After high school, Mallory earned a nursing degree from Radford University and is now a registered nurse in the emergency room at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital in Rocky Mount.

Mallory works with patients of all ages. Her job involves not only giving patients medication and care, but providing them with emotional support as well.

Thanks to her nursing studies at Radford, Mallory said she felt prepared on her first day of orientation at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital. Mallory does wish she took a certified nursing assistant class in high school. She thought people who took a CNA class did not wish to further their nursing education, but she later realized the class could have helped her with her college nursing studies.

As for Mallory’s future in nursing, she would like to go back to school in about two years to become a nurse practitioner.

Mallory also has hopes for the nursing industry as a whole.

“We need more male nurses,” she says. “I encourage men to do it.” 

Caring for others

Shaunna Siler has known since kindergarten that she wanted to become a nurse or a doctor. She says she was likely inspired by her mom, who is also a nurse.

Now Shaunna is nursing manager of the oncology unit at a hospital in Northern Virginia. “I’m to the point that I’m more of a mentor now that I’m a manager,” Shaunna says of the new job she started several months ago.

Determined to jump into her career plans, Shaunna took summer courses during high school so that she was able to participate in the LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) program at the Prince William County School of Practical Nursing. “This opportunity allowed me to learn and understand the basics of nursing,” says Shaunna. “I found my passion for people, and I knew that nursing was the career path that I wanted to continue to pursue.”

Shaunna later earned her associate’s degree at Northern Virginia Community College and became a RN (Registered Nurse). She recently completed a Master of Science in Nursing Administration at George Mason University, which allowed her to earn her new role as a nursing manager.

Shuanna eventually plans on earning a Doctorate of Nursing, which she wants to use to teach nursing, perhaps at a college or university.

Until then, she continues to love her job caring for people each day. “I love caring for patients,” says Shaunna. “I make a difference to people, and I enjoy learning. I learn something new every day. I enjoy educating new nurses and new employees.”

For students interested in a career in nursing, Shaunna says that students should be sure they are really passionate about the career.

“You have to be truly passionate about people and about nursing and if you ever find that you don’t feel that passion, it’s not for you because it’s not the money that drives you, it’s truly your passion,” says Shaunna. “Nursing can be tough, but it’s really special.”