Building a Career Rooted in Teamwork & Service
Before becoming a nurse on the Bronson LakeView Hospital (BLH) General Care Unit (GCU), Amanda Schultz spent 15 years working in primary care. She started her healthcare career as a medical assistant and later moved into an office supervisor role, helping manage two internal medicine offices. While she enjoyed leadership and was successful in the position, Amanda realized that what she loved most was caring directly for patients.
To achieve her goal of becoming a nurse, Amanda enrolled in the Kalamazoo Valley Community College nursing program. She was first introduced to the BLH GCU during her second semester of nursing school while completing clinical rotations, and quickly connected with the teamwork and supportive environment. That experience led her to apply for the Nurse Extern program, and upon graduation, the Graduate Nurse program. Today, Amanda continues to work on the GCU in a full-time role where she feels supported, valued and connected to both her coworkers and patients.
From Clinical Rounds to Full-Time Work: Amanda’s Story on the GCU
I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare. Growing up as the daughter of a firefighter, I saw firsthand the impact of helping people during their most difficult moments. That influence has stayed with me throughout my career and ultimately helped me decide to pursue nursing.
From the moment I stepped onto the General Care Unit during my clinical rotations, I felt connected to the unit. Even as a student, I felt welcome and could see how well the team worked together. That sense of teamwork is what pushed me to apply for the Nurse Extern program.
Amber Bodfish is someone who made a significant impact on my externship experience. She was patient, kind, allowed for a safe space for me to ask all of my learning questions and taught me amazing organizational skills. Although she no longer works on our unit and is now in the Emergency Department, her mentorship played a huge role in my early growth as a nurse.
That externship experience set me up for a successful transition into my Graduate Nurse (GN) role. Bronson’s GN program helped me feel confident and prepared to take my board exam. I especially appreciated the GN education sessions held at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Practicing hands-on skills like Foley insertions and mock codes in a small group setting with other new grads helped reinforce what we learned in school and during our clinicals/externships, and eased the transition into full-time bedside nursing.
After completing the GN program and passing my board exam, I was offered two jobs – a full-time role in the BLH GCU and another opportunity at a different hospital. I chose to remain here because I knew that this was where I’d be happiest. The culture and support from this team mattered more to me than anything else.
Moments That Stick With Me
A moment that stands out to me as an example of why I’m proud not only to be a nurse but to work with such amazing teammates involves an elderly patient who had undergone a procedure that resulted in a colostomy. They were really uncomfortable and struggling to come to terms with it. At the time, I had only changed a colostomy bag a few times and was understandably nervous, wanting to make sure I made them feel confident and assured. My coworker, Samantha Sarver, stepped in and calmly guided me through the process, answering both my questions and the patient’s. By the end of the interaction, the patient was emotional, but also more comfortable and confident moving forward. That moment reinforced to me just how much of a difference patience, teamwork and compassion can make.
Growing as a Nurse and Supporting Others
I recently joined our Nursing Governance Committee because I want to be a voice for med/surg nurses at BLH. I’m still learning my role within the group, but I’m motivated to contribute and grow in that space.
I also serve as a preceptor and take that responsibility seriously. Being a new nurse is scary enough. I want to help create supportive, welcoming experiences for new nurses and students, not add to their stress. Our unit is lucky enough to host second‑semester nursing students, and completing formal preceptor training was important to me so I could make sure I was giving them a meaningful and positive experience. What I really want is to help build strong, successful, kind future nurses, just as others once did for me.
The BLH GCU has given me the opportunity to grow not only as a nurse, but as a teammate and mentor. It’s where I’ve found a strong sense of purpose and community, and I’m proud to be part of it.
