Across HCA Healthcare’s 190 hospitals and more than 2,400 sites of care, more than 100,000 nurses are at the forefront of delivering high-quality care to our patients. In honor of National Nurses Week 2025, Dr. Sammie Mosier, HCA Healthcare senior vice president and chief nurse executive, shares a note of gratitude to celebrate nurses everywhere who offer critical expertise and compassion across all healthcare settings:
“This National Nurses Week, celebrated May 6 -12, we recognize the important role you as nurses play at the heart of healthcare, advocating for your patients and care teams to drive nursing forward inside our walls and beyond. We work hard to prioritize the ‘voice of the nurse’ at every level of healthcare delivery, as we know how passionate you are about patient care and that you have an invaluable perspective.
Our 2025 Nurses Week theme at HCA Healthcare celebrates nurses for consistently “Stepping Forward” every day in the ways you innovate, improve and elevate nursing practice. You show all of us what it means to deliver patient-centered, compassionate care. I see your dedication, desire and drive to make a difference for everyone we serve, and thank you for how you always step forward to meet challenges and inspire all of us to show up for our patients, our communities and each other. Happy Nurses Week!”
Below, read the stories of nearly two dozen HCA Healthcare nurses as they share their motivations, career paths, proudest moments and insights in to the nursing profession.
Nurse manager shares deep ties to Florida hospital (Miami, Florida)
For nurse manager Allison Camacho-Travierso, HCA Florida Mercy Hospital isn’t just where she works – it’s where her story began. She was born at the HCA Healthcare hospital in Miami, and later chose to pursue her nursing education at Mercy School of Nursing – one of HCA Healthcare’s three nursing schools. Allison earned her licensed practical nurse (LPN) and registered nurse (RN) degrees and went on to build both her professional career and growing her family within the walls of HCA Florida Mercy Hospital.
“I chose to study nursing at Mercy School of Nursing because it felt like home – literally,” Allison said. “With Mercy being the hospital where I was born, returning there to begin my journey as a nurse felt meaningful and personal, like coming full circle.”
Allison has been a part of the HCA Healthcare family at the Miami hospital for 15 years, and has even delivered her three children there. She hopes her family legacy is something her children cherish as they grow older. “I hope my children think back at the home-like feeling I had at my job and find a place that offers them the same in their future careers,” she said.
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital has been there for Allison during life’s highs and lows. Most recently, the hospital was where Allison cared for her mother in her final days – a deeply personal reminder of why she chose nursing in the first place.
As we recognize National Nurses Week, Allison reflects on her journey: “I never saw myself working in a traditional business-like atmosphere. I’ve always known that I wanted a career where I could make a real difference – where my work directly impacts people’s lives in a positive way. On 5 Carroll, we have nurses from across many different generations and cultures and we all come together to support each other, cheer each other on – and most importantly – ‘care like family’ for our patients. We truly are the family that HCA Healthcare speaks about.”
Denver nurses earn DAISY Award for providing compassionate care to fellow nurse in her final moments (Denver, Colorado)
At HCA HealthONE Rose in Denver, Colorado, two exceptional nurses, Lyudmyla “Mila” Husyatina and Caroline Connor, were recently honored with the DAISY Award for the compassion and integrity they showed while caring for a fellow nurse in her final moments. Their colleague, Yvonne Richards, was a beloved neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse at HCA HealthONE Rose for over 20 years and was hospitalized multiple times while battling breast cancer. Mila and Caroline cared for her not just as nurses, but as peers, with dignity and heart.
Yvonne’s family nominated Mila and Caroline for the DAISY Award to honor the lasting impact of their care. Yvonne had received the coveted DAISY Award herself three years earlier, making this recognition even more meaningful.
Did you know? The DAISY Award is an international program to recognize and celebrate nurses for their extraordinary compassion, clinical skills and patient-centered care and the profound difference they make in the lives of patients, families and colleagues.
