Meet our December Alumni Spotlight: Amber Brown, LPN
Let’s check in with Amber Brown, a grad from Bolivar Technical College’s Practical Nursing program in 2017. She lets us in on her career journey post-grad, chatting about the ups and downs during the pandemic, and how nursing has changed since. Plus, Amber throws in some golden nuggets of advice for nursing hopefuls and gives us a sneak peek into her life beyond the hospital hustle.
Q: How has your nursing career progressed since you graduated? What positions have you held and what are your current responsibilities?
Amber: Prior to graduating from Bolivar Technical College, I had already been offered a Charge Nurse position in the special care unit working with Alzheimer and Dementia patients at Colonial Springs Healthcare Facility in Buffalo, MO. After a year of working in that position, I decided to cross over into the clinical side of nursing. I accepted a position at Bolivar Family Care Center working with one of the best providers ever, Dr. Mary Hogan. After working there for two years, I transferred to Dallas County Medical Center Walk-in Clinic, all within the same company that I had worked with since I was 17 years old, Citizens Memorial Healthcare. In March of 2021, my husband Jake, our two daughters Jaiden and Megan, and myself bought a home and relocated to Carl Junction, MO. I then started work at a great organization called Access Family Care in Joplin, MO. I started in the pediatrics department, and for the last two years moved up into management and am the Nursing Supervisor Medical Lead of the Joplin branch. Recently, I started at our corporate office as a Community Health Worker.
Q: What influenced your decision to pursue a career in nursing?
Amber: My mother worked in the medical field and worked hard at it. She definitely inspired my great work ethic, as well as my passion for helping others and the underserved.
Q: Are there any particular moments or experiences in your nursing career that have stood out to you or shaped your professional growth?
Amber: I worked through the pandemic, when a nurse was considered a hero. Then, instead of allowing us the right to choose and continue to pursue our passion, many of those heroes felt forced to quit rather than have their rights taken away. It was hard to lose so many great nurses.
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?
Amber: Never lose sight of the big picture. Never lose sight of your faith. Trust in the Lord always! Jeremiah 29:11
Q: What would you tell someone today that is trying to decide whether to go in to the nursing field or not?
Amber: Know your worth, never settle.
Q: Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself within the nursing field? How do you plan to achieve them?
Amber: Eventually I would like to further my education and become an RN.
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?
Amber: I love to organize and clean; my daughters are always telling me I need to start my own YouTube channel! I love just being at home with my family.
Wrapping up our chat with Amber Brown, her journey from BTC’s Practical Nursing program to her current role as Nursing Supervisor Medical Lead is all about her hustle and heart in the nursing game. Amber’s golden advice to keep the faith, trust the journey, and never lose sight of the big picture is a great lesson to guide new nurses through their own wild rides. 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 email Haleigh at hgray@bolivarcollege.edu with the subject line “Alumni Spotlight”.