond to make the patient and their family feel comfortable and safe in their care environment is what we strive to accomplish each and every day.
Nursing is the greatest career! It has allowed me to use my humor, compassion and empathy to better others' lives, while providing a sense of purpose, pride and deep fulfillment to mine. Many things have changed over the years, but what hasn’t changed is the deep connection that nurses and patients share and experience.