Caring for Yvonne and receiving this award was impactful for both nurses. They plan to honor her legacy by emulating the same compassionate care she displayed during her nursing career. “Yvonne’s legacy as a NICU nurse is a reminder of the kind of impact we can have not only on our patients, but on their families as well,” Caroline shared. “As I carry this legacy forward, I hope to embody that same sense of purpose – to be fully present with my patients and their families, to lead with empathy, and to always take the time to connect.”
Mila and Caroline’s story is a powerful reminder that nursing is more than a profession, it’s a calling.
Nurse’s full circle journey from trauma patient to trauma caregiver (Overland Park, Kansas)
Stephanie Wasson, a board-certified family nurse practitioner at HCA Healthcare’s Overland Park Regional Medical Center, always knew her calling was to care. Her love for people, paired with a passion for science, lead her to a career in nursing. But it wasn’t until life tested her with a series of complex medical emergencies that her real calling would be revealed.
In 2015, Stephanie survived a near death experience involving a perforated bowel, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and seven surgeries. Those tragic, painful moments as a trauma patient were met with compassionate caregivers who cared like family. The trauma team of surgeons made a lasting impression on Stephanie and inspired her to join the team that saved her life. After working as an intensive care nurse for six years, Stephanie earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from HCA Healthcare’s Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri, and is certified in critical care and trauma.
“They became family the way they cared for me emotionally, and ensured my family was informed every step of the way. It dawned on me throughout this journey, based upon the impact the doctors and care team had on me, ‘This is exactly the type of specialty I want as a nurse practitioner.’ I had a calling for the general surgery and trauma specialty.”
Stephanie Wasson, Trauma Nurse Practitioner, Overland Park General and Trauma Surgery
Today, Stephanie views her journey from trauma patient to trauma caregiver as a gift of perspective, and channels that experience to motivate and heal her patients. She serves in one of HCA Healthcare’s 114 trauma centers.
“I’ve chosen to use my experience to help patients recover physically and emotionally. The emotional trauma to these types of injuries is very real,” shared Stephanie. “Through my experience, I help channel some of my patients’ feelings to motivate them into healing.”
Recently, Stephanie’s story came full circle once again. She and her husband welcomed a son and daughter into the world – at her hospital, a place that feels like home. Surrounded by a team she trusted, she experienced once again the power of compassionate care at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
“I finally found my person”: Nurse battling cancer proposes to fellow nurse (Caldwell, Idaho)
Under the lights of West Valley Medical Center’s 75th anniversary celebration, HCA Healthcare nurse Craig Smith fought back tears as he dropped to one knee with an important question. In front of friends, family and colleagues who have joined those ranks, Craig asked Jody Koberlein to marry him. “I found my best friend,” Craig said of the woman and fellow nurse he fell in love with in the halls of West Valley Medical Center.
For Craig, time is precious. That’s because he was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer in May 2024. Despite his prognosis, standing on a stage on April 18, 2025, surrounded by those who supported him, Craig chose to focus on hope. He chose love. And with a whispered “yes,” Jody chose to focus on both, too.
Their journey together began at the Caldwell, Idaho hospital, where Craig – who went back to school later in life to become a nurse – joined the medical surgical unit in 2023. Jody, a beloved nurse who is now a clinical resources director, slowly became his friend as they cared for patients on the overnight shift. “Slowly, yet surely, that friendship became more of a love,” Craig shared during the proposal. “I have found my best friend, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Somebody who has made me a better man every day.”
As DAISY Award-winning nurses, Craig and Jody have built their lives around caring for others. Jody showed just how much she cared for Craig on the final day of his chemotherapy treatment on November 1, 2024 – which also happens to be his birthday. As Craig was leaving his appointment, he found Jody – alongside friends and family – waiting for him in the parking lot. They surprised Craig with a celebration and rang bells for him in honor of his fight. After that moment, Craig and Jody realized their bond had deepened into something far more than friendship.
Craig knows his time with Jody and their blended family may be shortened, but together they are focusing on their love in the present. “I’m happier than I have ever been in my life,” he said amid his cancer battle. “I finally found my person.”
LPN determined to get to work amid Hurricane Helene damage (Waycross, Georgia)
Never once calling in sick during her nine years at Memorial Satilla Health in Georgia, LPN Victoria Drury maintains an unrivaled attendance record. When Hurricane Helene hit, leaving many residents stranded and emergency services challenged, Victoria’s unwavering resolve to show up for her community shone brightly.
