When it comes to becoming a nurse, everyone has a different “why” that drew them to the profession. Some have felt the calling from a young age, some want to build a good foundation for their family, and others have had an experience that called them to care for others the way they had been treated.

For Candace Jewell, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) student at Galen College of Nursing’s Louisville campus, her “why” came from one of the most heartbreaking experiences of her life. Following her daughter’s time in the NICU and her heartbreaking loss, Jewell found inspiration in the nurse who cared for her family during that difficult time.

“She was so caring and understanding, reassured us on everything,” said Jewell. “She really wanted us to know what was going on and explained everything in detail. It was like she felt our pain, too, you know? Like, it wasn’t just us going through it. It was like she was going through it with us.”

What stood out to Jewell was that the nurse went beyond the medical aspects of her job. She made sure Jewell and her family felt heard, supported and cared for during a time when they needed it most.

“She sat down and was acting like a counselor almost. ‘How are you feeling? Are you okay? Is there anything I can do for you?’,” she said.  “She just let me cry. Like, whatever I needed to do. She was just there as a friend, you know? It just felt like she was trying to be open in any way that we needed her to be.”

This compassionate care resonated with Jewell. It showed her that nursing is about more than simply providing medical treatment. It’s about being present for patients and their families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“I want to be the nurse that leaves that lasting impression, like what happened to me,” Jewell said. “I want them to be like, ‘she’s dependable, she’s compassionate, she’s caring, and I trust her. I know that if I need anything, I can come to her, and she has my best interests at heart.’”

That desire to make a difference has remained at the center of Jewell’s journey into nursing, even as she has experienced firsthand how demanding the profession can be.

Jewell admits she has had doubts along the way. Nursing comes with long hours, demanding responsibilities and the emotional weight of caring for patients who may be experiencing some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

For Jewell, however, the opportunity to make a difference outweighs those challenges.

Her journey requires her to balance the demands of nursing school with life outside the classroom. As a mother, Jewell is juggling school, work and family responsibilities, something she considers the greatest source of stress of becoming a nurse.

“But, you know, if you really want something, you do.”

Despite the challenges, nursing school has given Jewell a newfound confidence in herself. Having been out of school for some time, she initially expected returning to the classroom to be a struggle.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in school, so I came in kind of defeated,” she said. “I was going to struggle, and this is something really hard for me.”

Instead, Jewell discovered that she was more capable than she had given herself credit for.

“Turns out, I still retain information pretty good,” she said. “I’m smarter than I thought I was, if that makes sense.”

Looking ahead to her career, Jewell hopes to carry the example of the nurse who changed her perspective into every patient interaction. She wants her patients to feel the same sense of trust, compassion and reassurance that she and her family experienced during their time in the NICU.

“I want every patient to feel and know that, at the end of the day, I have their best interests at heart,” Jewell said.

For Jewell, becoming a nurse is more than choosing a profession. It is a way to honor the impact one compassionate nurse had on her family by becoming that source of comfort and care for someone else.

Her “why” began with heartbreak, but she hopes it will ultimately become a source of hope for the patients and families she serves.