Theresa Campbell, MSN, RN, CCRN, NPD-BC, didn’t begin her nursing career straight out of high school, which is why her journey resonates with so many Galen College of Nursing students today. After entering the profession later in life, Campbell built an impactful career in pediatric critical care and nurse education at HCA Healthcare.

Now a Galen MSN graduate, current Galen DNP student, and a Galen College of Nursing – Savannah campus faculty member, she’s guiding students with the insight of someone who’s lived every stage of the nursing journey.

A serious health scare wound up guiding Campbell into the nursing field. While sitting in a hospital after surgery and seeing how the nurses treated her, she realized that was her true calling.

“I told my mom, ‘That’s what I should be doing’,” Campbell said. “I quit my job soon after and went to nursing school.”

Despite being in her 40s and with a husband and two teenage boys at home, Campbell was persistent and focused on achieving her goal of becoming a nurse. Along the way, a semester doing a clinical rotation in a pediatric unit at a local Savannah hospital changed her life, and her nursing path.

“Initially, I wanted nothing to do with (the pediatric unit), but after my first rotation with pediatrics in nursing school, I was completely hooked. I shocked my family and everyone around me.”

Campbell ended up joining the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Memorial Health Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital, an HCA Healthcare facility, working on that unit for seven years.

Pediatric nursing can be both deeply fulfilling, and also mentally and emotionally taxing. Working in the PICU meant she and her team cared for children during some of their most vulnerable moments, which included wins like overcoming injuries or illnesses.

“I think that kids are amazing and very resilient,” Campbell said. “It was very happy much more often than it was very sad.”

In the most difficult moments, she found meaning in being present, not just for her patients, but for their families.

“The times it didn’t happen, it helps to put the rest of your life in perspective,” she said. “The little things don’t bother you as much as they used to.”

Over time, Campbell recognized that while she loved caring for children in the PICU, she couldn’t do it forever. So she worked towards a new path in nurse education, which allowed her to continue caring for patients by supporting the nurses who care for them.

She initially became the nurse educator for all pediatric units at her hospital.

During that time, Campbell took advantage of HCA Healthcare’s tuition assistance and reimbursement benefits for colleagues and enrolled in Galen’s Online MSN program.

After adjusting to the academic rigor and requirements, she said she came to love the program due to Galen’s grounding in compassionate care

“It’s something that I’ve always carried through in my career, that caring aspect,” Campbell said. “Most nurses feel the same way, that’s what it’s all about.

“It’s a big part of why I was drawn to Galen as a student. I am really passionate about inclusivity in my life and respect for others.”

While in her MSN program, Campbell connected with current Carla Points, MSN, RN, Galen College of Nursing Savannah campus Dean, and Points planted the seed in Campbell’s mind to one day make the jump to Galen as a faculty member.

“She is an extremely passionate and compassionate person who demonstrates a strong belief in justice, fidelity, and inclusion.” Points said of Campbell.

Campbell enjoyed her experience in the MSN program so much that she enrolled this January in the Galen DNP program, with an expected graduation date of April 2027 – close to when the first Galen College of Nursing Savannah campus Associate Degree in Nursing cohort will graduate.

For Campbell, the opportunity to come to Galen as a faculty member wasn’t just a career move. It was also a values match.

“When I was interviewing with Carla, she said I’m looking for two things,” Campbell recalled. “Someone who is passionate about teaching and someone who is passionate about the iCARE Compassionately model. It’s a big thing at Galen. I love that I’m a part of it, and I love that I get to teach it in every class.”

Whether you’re looking for a move to nursing administration in a healthcare facility, or a role educating the future nurses in your community, Galen has a program for you.

Galen’s Online MSN program includes an administrative track and an academic track, preparing you for exactly the role you are pursuing in a flexible, online way. When you’re ready for your doctorate, Galen’s Online DNP will also prepare you to step into a leadership role in academia or in a healthcare facility, providing you with the skills you need to manage teams and impact thousands of lives.