Victoria, like many in her community, braced for the storm and gathered non-perishables in the days leading up to Helene making landfall, but the impact was greater than expected. After keeping vigil through the night while her husband worked as a local detective, Victoria received the unfortunate news that both exits from her neighborhood were blocked by debris. Yet, the thought of not making it into work was simply not an option for her.
“I live about 10 minutes down the road from the hospital, so I figured that it would be easier for me to get work, compared to those that live further away,” Victoria explained. Her sense of duty led her to call the hospital, and she was told that a colleague would personally come pick her up at first light if she could make it out to the main road.
The journey from her house out to the pickup point was not an easy stroll. Navigating through downed trees and fallen power lines, she trekked with determination. For Victoria, dependability is more than a personal value – it’s a legacy she aims to pass on to her children. “I always try to teach my children to be somebody to rely on. Your character is your word, and I try to be that example,” she stated emphatically.
In the early days between the storm and when HCA Healthcare resources arrived, Victoria and her team worked tirelessly, ensuring that anyone who needed assistance could receive it, whether it was a breathing treatment or simply a cool place to rest. Victoria’s experience during Hurricane Helene is a reminder of the vital role our colleagues play in their local communities, especially in times of crisis.
Read more about Victoria’s story in the special edition of the HCA Healthcare Magazine: Frontline Point of View: Victoria Drury | HCA Healthcare Magazine
Sisters by chance, nursing colleagues by choice (Fredericksburg, Texas)
At Methodist Hospital Hill Country in Fredericksburg, Texas, HCA Healthcare colleagues Aide Cisneros and Zujey Rivas are more than just co-workers… they are family. Inspired by their mother, who is a certified nurse assistant (CNA), the two sisters decided to seek their own paths in healthcare.
Zujey, a Galen College of Nursing graduate and medical-surgical nurse, remembers her experience as a teenage patient. The compassionate care she received as a teen from a Methodist Hospital Hill Country nurse made a lasting impact. “She checked on me all the time to make sure I was comfortable and doing okay,” Zujey shared. “That was the kind of nurse that I wanted to be. All these years later, here I am doing the same thing on the same unit in the same hospital.”
In February 2024, Zujey’s younger sister Aide was hired at Methodist Hospital Hill Country and continued the family’s legacy of caring like family. Fueled by the experience she has gained from her role as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) and through her sister’s encouragement, Aide decided to go back to school. She is now following in her sister’s footsteps by pursuing her RN degree at Galen College of Nursing, with help from HCA Healthcare’s tuition assistance program.
“My sister has shown me what it means to be strong, smart and caring,” Aide said. “She pushes me to keep learning and to reach for more.” Zujey added that her sister is her best friend and that she is “so proud of the young adult and wonderful nurse she has become.”
As we recognize Nurses Week, the sisters are grateful for their choice in a career. “I love taking care of people,” Zujey said. Her sister added, “I want to keep growing in nursing, gaining experience in different areas and making a difference wherever I go. I am proud to be part of this profession.”
Four decades of care: Surgical services nurse credits “heart to serve” (Nashville, Tennessee)
For more than four decades, HCA Healthcare colleague Princess Cowan has exemplified compassionate care and unwavering dedication in her nursing career. Her journey in nursing began long before she ever donned scrubs – shaped by the guidance of her father, Pastor Kelly. “I initially wanted to be an OB-GYN,” she shared. “But after talking to my dad, who was the perfect example of servanthood, I decided to be a nurse.”
Princess’ career began at Nashville Memorial Hospital (NMH) in 1979 as a patient care technician (PCT), followed by roles as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in 1981 and a registered nurse first assistant (RNFA) by 1991. When NMH closed in 2000 and HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Skyline Medical Center opened, Princess was one of more than 700 colleagues who transitioned to the new facility, eager to provide a new, higher level of care for patients. Princess eventually found her home on the hospital’s surgical services team.
Did you know? In 2025, for the 23rd year in a row, nurses ranked number one in Gallup’s annual most honest and ethical professions poll.
