Meet Our June Alumni Spotlight: Britney Lechene, RN
Meet Britney Lechene, a 2024 graduate of BTC’s Professional Nursing (RN) program whose passion for emergency care began with her childhood admiration for her firefighter/EMT father. Today, she serves as an ER nurse at a Level 1 Trauma and Burn Center, where she thrives in the intensity and teamwork of critical care. In this interview, Britney shares the memorable experiences, challenges, and growth that have shaped her journey as a nurse and the advice she has for those just starting out.
Q: What influenced your decision to pursue a career in nursing?
Britney: Growing up, my dad was a firefighter/EMT. I always looked up to him and took interest in the medical field because of him.
Q: How has your nursing career progressed since you graduated? What positions have you held, what was your favorite and why? And what are your responsibilities in your current position?
Britney: I am currently an ER nurse at a Level 1 Trauma/Burn Center. Critical care has been very rewarding to learn. I take care of strokes, stemis, trauma, burns, codes, mental health, and more!
Q: Have you specialized in any specific area of nursing? If so, what drew you to that specialization, and what are the unique challenges and rewards it has brought?
Britney: Emergency nursing is fast paced and there is always something new to learn. It can be challenging to have multiple critical patients though.
Q: Are there any particular moments or experiences in your nursing career that have stood out to you or shaped your professional growth?
Britney: Working as a team in traumas/codes in the ED is something you will never experience anywhere else. It is organized chaos that binds you to your coworkers and provides learning opportunities every time.
Q: Can you share an especially memorable time caring for a patient and why that sticks with you?
Britney: My first pediatric stroke really tugged at my heart strings. The patient was so brave, and I admired the patient and their family for their faith in that moment.
Q: How is working as a nurse different from what, as a student, you expected nursing to be?
Britney: Honestly, it is completely different. No one warns you about the imposter syndrome you experience the further along you go. I’ve surprised myself with things I never thought I would get the hang of.
Q: Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself within the nursing field? How do you plan to achieve them?
Britney: My personal goals are to make an effort to learn something new every day.
Q: How have you seen the nursing profession evolve since you graduated? Are there any significant changes or trends that you find particularly noteworthy?
Britney: Not much has changed since I graduated, but I am anticipating many changes in the near future!
Q: What is your favorite way to spend free time when you are not working as a nurse? Any special ways to de-stress? Fun hobbies to help unwind?
Britney: I never understood how important it is to fill your cup until I became a nurse. I love to read, kayak, and hike in my spare time. Spending quality time with my husband and son helps me to de-stress!
Q: What’s one memory you have from nursing school that sticks with you today?
Britney: I made some pretty great lifelong friends.
Q: What advice would you give to current nursing students who are about to embark on their career path? Are there any key lessons or insights that you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Britney: My advice would be to be a part of every care opportunity you can. You never know when that experience and knowledge will come into play in your future.
Q: What would you tell someone today that is trying to decide whether to go into the nursing field or not?
Britney: Nursing is not an easy career to get into. There will be trials and tribulations along the way, even after graduation. The opportunities are endless and making a difference in a person’s life is priceless.
Britney’s story is a testament to the resilience, dedication, and the heart it takes to thrive in emergency nursing. Her journey highlights the importance of hands-on learning, strong support systems, and staying open to growth every day. As she continues to make an impact in the lives of her patients, she also inspires the next generation of nurses to embrace every opportunity to learn and lead.
If you would like to share your story about any of our programs or would like to tell us what you’ve been up to since graduating, we would love to hear it! Just complete the questionnaire and send us a photo of yourself.