12 | CFHN centralfloridahealthnews.com Called to Care CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 leader who lifts others up and ensures they have what they need to succeed. Her ability to see the bigger picture, advocate for improvements, and support her colleagues in both their clinical roles and professional development is nothing short of inspiring. — Tera Lane, Nursing Professional Development Practitioner (Clinical Education), Bartow Regional Medical Center APRIL MCCOY, DIRECTOR OF NURSING, CENTRAL FLORIDA HEALTH CARE At Central Florida Health Care, April McCoy directly manages 18 team members (14 nurse managers, one healthcare coordinator, one infectious disease case manager, one centering pregnancy coordina- tor, and one experience coordinator). How has nursing changed you? Nursing has changed me by strengthening my resilience, empathy, and ability to stay calm under pressure. It’s taught me how to connect with people during some of their most vulnerable moments, the importance of teamwork, and to understand how important it is to adapt in a forever changing field. What’s something people misunderstand about your job? A common misperception about nurses is that we blindly follow doctor’s orders without thought, when in reality, we are highly trained critical thinkers that work in collaboration with the providers to provide the best care for our patients. What is the most rewarding part of being a nurse? Getting a “thank you” from a patient. It’s often the smallest gestures to our patients that make them feel truly cared for, and this is why we do what we do. At the end of the day, I know I’ve made a difference when … they smile, express gratitude, show improvements in their condition, or simply seem more at ease knowing they aren’t alone. EMILY BADCOCK, REGISTERED NURSE IN MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND ON CRITICAL CARE ASSESSMENT TEAM, LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH What is a moment that reminded you why you became a nurse? My dad recently suffered a devastating stroke. The ability to care for him, manage his care, and guide him through that experience is a constant reminder that I chose the perfect profession. How has nursing changed you? Nursing doesn’t just encourage empathy; it forces it into daily practice in a way few professions can. My nursing career has taught me a depth of empathy that reaches far beyond what I ever expected, shaping not only how I care for patients but how I understand people. What is the most rewarding part of being a nurse? The trust built with patients and their families – a connection formed through compassion, consistency, and genuine care. At the end of the day, I know I’ve made a difference when … my patients ask, “Are you back tomorrow?” KATIE HEARLD, REGISTERED NURSE, ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH What is a moment that reminded you why you became a nurse? One moment that stays with me happened during a particularly difficult shift with a teenage patient who had been completely shut down – barely speaking, avoiding eye contact, and clearly carrying more than they knew how to express. For several days, every attempt to connect with this patient felt like it was going nowhere. One day, instead of asking questions, I just sat nearby and talked about ordinary things I knew they were interested in – music, hors- es, and artwork. After a while, they quietly joined in. It wasn’t a dramatic breakthrough, but it was real. Before I left, they said, “Thanks for treating me like a normal person.” In that moment, that small com- ment carried so much weight. It was a reminder that sometimes the most important part of nursing isn’t fixing everything – it’s creating a space where someone feels seen, respected, and safe enough to open up. Moments like that are why I chose to go into adolescent behavioral health nursing. Even on the hardest days, knowing that simply showing up with patience and consistency keeps me grounded in the purpose of my work. How has nursing changed you? Nursing has a way of reshaping you in quiet but last- ing ways. It has made me more patient – not just in a clinical setting, but in how I see people and deal with others in my daily life. You learn that behavior has a story behind it, especially with adolescents. Sometimes, what looks like defiance or withdrawal is often fear, pain, or unmet needs. That shift in per- spective stays with you, even outside of work. It has also made me more present – the world is so fast paced, but nursing forces you to slow down and truly notice people – body language, tone, what’s being said, and what isn’t. You realize how much impact a small moment of genuine attention can have. Most importantly, nursing has made me more appreciative of resilience. Watching young people go through incredibly hard things and still find ways to keep going changes how you define strength. Nursing doesn’t just become what you do – it be- comes part of how you see the world. BRIAN HERNANDEZ, REGISTERED NURSE, CLINICAL DECISIONS UNIT, LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH What is a moment that reminded you why you became a nurse? I see it every day when a patient says, “Thank you for taking care of me,” and I see the relief on their face. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 APRIL MCCOY EMILY BADCOCK KATIE HEARLD BRIAN HERNANDEZ
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.