Over the years, she has witnessed significant changes in the nursing profession, from the standards of care delivered to the simple shift from white, starchy uniforms to more comfortable scrubs. What’s never changed is her heart for patients.
“What keeps me coming back is my heart to serve—my patients’ overall wellbeing is always my priority,” Princess said. Her greatest legacy, she hopes, is in the knowledge and encouragement she’s shared along the way. “To educate, teach my fellow co-workers and continue to encourage, empower and impact others with what I’ve learned over the years – that’s what matters most to me.”
Stroke survivor and ICU nurse joins the care team who saved her life (Lake City, Florida)
On her 31st birthday, Liz Lee experienced a life-changing moment that would ultimately shape her future in ways she never expected. What began as an ordinary day quickly turned into an emergency when she woke up from a nap feeling disoriented. A strange fog clouded her mind, and overwhelming fatigue made her want to lie back down. Liz realized she couldn’t lift her arm and a tingling sensation spread through her hand.
Recognizing the signs of a stroke, Liz’s mother wasted no time and rushed her to HCA Florida Lake City Hospital for emergency care. The medical team worked quickly, administering Tenecteplase (TNK), a clot-busting medication used in stroke treatment. Liz was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for further monitoring and care.
Did you know? Every second counts when someone has a stroke. At HCA Healthcare, we collectively respond to stroke 45% faster than the national standard.
While Liz recovered in the ICU, she found herself deeply moved by the dedication of the hospital staff. She saw compassion, professionalism and commitment to patient care. She was amazed that the nurses, doctors and other colleagues didn’t just treat her symptoms — they treated her as a person, like family.
Even before she was discharged, Liz made a life-changing decision: she wanted to join the very team that had saved her life. As a registered nurse, she applied for a position at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital, determined to become a part of the culture of care that had meant so much to her as a patient. For Liz, this hospital wasn’t just a place of healing — it was a place of purpose.
Today, Liz Lee is not just a stroke survivor. Liz is an advocate. Liz is a caregiver. And, Liz is a proud member of the HCA Florida Lake City Hospital family.
Military experience proves to be a valuable asset for clinical nurse coordinator (Richmond, Virginia)
HCA Healthcare nurse Mike Pauciullo brings both passion and purpose to his role as a clinical nurse coordinator on the neuroscience intensive care unit (NSICU) at Johnston-Willis Hospital. Inspired by his grandfather, a World War II Army Reserve veteran and prisoner of war (POW), Mike joined the Army Reserve in 2008. He even trained on the same grounds that his grandfather did years before.
Mike served in various medical support roles for the Army Reserve. As a licensed practical nurse, he was encouraged by his leaders to pursue a career outside of the military in critical care. In 2020, Mike earned his nursing degree in Washington, D.C., and quickly joined the care team at Johnston-Willis Hospital. With the help of HCA Healthcare’s preferred employer discount at Chamberlin University, Mike is furthering his education to become a nurse practitioner.
Did you know? VIQTORY has recognized HCA Healthcare as a Military Friendly and Military Spouse Friendly employer for 14 consecutive years.
Mike’s connection to the military remains visible each Memorial Day, when Mike sets up a “table for the fallen” at the Richmond, Virginia hospital. This solemn display, filled with rich symbolism, honors fallen service members and reminds his coworkers of the sacrifices others have made. It’s his personal tribute to those he served with and those who never made it back home.
For Mike, service is a way of life. Whether he is caring for patients, mentoring colleagues or serving his country, he sees it all as an opportunity to give back. “It’s something bigger than myself,” Mike explained. “My whole reason for healthcare is just to help.”
Nurse leader shows up for patients and colleagues amid natural disaster (Asheville, North Carolina)
As we look back on the past year, we are inspired by the heroic stories of nursing colleagues who stepped up to care for their communities amid the unthinkable. Tami Acquino, a clinical nurse coordinator at HCA Healthcare’s Mission Hospital, went above and beyond for to care for her patients during Hurricane Helene. Before the rain began, Tami arrived at the Asheville, North Carolina hospital with a packed bag — planning to work through the weather and spend the night — and was deeply moved by the events that unfolded.
