What are the best benefits of your job? Family-friendly flexible scheduling? Generous health plan? Plentiful paid time off? Amazing opportunities for advancement?
Ask this question to Tanya Moore and you might be surprised by some of the answers you get.
“The last shift I worked I had two patients give me a hug and thank me for the care that I gave them,” the Blessing Health nurse said. “That’s beautiful."
This answer came from a woman who has two degrees in business, including a Master of Business Administration - in addition to her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree - and who spent a decade in the human resources field before fulfilling her life’s dream at Blessing Health.
Tanya’s long and winding road
Her interest in healthcare began in high school when Tanya took Anatomy and Physiology at Highland High School in Ewing, MO – not because she needed them to graduate, but because her friend was taking the classes.
“That was truly amazing. The human body is awesome. But I was intimidated about the idea of going into the medical field. When I look back now, I think I just did not have the self-confidence needed.”
But Tanya did have the self-confidence needed to prosper. She graduated high school, became a wife and mother, and then went back to school to earn her business degrees that led her into the human resources field.
While Tanya enjoyed 10 years in human resources, including a leadership role at an educational institution, she continued to feel drawn to her first love, healthcare.
“I kept thinking about nursing school and decided it’s either time to do it or stop thinking about it.”
In her late 40s, and with the support of her husband Ryan, Tanya entered Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Second Degree Option program – which allowed her to earn her nursing degree in five semesters instead of eight because all her prerequisites were met through her business degrees.
“We decided to take a leap of faith and here I am.”
Today, 48-year-old Tanya Moore, BSN, RN, Blessing-Rieman Class of 2022, is one of the newest registered nurses on the Blessing Hospital Emergency Center team.
Tanya’s road to graduation
She picked Blessing-Rieman on the advice of a friend who graduated from the program, and because she wanted to be the best nurse she could be.
“I had heard it was a rigorous program. It was intimidating to think about, but when you are dealing with life and death situations of a patient, you need to know what you are doing. Rigorous is good.”
Tanya said there were pros and cons about becoming a nursing student in her late 40s.
“I was in ways a bit wiser than a traditional student because I was older. I knew how to prioritize my time better and where to put my priorities. I knew how I studied and learned best.”
“On the other hand, my brain is older. I didn’t pick up some concepts as quickly as younger students. And I could not pull those late nights of studying like they did. I needed my rest to think clearly.”
“It was a lot of hard work. But it’s worth it. If you’re truly committed to helping patients – if that is your passion – it is definitely worth it.”
Tanya realizes her dream – 30 years later
In addition to the support of her family and friends, Tanya credits Hilary Wells, a Blessing ER nurse with whom she worked during a special student rotation in the department; Blessing ER nurse manager Jaden McMahon who played a role in recruiting and hiring her; and Rita Schaefer, former Blessing ER educator who played a role in training her; for helping fulfill her dream to become a caregiver in the fast-paced world of emergency medicine.
“We can see a two-week-old baby and we can see someone who is 103. There’s really no other department where you are going to see that age span for a variety of different conditions. I think that gives nurses great experience.”
Feedback from her patients and their loved ones confirm for Tanya that she is in the right place.
“They have told me, ‘You do a really good job of explaining things and staying calm.’ I guess maybe I have an inherent skill to be a calming force in a crisis. Because whether we see it as a true crisis, it is a crisis to a patient and their loved ones.”
“It is just a beautiful thing to make somebody feel better. When you can help a patient in the smallest way and you see that look in their face – there is just no better feeling.”
“I’m someone who truly believes that God will place us where we are supposed to be.”
For more information on the programs of Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences, go to brcn.edu.