“We all just put our game faces on,” Tami said. “Everybody was holding each other, embracing each other as they were finding out families were okay, as they were finding out if their properties were okay or not okay. I think that we did a really great job on our unit — being able to keep our patients calm, being able to support our families coming in to see their loved ones and to provide the best care we could.”
Amid the trying time, Tami is grateful for the nursing team that she works alongside every day. “I think our team was incredible in the way that they showed up, the way they were here for our patients and the way they were able to put everyone’s minds at ease,” she said. “I’m just really proud every single day of the job that I do here in Asheville, North Carolina.”
Related article: HCA Healthcare to donate $1 million towards Hurricane Helene disaster relief efforts in North Carolina
Family of nurses surpasses 100 years of combined service caring for patients (Brownsville, Texas)
HCA Healthcare nurses Anirose Padillo, Honeylane DeSosa Gunn and Ariane Padillo have been fixtures for decades at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas. The three family members have a combined total of 108 years of service to others.
For Anirose Padillo, BSN, CMSRN, RN-BC in Geriatrics, the dream of becoming a nurse began when she was a child and took shape in 1977 upon her graduation from nursing school. Nearly two decades into her career, she joined Valley Regional Medical Center in the skilled nursing unit and has continued to advance her career with the help of educational opportunities. “Valley Regional Medical Center has nurtured my nursing profession,” she said. “I have grown from a beginner to a leadership role and developed the attributes of leading with a purpose. Valley Regional Medical Center has not only given me the great opportunities that it has, but also allows me to mold others to be the best version of themselves.”
Today, Anirose is proud to be the director of the hospital’s stroke unit. But, her proudest accomplishment? Seeing her sister, Honeylane, and daughter, Ariane, walk beside her in their nursing journeys.
Honeylane DeSosa Gunn, MSPHN, RN CIC, was the first person in the family to join Valley Regional Medical Center in 1988. Honeylane joined the Texas hospital as a surgical floor nurse, but ultimately found a passion in infection prevention. “HCA Healthcare educational benefits gave me the opportunity to obtain my Masters of Nursing in Public Health and Certification in Infection Prevention,” Honeylane shared.
The youngest of the trio, Ariane Padillo, RN, CMNN RN, knew she wanted a career that promotes compassionate care. Inspired by her mother and aunt’s example, she pursued nursing and found her calling in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “I wanted to become a part of a team that promotes healing and growth of these tiny humans,” Ariane shared. “I wanted to see babies thrive and be healthy and to assist with the parents’ education and preparedness in confidently caring for them before going to their loving homes.”
Together, Anirose, Honelylane and Ariane represent what it truly means to care like family. “They have taught me to be a responsible nurse that uses initiative and common sense,” Ariane said. “They have also taught me to have patience and resilience in dealing with difficult situations. Most importantly, they’ve taught me to be kind with everyone.”
A childhood dream and a promise lead to a rewarding career in nursing (Ogden, Utah)
Since elementary school, Gina Corry dreamt of becoming a nurse and was attracted to the profession’s ability to impact patients’ lives positively. Due to the financial obligations of nursing school, Gina’s path led her to a career in cosmetology instead. She succeeded in her career as a hairstylist for 25 years, until her mother’s illness caused her to reassess her goals and priorities.
As Gina sat by her mother’s hospital bedside, holding her hand and fighting back tears, Gina made a heartfelt promise: she would finally chase the dream she had put on hold. “I knew she could hear me, whether she could respond or not,” Gina said. She vowed to make her proud and become the nurse she had always wanted to be.
Just one month after her mother’s funeral in 2021, Gina enrolled in nursing school. Gina’s dad, a Vietnam War medic and former emergency room healthcare worker, became one of her biggest supporters. With a deep understanding of the profession, he believed she would be an excellent nurse.
Two weeks before Gina graduated as a registered nurse, her father unexpectedly passed away. Determined to honor both of her parents, Gina chose to work in the emergency room, following in her father’s footsteps. She began her nursing career at HCA Healthcare’s Odgen Regional Medical Center in Utah in 2024. To Gina, Ogden Regional Medical Center is more than just a place where lives out her childhood dream. It’s the hospital where she made that life-changing promise to her mother.
“I love nursing. I love helping people. I love making my patient’s worst day in their life a little better… and I’m just trying to make my parents proud.”
Gina Corry, Emergency Room Nurse, HCA Healthcare’s Odgen Regional Medical Center
Nurse focuses on advancing his education to provide better care for patients (Jacksonville, Florida)
Steven Kerlin’s healthcare career at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, began in March 2004 when he joined the ICU as a patient care technician (PCT). Since then, he has grown into a respected nurse leader, now serving patients as a clinical nurse coordinator. Steven’s commitment to continuing his education has not only shaped his over 20 year career, but also the quality of care that he provides through continuously practicing at the top of his license.
Today, Steven holds three national certifications from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), including a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) specialty certification, as well as two subspecialty certifications – Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) and Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC). He credits HCA Healthcare’s Certification Assistance program with helping him hone in his craft of nursing through these optional advanced educational opportunities.
“I believe that by validating my knowledge and skillset, this has led to an increase of ownership towards all of my patient experiences,” Steven said. “I am blessed to have a compassionate heart toward any and all current and future patients, or as I call them ‘my new best friend.’”
Did you know? In 2024, more than 6,100 HCA Healthcare-affiliated registered nurses expanded their professional expertise through our Clinical Certification Support Program to earn certifications in a wide-range of specialty areas including Emergency Services (BCEN), Critical Care (AACN), Surgical Services (CCI), Oncology (ONCC), Medical-Surgical (MSNCB), Pediatrics (PNCB) and Orthopedic (ONCB).
Steven credits much of his success to the environment fueled by educational opportunities and a sense of teamwork at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. “I am grateful for a loving wife and family, the veteran nurses who helped groom my path, junior nurses who keep me humble, the leaders who have supported me over the past ten years during my current journey as a charge nurse and, above all else, God who has granted me blessings on blessings throughout my career and life,” Steven said.
Nurse cares for others beyond her hospital’s walls as a Girl Scouts volunteer (Irving, Texas)
The care and compassion of HCA Healthcare nurses extend beyond the walls of the hospital and overflows in to the communities where they live and work. This holds true for HCA Healthcare nurse Staci Rodriguez.
Staci chose to pursue nursing as a second career after her grandmother suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for months. Inspired by the compassionate care her grandmother received, she discovered her calling to become a nurse. Staci previously served as a pre-admission testing (PAT) nurse at HCA Healthcare’s Medical City Frisco and joined sister-hospital Medical City Las Colinas as the orthopedic coordinator in January 2025. In her role, she walks alongside orthopedic patients through their treatment and recovery journey to provide guidance, resources and comfort.
In addition to serving patients inside the hospital, Staci is passionate about helping youth in the North Texas community. She has volunteered as a Girl Scouts troop leader for her daughters’ troops and also serves as a board member for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Service Unit. In her leadership roles with Girl Scouts, Staci strives for young girls to gain confidence and use their voice to help positively shape their communities.
Did you know? Through the Mental Wellness Patch Program, HCA Healthcare works alongside the Girl Scout of the USA (GSUSA) to empower youth and champion mental well-being across the nation.
Staci shared how serving HCA Healthcare patients and Girl Scouts with compassion intertwine: “My leadership experience with Girl Scouts closely mirrors my leadership role at HCA Healthcare. Through Girl Scouts, I’ve learned the importance of leading with empathy, adaptability, and service — values that also guides how I care for my patients in the hospital. Whether I’m planning a community event or mentoring younger scouts, I listen, adapt, and unite girls for a shared goal, much like I do in my hospital role. There, I listen to patients, tailor their care to their specific needs, and collaborate with interdisciplinary departments to provide the best possible care. Nursing allows me to make a meaningful difference by caring for others, especially during their most vulnerable times.”
Texas nurse travels to North Carolina to help fellow nurses in the aftermath of storm (El Paso, Texas)
Hurricane Helene, which impacted Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia, is the second deadliest hurricane — behind Katrina in 2005 —to make landfall this century in the continental United States. The Western North Carolina community that HCA Healthcare’s Mission Health serves was profoundly impacted, but nurses from sister facilities across the United States stood ready to help.
Within days of the hurricane’s landfall, hundreds of HCA Healthcare nurses volunteered to travel to North Carolina to support and provide relief to our caregivers. One of the 400 nurses who packed their bags to lend a hand was Alejandro Nunez.
Alejandro has proudly cared for patients as a nurse for the past three years at HCA Healthcare’s Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. Alejandro was motivated to pursue a career in nursing after witnessing firsthand the compassion a nurse bestowed to his family. When he had the chance to pay it forward and help HCA Healthcare nurses in North Carolina, Alejandro did not hesitate. “I’ve always believed that nursing goes beyond hospital walls – it’s about community and compassion,” he said.
While in North Carolina for two weeks, Alejandro lent a hand in a multitude of ways including providing direct patient care in the ICU. He also delivered essential supplies like food and water. “The spirit of teamwork was incredible,” Alejandro recalled. “Nurses from different hospitals across HCA Healthcare came together seamlessly to deliver care. It didn’t matter where we were from – we were one team with one mission.” If given the opportunity to volunteer again in the event of a natural disaster, Alejandro said he would “absolutely” step up.
“This experience reminded me why I became a nurse in the first place. It’s not just a job — it’s a calling. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside such dedicated professionals. I’m proud to be part of an organization that truly puts people first.”
Alejandro Nunez, nurse, HCA Healthcare’s Del Sol Medical Center
Nurse helps deliver baby 28 years after delivering her mom (Inverness, Florida)
For more than three decades, HCA Healthcare nurse Lynn Tran has brought new lives into the world at HCA Florida Citrus Hospital. Lynn recently experienced a heartwarming full-circle moment: holding the baby of a baby she once helped deliver.
In 1997, Lynn cradled newborn Haleigh Rowland in her arms at the Inverness, Florida hospital. Twenty-eight years later, she found herself holding Haleigh’s daughter, Elle, in the same place where it all began.
Did you know? More than 215,000 babies are delivered annually across HCA Healthcare.
Working in labor and delivery, Lynn knows that nurses play a crucial role during childbirth, providing essential medical care and emotional support to mothers and families. “This event is one of the most significant in their lives, and we feel honored to help the moms, dads and all the family members through the process – from labor and postpartum to discharge home,” she said. “We all feel really lucky to work in this field. It’s very rewarding. I still get teary-eyed, especially when the daddies cry!”
Over the years, Lynn’s face has become a familiar one in countless baby scrapbooks. “I’m afraid to think of how many,” she joked. “It’s lovely that they want our pictures. I’ve had many bring in photos or say that I’m in their baby books at home.”
Future of nursing: Case management assistant pursues nursing career with the help of Galen College of Nursing (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Together, HCA Healthcare and Galen College of Nursing are increasing access to high-quality nursing education in support of nurse workforce development and providing career growth opportunities for HCA Healthcare colleagues like Nohely Dominguez.
From a young age, Nohely dreamt of pursuing a healthcare career and her dream of becoming a nurse will become a reality. Motivated by her deep-rooted passion for serving others and her commitment to making a difference, Nohely currently serves as a case management assistant at HCA Healthcare’s Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center and is pursuing her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at Galen College of Nursing’s Las Vegas campus. Through her nursing education program, Nohely enhances her clinical skills and learns from experienced HCA Healthcare nurses through clinical rotations at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center.
“I’ve always been drawn to the healthcare field, but nursing stood out to me as a profession that blends compassion and critical thinking, hands on care with lifelong learning,” Nohely shared. “My drive for helping others, combined with a commitment for continuous learning and professional growth made nursing a natural fit.”
Working alongside HCA Healthcare caregivers each day, Nohely remains inspired by the compassion and dedication of the nurses around her. “Watching how they advocate for their patients and support families through difficult times has shown me the kind of nurse I strive to become. Their dedication reminds me that nursing is not just a job – it’s a calling to care, support, and heal,” Nohely said.
